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[flynhawaiian]

So I noticed while squeaks was on my shoulder he was vibrating a lot, at an interval of 2 or 3 seconds.  I think it's some kind of communication method, but I don't really understand.  Can anyone shed some light on this?

[Debbie.nl.ca]

It's usually a sign of fear.
I have one that does it when I hold him out in front of me in my hands. He doesn't like that.

[flynhawaiian]

What is weird is I know on other "rodents" that its a communication mechanism.  He likes sitting on my shoulder, when I sitting on the couch just thought it was interesting.

[chinclub]

Just out of curiosity what color is he?  I have read papers on chinchillas that say that black velvets are more prone to vibrating.  I haven't noticed it in my own herd based on color.  The only times I have noticed vibrating with my animals is when they are new to the herd and nervous.

[flynhawaiian]

He is a charcoal, I think a gray with black essentually.  I watched him today, and he was vibrating from his throat to his whiskers.  It is rather interesting, doesn't seem out of fear rather a communication method.

[flynhawaiian]

I've been noticing more and more that it is some type of communication.  He seems to vibrate at different frequencies and different durations.  I have a digital recorder than can pick up 40,000hz.  I’m wondering if there has been any experimentation with chinchillas and these types of communication levels.  I guess he is a black velvet carrier, as his mother was a black velvet. This is just rather interesting and the scientist in me wants to determine what this really is.

I guess an experiment has been done to determine their frequency range of 90-22,800 hz.  Maybe this would be an interesting experiment.

[Debbie.nl.ca]

I have always thought that it could be a defence mech.If a predator was about to eat one and it was shaking like that, it might give the chin that second he needs to get away.
I have one that will do it sometimes when I know he wants to get on the floor and I wont let him YET 

[Courtney]

Silly does this when I hold him. It is a sign that they are uncomfortable.