Hi
I have got a chinchilla that is 4 years old and I got him about a month ago. When I got him he was very scared and wouldn't come near me, now I can stroke him everywhere and he doesn't mind, but I still can't pick him up without him trying to get away. I stroke him inside his cage everyday and he is very active and healthy.

Now my question is, do chinchillas only bark when they are scared or in distress? Or is it possible that a chinchilla will bark because it wants attention?

My chinchilla lives in the living room, but when my boyfriend and I turn the lights off and go to another room he starts barking. I never see him bark, because he never does it when we are in the same room as him. He only does it when nobody is there and when it is dark. If I go and check if he is alright, he stops, then I leave the room, he barks one time and then stops completely.
I never hear any unusual sounds, but I know chinchillas' senses are much better than humans. Still, is there a possibility that he barks because he is lonely and wants attention?

chinchillas bark for varius reasons, my guess is he is probably calling out for a friend, chinchillas are incredibly social creatures and it really isn't fair to keep them on their own

at only 4 years old he still has another 10+ years ahead of him, and it would probably be in his best interest to find him a friend

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What would suit him best? Another male? A neutered male? I am not interested in breeding chinchillas so a female is probably not a good idea. And how old should his new friend be? He lived alone before I got him, he is not used to other chinchillas, so wouldn't it be difficult to introduce a new friend?

introducing a new friend shouldnt prove too hard, most of mine have come to me from a life of solitude, and the difference in them when they have found a friend has been amazing
Daisy came to me at 11 years old, having NEVER had a friend, she is now happily paired up with my lovely trebble

the best pairing i find that works is a neutered male/female or male/spayed female pair, however same sex pairs work just fine too, i have 1 male/male pair (i only have space for the 1 pairing as they need to be kept well away from the girls as the scent would upset them)

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