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Post by jdstarr on Nov 29, 2009 17:27:50 GMT -5
So I noticed today that my little baby's brother is back up for sale (obviously they must have had somebody change their mind). Andrew and I were talking and we really want to make an offer on him. We've always known we wanted to eventually get another one down the road and if his brother hadn't been reserved from the beginning we probably would have talked about taking both.
Our only concern is that their bond will break before we have a chance to move into a big enough space where separate cages are possible! We wouldn't know what to do if that happened!
Before you mention it I looked into the FN cage and it's footprint is just to big for our place right now, as I've said in other posts, we have plenty of room to go up and up but limited space width and depth wise. We're going with the Martin's Chinchilla Skyscraper (30X18X36).
Any advice from those of you who got two siblings at the same time? What are the chances that their bond will break in, let's say, the first 5 years if they've ALWAYS been together and shared the same womb?
We used to always get my gerbils in pairs, I've had 5 pairs, I've only ever had one set of gerbils need to be separated for fighting and we're pretty sure they weren't from the same litter. The also lived just fine for about a year before the fighting started. Do you think the 1:5 ratio is similar for Chins? or is it more of a risk then that!
Help! Need to make the decision soon!
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Post by Carol~Anne on Nov 29, 2009 17:49:01 GMT -5
There are a lot of other cages out there besides the FN that have a smaller footprint and just as tall or taller.
As far as the bonded siblings, I'd say the chances are very good they will be fine but it isn't something anyone can guarantee unfortunately. Me, I'd chance it. My two Grey Boys are not brothers but they have been together since close to birth and I have absolutely no issues with them at all.
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Post by Tara on Nov 29, 2009 18:31:49 GMT -5
Although chances are good that they'll be fine, if you absolutely cannot have 2 cages, I'd just get the one baby. If something happens and they start to fight, and you don't have space to separate them, you've got a big problem.  |
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Post by Carol~Anne on Nov 29, 2009 18:49:40 GMT -5
I'm not trying to talk you into getting the brothers and in the end the decision is yours to make but if the cage was big enough you could section it in two if need be. It would have to be the kind of cage that had two doors though, kinda like the one I'm getting from Grandview Commercial Rabbitry. Pairs are not as likely to fight as let's say triplets or quads, at least that has been my experience.
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Post by jdstarr on Nov 29, 2009 19:07:35 GMT -5
Yeah Andrew was talking about that. If we upgraded the cage. got it a little bit bigger with equal spaced doors he thinks he could easily section it off with a well placed board.
Please....I need everyone to talk me in and out of this. Want to make sure I thought of everything.
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Post by Carol~Anne on Nov 29, 2009 19:15:21 GMT -5
There you go, problem solved, lol. Okay, I'm going to shut up now and let others say their piece.
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Post by mistywaterwoman on Nov 29, 2009 19:15:54 GMT -5
I think your chances of keeping them paired are better since they are actual brothers - I'm thinking of Tina's Chille brothers who have been together since birth and are fine - but I also agree that if you are going to get a pair, you absolutely MUST have a back up plan for seperating. Not only in case of fighting, but in case of illness or injury.
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Post by Inked Up Tara on Nov 29, 2009 19:24:02 GMT -5
There is Barbi and Hafina who have I think brothers who have fought too.
Me personally after seeing all the heartbreak Stacie went thru, and yes, I realize hers were not brothers, I would not do it.
Even if you get a slightly taller cage, with the dimensions you have, it would not be fair to house 2 chins in there, in my personal opinion.
It has often been said on here and other sites an optimal space for a chin is 3x3x3 or bigger, or some variation of those dimentions.
I also think, if you do not have the space anywhere should they fight, then what would you do with the other chin in the meantime? The cage you are planning on getting would not be that roomy for 2 chins with a board seperating them.
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Post by Carol~Anne on Nov 29, 2009 19:35:17 GMT -5
Just to clarify, Hafina's brothers didn't fight until she introduced the third chin. Not sure what went on with Barbi's boys, she'll have to comment on that but they are back together again. I don't think they were brothers though but I could be wrong.
