How Can I Tell If My Chinchillas Will Get Along?

I have a chinchillas that's a year and a half old (male). But i want to get a 2nd one. But i do not want to go spend a lot on another one then have them not get along. Is there a way to tell if they will get along?

Chin Chin Lady answered:
No. First off, you will need to buy another cage. Chinchillas are very territorial animals and take a long time to get used to one another, as well as anytime you buy a new chin you need to have a quarantine period in order to be sure that no one has any health problems that can be transferred to one another.

Then, you can put the 2 cages next to each other and allow the animals to sniff each other. Not too close or else you may end up with bitten off toes or worse. Then gradually move them closer and closer together and if the animals are not showing any aggressive behavior after about 4 weeks of this "smelling'" period you can allow the animals out in your bathroom or another chinchilla (small and safe) room that has no other chin smell to meet. Make sure you are always present and break up any fighting.

Chinchillas greet each other by staring at the face, sniffing, and running their noses down the side of each other. This part should not alarm you unless one of them is making an odd chirping noise. If so move them apart. If they show teeth, I would suggest to put the aggressive chinchilla in a carrier and allow the non-aggressive chin to continue to run. When they no longer show this behavior let it back out. Continue this routine. Not all chins like having a friend, but most do and be prepared that after they bond to each other, they will lose a lot of interest in YOU! Please take any introduction period slow, chinchillas can turn quickly and death for a chin is very rapid!

jackz answered:
There is no way to guarantee they will get along but the best thing to do is to get another male preferably younger than the one you have and slowly introduce them. Separate cages to start with side by side for at least a week but not too close together that they can bite toes. Then allow them to spend a little time together out of there cage but be ready to separate them at the first sign of aggression. You could maybe go to a rescue center and see if they will allow you to take a chinchilla on a trial basis to see if they will get along together. Its a very slow process introducing them though as rushing it could cause death or serious injury.

Ashley answered:
No there is no way to tell. You will have to slowly introduce the two, and see how they take to each other.