chin varieties

Dione · 01-12-2004, 11:09 PM

I know that in some animals the wild colour tends to be more docile and healthier. Is this true of chins, as well? Are normal greys usually better to stick with? I am not talking about breeding, so the lethal white and TOV genes are not an issue. I am just talking about for a single pet. I really like the violet ebonies (solid violet), homozygous beige, and chocolate tan. I do not like whites, mosaics, or TOVs much. Anyway, if greys are healtier/nicer, I would want to stick with them.

Carrot · 01-12-2004, 11:24 PM

From my own experience -

If you are not planning on breeding then so long as the chinchilla you are considering is healthy then there should be no problems.

There have been issues with sapphires - but breeders are trying to make that strain more 'potent' and 'robust' with careful breeding back to the standard grey.

I have a 'chocolate' and my girlfriend (Rincewind) has a violet. Both of our girls are very active and very healthy.

Basically in simple terms, the standard grey has the best 'genes' and if you breed too many times without going back to the standard grey you can introduce problems. But if you are just getting a pet - observe, if you can, the parents and then the little one. If everyone looks healthy you should be good to go.

On top of that - many breeders offer some sort of health guarantee which is a nice bit of confidence and peace of mind.

Candycane · 01-12-2004, 11:33 PM

Good breeders will always breed back to standard to strengthen their herd. That is why I would be comfortable buying a mutation from a good breeder. If you are concerned about health, first, find a reputable breeder and second, check the pedigree to see how much standard and mutation are in the history.

As for temperment...it is dependent on the chin. I have two standard girls (sisters no less) who are like nice and day. Zoya is very docile and shy and Anya is hyper and really pushes her weight around. My white is by far the nicest chin I have...so it just depends.

Dione · 01-13-2004, 02:12 PM

Are temperaments pretty set from weaning time to maturity, or can they be like rabbits (especially females) where they may get aggressive when they hit sexual maturity? Are males or females generally better pets, or is there much of a difference? I want a chin so badly! They are just adorable!!! Cannot get one for probably about 4 years, but by that time I will certainly have done my research. LOL.

I know temperament can be very individualistic. I have sibling rabbits like that, too. I had a litter of Netherland dwarfs, 4 sisters. One was the sweetest, calmest, and most loyal thing in the world (She loved ME specifically and was known to jump off a table and launch herself into my arms). One lunged and tried to bite all the time until I worked with her enough that she would at least leave me alone when I went to feed her (she never was friendly, by any means), one was very shy, and one was friendly but VERY hyper. All were handled from the day of birth and raised the same way.

I just know that some varieties in some species are more known to have problems, cockatiels specifically, but I have heard of it in other species.

Candycane · 01-13-2004, 02:35 PM

I wouldn't say that they get aggressive at puberty...more like bratty.

Santos became extremely hyper once he hit puberty.

Denise · 01-13-2004, 05:49 PM

Bratty is a good word for it Candice.

Puberty seems to bring out a chinchilla's independence and they have a mind of their own. They do calm down once that period is over though.

Candycane · 01-13-2004, 05:57 PM

Quote:

They do calm down once that period is over though.

They do?!

Santos is still a little spaz!

He was such a sweet boy until about 5 months.

Dione · 01-14-2004, 03:10 PM

LOL. Spazzy is not so bad, but biting is. What should you do if a chin bites or is in that spazzy stage?

Candycane · 01-14-2004, 03:19 PM

Hmmm, well, in my very limited experience with rabbits and chins, I would say that chins are definitely less cuddly and much more hyper compared to rabbits. Santos is just a spaz. He doesn't like to be held much (a lot of chins don't) and will only tolerate a few minutes and then he start squirming.

Hazel is the same way but she likes to be scratched behind the ears.

I think you will find that chins are much different personality-wise than rabbits. If they are in the spazzy stage, you generally just deal with it because that's how they are. If the chin starts maliciously biting, I would blow in its face and say no. Luckily, I haven't been bitten yet.

Dione · 01-15-2004, 01:43 AM

Okay, basically the same approach with a rabbit, though I usually tap rabbits lightly on the nose or poke them a bit in the butt to get their attention. They do not like that, so they usually get the idea. If they are cage territorial and are lunging to bite, I trap them under my hand and hold them to the cage floor until they settle down, simulating a dominant rabbit. Then they get taken out and pet to let them know that while I AM in charge, I an not going to hurt them.

Not being as cuddly is okay. My hedgehog is not the most cuddly of animals, but I just love him! He is very picky about being held. If he is out running around and is not startled easily when I walk in, that is a good sign that he is okay with being held right then. Try picking him up when he is curled up, though, and you had better have tough hands or gloves! LOL.

I would like something I could at least hold on my lap, though, and watch play without getting bit!