Again, just trying to see things from all angles here, not trying to influence at all. I had a single chin for three years and was totally happy with him and he with us.
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Post by Inked Up Tara on Nov 29, 2009 19:42:23 GMT -5
The dimentions of the cage she is getting is not going to work for 2 chins regardless. If you would like to see it, www.martinscages.com/products/cages/chinchilla/That is only a tiny bit bigger then the cage I have my hamster in.... I think by 3 inches. While for the time it is big enough for one chin, it isnt for 2 |
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Post by Lauren on Nov 29, 2009 19:54:50 GMT -5
I would never own a male pair. It's not worth the risk to me. You just never know what they are going to do. They are so territorial and they can do so much damage to one another.
I think 30X18X36 is too small for more than one chin...
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Post by mistywaterwoman on Nov 29, 2009 19:56:00 GMT -5
If she's going with the Skyscraper instead of the Lodge now, it has a whole seperate floor, and 2 doors. That one would be big enough for 2 (for now) and also easy to seperate.
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Post by Carol~Anne on Nov 29, 2009 19:58:57 GMT -5
Which cage on that page is she getting? Of course I like the last one which is the biggest and most expensive but it does have two doors. Not sure if the cage has been purchased yet but as mentioned before, there's lots of taller cages out there that don't take up as much room as the FN. If the cage hasn't been bought yet, then maybe she can look into getting one from that fellow that Shasta was talking about in the US or the place I'm getting one from in Ontario; very reasonable but of course you have to pay for shipping.
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Post by Inked Up Tara on Nov 29, 2009 19:58:58 GMT -5
30" x 18" x 36" Three ramps Two balconies Full middle floor Your choice of 2½" slide-out or 3½" drop-in plastic pan It isnt a "full floor" it is cut out and it is wire.... so that would all have to be tiled or covered if she needs to seperate. If they had to be seperated it is 15 inches of space  There is a wonderful cage I had that would take up just as much floor space but is over 48 inches tall. That cage would be ok for 2 even seperated  |
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Post by mistywaterwoman on Nov 29, 2009 20:01:46 GMT -5
Is it not divided evenly in half? That would be 18" of space... and they would be putting a solid wood floor in the middle to separate.
I'm just trying to figure out all the options here....
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Post by mistywaterwoman on Nov 29, 2009 20:06:44 GMT -5
No, but I'm thinking that they will be fine together, at least for the first year until the hormones kick in...
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Post by Carol~Anne on Nov 29, 2009 20:07:23 GMT -5
18" seems really short to me for a chinchilla. Unless you're going to go with a taller cage just in case then stick with just one chin. If you haven't bought the cage yet and you're still looking, then look for a taller one that if need be could be made into two. A 5' cage which is 60" would give each chin a 30" space which is pretty good as long as you have some decent ledges for hopping and of course a wheel would be great.
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Post by Lauren on Nov 29, 2009 20:14:01 GMT -5
No, but I'm thinking that they will be fine together, at least for the first year until the hormones kick in... I'm sure that would be fine, but she already stated she's limited on space... so what happens when the year is over and the hormones do kick in? I've seen what chins can do to each other when they are aggressive.. it isn't pretty. I'm not trying to be rude or anything... I've just been through hell and I would hate for someone else to go through what I did... |
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Post by Carol~Anne on Nov 29, 2009 20:27:46 GMT -5
There is always a risk of fighting when you have more than one chinchilla in a cage and that is a risk you have to decide to take or not to take.
Since these two boys are babies and brothers then I personally would be willing to take that risk but that doesn't mean everyone would. I know of some like Lauren and others that absolutely will not have pairs and then there's others like myself that have had good success with pairs and are willing to take the risk. Everyone has to make their own decision in the end.
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Post by Inked Up Tara on Nov 29, 2009 20:34:09 GMT -5
I should clarify, so I dont sound so brow beating. I am all for babies  You just need a bigger cage for 2 |
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