Chinchillas of opposite sex living together-- how bad is it?

[DorseyClairebelle]

Please keep in mind throughout this post that I don't know anything about chinchillas!

I have a friend who had two chins that she got from someone who could no longer care for them; one is male and the other is female. Neither is neutered/spayed (I don't even know if that's common practice with chins.) She is a very good pet owner otherwise, and has them in a great big cage, all the essentials and more. But being a rat owner, I can't even imagine keeping un-"fixed" animals together. The have already produced one baby, and the female is pregnant again. The first baby is living with them. How bad is this? She is not trying to breed them, per say-- producing little chins is not her goal-- she just happens to have two of the opposite sex. I am under the impression that chinchillas do not reproduce as frequently as rats, nor do they produce anywhere near the same number of offspring. Is this really unhealthy for the female, and what would the risks be for a female baby (the one they have now is male)? I know what she is doing is irresponsible, I just don't know to what extent. This is not someone I know incredibly well, so I don't feel comfortable intervening unless the health of one or more of the animals is endangered. If it is, any related literature that I could show to her would be appreciated. Thank you!

[Lmbswimmer]

The male will breed with his daughter, and if she doesn't seperate soon then she will end up with even more chins, and once she ends up with a male baby the father and son will fight for breeding rights and she will have dead chins.
A lot of things can go wrong when breeding chins - HUGE vet bills.  Those chins need to be seperated.
www.chin-n-quills.com has a lot more information.

I could go on way too long on this one!

[DorseyClairebelle]

Thanks! Anybody else? Advice on intervention would also be greatly appreciated.

[Lmbswimmer]

Give her the website.

Explain the dangers.

Dangers include but are not limited to:

1.  Breedback - mom getting pregnant right after giving birth, can be very difficult on her.  Same thing with rats. 
2.  Not many vets willing to do an emergency c-section, you are looking at probably over $1,000 surgery
3.  Female kit will be able to breed at too young of an age, could equal death, or above mentioned c-section
4.  Inbreeding is usually frowned upon.
5.  If the chins end up with Malo, then she will have a lot of very, very expensive vet bills, which will end up in all of them being euthanized when their teeth get too bad.  There are different forms of malo, some from bad husbandry, others from bad genetics.  Bad genetics can include the roots of the teeth growing into their eye sockets.  If either parent has this then their kits are at a higher risk.  Does not always show up right away - some chins take 5-7 years to show signs. 
6.  Avg. life span is around 10 yrs, not unheard of for them to live into their 20's.
6.  Does she have homes?  Because eventually she will need them.
7.  Over crowding will lead to fights - again very expensive vet visits. Chins can and will fight to the death.
8.  If she has a son, once he becomes a "teen" father and son will fight for mating rights to mom/daughter/sisters
9.  Sometimes mom will flip out and kill the male and or kits.

What is she feeding?  What type of hay?  What type of bedding?  Is the cage kit friendly? 

[DorseyClairebelle]

I honestly don't know the details. This is someone I've known since middle school (I'm now in college) but was never particularly close with-- someone I keep in touch with over the internet, but not someone I'd call on the phone. I will try.

[Lmbswimmer]

Good luck!