Chinchillas are very active and very fast little rodents. They only weigh
between about 400-1000 grams (less than 1 pound up to a little over 2 pounds) and
have a fairly fragile bone structure. Careful handling is crucial. The best way to pick
up your chin is by grasping the base of the tail with one hand and under the chest
with the other. NEVER grab a chin by the tip of the tail since you could
end up with a tail in your hand and no chin! Hold your chinchilla close against you and always
keep your hand on the base of the tail when handling him. Be gentle and speak calmly to him so
that he knows he can trust you or he may not let you pick him up at all, which can create problems is you
absolutely have to catch him to take him to the vet or give him medicine.