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Okay i have a chinchilla and he loves being held but whenever you put your hand in his cage he runs2007-11-24 22:14:04

help me he is less than a year old has a three story cage like to run around the house on his leash and very friendly except his tail being touched why such strange behaivoir

Answers:

From the chinchilla expert. I own 15 chinchillas, i am a breeder. You shouldnt worry, if hes friendly its cool, most of mine dont like their tail being touched but they always come to me when i open their cages. give him one treat everyday and make him come to YOU. eventually everytime your near the cage he will come up thinking hes getting a treat. some things like this just take some time. good luck with your raisin loving little critter!!

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Would you want a giant hand touching your booty?

Maybe he's just shy like that. I have a rabbit who doesn't like me petting her head, but she's fine with me petting the rest of her.

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Have you owned this Chinchilla since he was born? It's possible someone hurt him while he was in his cage. Or he might now associate a hand in his cage with getting a treat or being picked up. If you start feeding him treats from your hand it may help. It's also possible he might think it's fun to run away :)

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I don't think you chinchilla likes being held from what you told us. I'm taming one of my at the moment, and ill hold her just to put her back in the cage, or put her in the sand bath :) or just hold her so she can learn to trust me. my point is that after i put her down she runs off, either she wants to play with her other friends, or she is just very scared and startled of what you just did. You need to let you chinchilla gain some more trust with you. play with her everyday, and let her jump all over you. oh and chinchillas just dont like having their tail touched. just like dogs, its uncomfortable!

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the only time my chinchilla runs from my hand is when it smells weird to her. to stop this, i always use the same soap and wash my hands before i hold her or let her out so she won't be confused by the weird new smell.