help/opinions!!
IF PHOTOS ARE ADDED IT WILL GO IN ORDER OF THE QUESTIONS. i have had a chinchilla for a little while now and i have a few questions/concerns but also need tips! just to help y’all keep up my chinchilla’s name is mr. chinchilly but mr. c for short. so mr c only likes physical touch when i pet him in a specific way. the way is being the ear, down to the chin, under the belly. i think he’s warming up to me because sometimes he lets me hold him but only for a dust bath. it’s been half a year almost a full year but he was abused and i took him from his previous owners with permission.) i have a bunch of questions and need help. (sorry if this is l over the place!)
question 1: how do i get him to stop knocking things down?
he always knocks down his ladders to the next floor up in his cage and he knocks down his food bowl, hay thing, and his marble slab thing to keep him cool. i’ve started to try and leave things where he puts them but it hurts my back to get down to put food in his food bowl so i typically have it at the top.
what do i do?
question 2: i want to know if i should help with the hay situation by putting it like the first photo i will be adding. should i limit it? keep it there all the time?
what do i do?
question 3:how do i get him to not think my finger is a chew toy?
he bites and nibbles my fingers as well as my hands and arms and i want to get him to stop but i’m not sure how to discipline him without accidentally hurting him. i haven’t disciplined him at all because i don’t want to hurt him and don’t know what to do.
what do i do?
question 3: should i give him a vitamin c treat daily despite his biting/nibbling?
he gets really moody when i forget to give him a “treat” i give him daily (vitamin c oxbow treats + other treats sometimes) and should i stop because of the biting or keep going no matter what? i dont want him hurt and im worried if i stop he’ll get sick but if u don’t he’ll get too spoiled.
what should i do?
question 4: knocking down stairs?
he knocks down his ladder stairs thing that lead to the second, third and fourth floor i mentioned in question 1. i’ve taken them out temporarily because i’m scared he’ll knock it down and hurt himself. should i keep it out or put it in and fix it everytime?
what should i do?
question 5: schedule.
i still go to school and i’m wondering what type of schedule i should keep him on. right now i turn on the bathroom lights every morning to imitate the sun and then a bit later (after i know he’s up) i give him his treats and refill his food, sometimes when i get home from school i pet him a little and hang out with him. (should this be everyday?) at night i refill his hay and make sure his water is good. (for water i make sure it’s filled a little over the line pointed out in the 2nd photo.) finally i turn off the light at night and head to bed. should i change anything? should i make sure his water is refilled at a higher level? i believe they’re more active at night so thats why i typically change water at night.
what should i do?
if i have anymore questions then i’ll add to this post and/or ask commenters more questions.
please help as i’m getting more and more anxious about if i can reverse these habits he has!!