Chinchillas' behaviour depends on their age, personality and past experiences.
When they're frightened or in pain, chinchillas may change their behaviour or develop unwanted habits, such as aggression or hiding.
Remember that your chinchillas have very sensitive hearing and are easily startled by loud or sudden noises, so be quiet and gentle around them and treat them with kindness.
If you handle them, do so close to the ground, away from shelves and furniture that they may try jumping onto at the risk of hurting themselves.
Never shout at or punish them, as they're very unlikely to understand and it may make them more nervous and scared.
Chinchilla temperaments generally tend to mellow with age.
A chinchilla with a naturally high-strung is more likely to be negatively impacted by environmental stress than a chinchilla with a calm, easy-going, mellow temperament.
Behavioral rehabilitation can reassure a high-strung or oversensitive chin and help him gain confidence in his ability to cope.
Chinchillas are herbivorous prey animals, they aren’t prone to be aggressive or confrontational, especially with predators.