How many?

[sunshynseeker]

How many chinchillas do you recommend getting?
From reading it seems that people have many different numbers of chinchillas as pets.
Is it best to get a single, a pair, or three?

I am thinking that one makes the most sense because it would be more likely to bond to me rather than the other chinchillas, but I would like to hear opinions.

Thanks!

[bethany]

One will not bond to you anymore than if it was in a pair. They like you, but you are not one of them. You are more of something to play on and a cagemate is something to cuddle with.

As far as getting one or two is up to you. I would suggest getting one and if you are sure you love them then get another. That's how I ended up with mine, I had one then about a month later I got a pair, and then they were like potatoe chips.

[dawn]

All mine are singles and I disagree that they don't bond with you. Mine vie for my attention at playtime and when they hear my voice. You need to spend alot of time with them, both handling them and just hanging out if you want them to be your "friends".

[Stacie]

I always like to get my chins in pairs so that when I am not around to give them attention, they have someone to cuddle and play with. My cuddliest chin has a cagemate and loves me just as much as he loves him. They are social creatures so I think it is more beneficial for them to have a cagemate if they will accept one.

[tinam]

A few people say that when they got a second chin, they lost some of the bonding with the first one. But if you have only one, you have to be committed to spending a lot of time with them. My first chin(s) was a set of twins that are still together. All my other chins never accepted cagemates.

[◊ Willow80 ◊]

i have 2 singles and 2 pairs and i recommend getting an already bonded same sex pair. i know Willow enjoys playing with me, but it makes me a little sad to see her sleeping herself and the other girls smooshed up in their pairs. you can have a happy, healthy single chin for sure, but i like to know they have a bit of a buddy to hang with when im not around.

[mistywaterwoman]

I think it depends on how much time you are going to have to spend with them. When Tami was a single, she depended on me a lot more for attention and affection. Now that she is paired with Evie, she tolerates my affection but doesn't seek it out as much.
It's better for me because on the days that I don't have the time to spend with her, she's not alone.

[aznmexaggie]

Gizmo was a sole chinchilla for about a year before I introduced Rayna to her. Being with Rayna hasn't made much of a difference as far as bonding goes. She still hops into my lap when I open the cage and begs at the door when I enter the room. But now that Rayna is with her, when they are both in the cage, they cuddle up to sleep and share their fleece tent or squish in the tubes together.

[dawn]

One thing, chins can turn on each other for no reason even when bonded for years, so you need to be prepared to have 2 cages and watch close for any aggression.

[sunshynseeker]

Thanks for all of the opinions. It sounds like either a same sex pair or a single is the way to go. I will talk to the breeder and see what is available.

Thanks so much!

[sunshynseeker]

Update:
I went to see chins at Big Apple Chinchillas. The breeder was awesome! She let me observe, play with and hold, three baby chinchillas.
She took 45 minutes out of her work day to let me interact with them and ask her questions. She explained all about proper housing and care and offered to have me call her anytime with medical or behavior questions.
The babies were inquisitive and friendly! I really liked the two tan ones. The violet one was more outgoing and excited to be exploring.

Unfortunately I did have an allergic reaction to the chins. I couldn't believe it. I know I am allergic to most animals, but I thought that I would be ok with chinchillas because of their reputation for hypoallergenic fur.
So unfair!

Anyway the breeder was amazing. if any of you are near NYC and looking for a breeder, you should consider them.

[mistywaterwoman]

I knew a lady once who got 3 chins from them, and she said the same thing, that they were just great.
It's likely that the dust or the hay bothered your allergies, since their fur really is hypoallergenic. You could always change the brand of dust, if that was what bothered you. The hay would be a bigger issue. It give me hay fever a lot, but I just deal with having a plugged up nose all the time. I'm willing to sacrifice breathing for my babies. ;D

[◊ Willow80 ◊]

im finding that my allergies are getting worse towards my pets. its the dust and hay for sure but i used to only get stuffed up so I take flonase everyday. but lately im getting wheezy and coughy when im in the pet rooms and i never used to have that before!

[sunshynseeker]

Yeah there was no hay or dust in the room, but maybe it was on their fur?

It was a weird reaction for me. Usually animals make me sneezy, nasal congestion, itchy runny eyes. This time my throat got very sore and felt like it was closing up.

I may make an appointment with an allergist to test myself for dust and hay allergies. If it is dust then I could change around that, but if it is hay then I guess I am out of luck. Those babies were so cute! It just seems really unfair. I am hoping scientists develop allergy vaccines ASAP.

[chinniewinnie]

Jun 12, 2009 6:42:34 GMT -5 @sunshynseeker said:

Yeah there was no hay or dust in the room, but maybe it was on their fur?

No hay? Maybe hay cubes? Also, there HAD to be dust around most likely it was on the chins. Hay and dust is part of a chins daily life.

I would def. get your allergies in check before adopting. It would be sad to have to re-home them later. Allergies are no fun to deal with and if your throat was already closing by being around the chins then unfortunately they may not be the pet for you. My hubby suffers from dust and hay allergies. It's awful for him at times. Thing is, he didn't have the allergies when we 1st got our chins. They developed over the past year or so.