Why is my chinchilla biting me? Are pinecones safe for chinchillas?

It depends on who you ask. The cones don't have as much of the aromatic oils that shavings have in them. Owners who do choose to offer pine cones will wash them in hot water then bake them in an oven at low temp to dry them out, evaporate any residual oils and to kill bacteria/fungus. If the toy was made specifically for guinea pigs, it is likely fine. If you are still concerned, remove and discard the cone part of the toy or remove the entire toy. Monitor for lethargy, decreased appetite or loose stool.

Eastern white pine is general considered the "safe" pine to use as rabbit chews. The other species of pine contain higher levels of phenols which are toxic. Pine, ideally, should be kiln dried, before being offered. The high temps "bake" the phenols out of the wood. Pine needles while not toxic, can cause stomach upset or an obstruction if enough are eaten. To be safe, stay away from them.

Hulk is probably trying to play with you, as I have never seen chinchillas act in an aggressive manner in this way. Make sure he always has plenty of chew toys, branches, and hay to keep his teeth occupied, and away from your feet!

Be patient. Allow him to acclimate to you gradually. Start by simply sitting next to his cage for ever increasing periods of time. Move slowly and talk softly around him. Progress to placing your hand in the cage, again for ever increasing periods of time, until he gets used to you. Wash your hands thoroughly before to remove all scents of food or treats. End each session with a small treat or reward. Do not attempt to hold him or force him to do anything. If he is curious about your hand in the cage, let him smell you and crawl on you. If he nips or bites, take your hand away and try again after he settles down. He will soon begin to realize you are the one providing food, water, toys and treats and then will begin to respond to your presence.

I am sorry to hear that things are not going ideally with Dikta. Chinchillas can be a bit standoffish, and some of them are not very cuddly. However, let’s see what we can do so you don’t get bitten it peed on as much (if at all). If she likes treats, you may just need to keep making all of your interactions positive through the use if them use caution with treats, however, as many of them have dairy, fruit, or sugar in them and are not healthy for chinchillas. To avoid getting bitten, you can also feed her with feeding tongs, and this will put you further from her which may make it less intimidating. As far as training with her, keep it positive. She sounds like she may be nervous around you, and intimidated, so just keep giving her pieces of food (can even be her pellets if she likes those) whenever you are near her. Don’t try to touch her yet, just the treats until she is coming up to you anytime that you go by. Then begin to approach her by small amounts, and if she doesn’t move away, give her a piece. Then you can continue moving closer and closer over time. Remember to be patient, as this can take a while. I hope that gives you a place to start, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Thanks for reaching out about Bindi. It is definately possible he is getting dust up his nose and sneezing it out. You could try a different brand of dust. If nasal discharge is present, a veterinary visit is recommended as dental disease or an upper respiratory infection are possible. Good luck.

A toilet paper roll (without the toilet paper on it) is a fine toy for a chinchilla. Unless your chinchilla for some reason decided to eat it all in one sitting, it shouldn't be an issue. When I worked as a zookeeper we used to put treats inside a toilet paper roll and put hay or paper towels in each end so they had to work to find their treat!