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[Meeko]

I just took out my chinchilla for his exercise time, and I have a lot to learn. I totally panicked he would hurt himself somehow and it was so stressful. Plus I need to figure out a better way to get him back in his cage because right now I put him back and he gets all mad at me. I feel so bad putting him back he tries to get through all the bars on the cage and I feel awful.

[GrayRodent]

Since you've only had him for two days I'd recommend not letting him out of his cage for at least two more days. It is important that you bond first with your chinchilla before letting him roam around. That will accelerate and solidify the bonding process. Relocation is quite stressful for chinchillas. Usually it takes a week or two for them start acting normally. With bonding it could be a week before he not afraid of you and a month or two before he starts taking a liking to you.

As far as what to do to catch him I'm probably not the one to go to for that question because I only let my chinchilla out in the bathroom or bath tub and if he gets loose anywhere else it's typically a family effort to catch him. I know that many owners let their chinchillas run in other rooms but I don't recommend that unless the room has no power cables in it. They love to chew anything and those are notorious for killing chins. Typically you want to have a room set up so it's "chinchilla safe" first. When he does get out I use a fine meshed fish net with a wooden handle to catch him and it makes it possible to chase him out from under furniture. These experiences of chasing your pet are not good psychologically for him. This can bring out aggressive or defensive behavior patterns.

I do recommend that you condition him to be handled and carried if he's not comfortable with being touched. Most chinchillas have to be trained to do this and it can take a few weeks before they are manageable depending on the animal. You don't have to let him out. Just interact through the cage door. When your chinchilla comes to you on its own and is not frightened of you then you can let him out. Otherwise you may have some behavioral problems. This can take a few days.

My chinchilla has also been conditioned to stay on my shoulders or my lap and chest. It took several months to do that but I'm now to a point where I don't have to worry about him jumping away every time I have him out to hold him. Not that he never does. Chinchillas are very trainable but learn things at a slow pace. What they do learn is pretty permanent once you've established a pattern so be careful. They are tamable but it may be about 6 months before you feel your pet is very tame. It is slow but to me is has been worth it.

[Morrigancharm]

Everything with a chinchilla is about Trust. I would just start by getting him to hop in your hands while he is in his cage. During treat time, keep the treat in your hands and stay very still. He will come for the treat and when he takes it, don't move! Just let him see that you are not trying to bait him and catch him like prey. A chinchilla is a prey animal so instinctively will try to get away from whatever he views as a threat or something that might eat him (even though you aren't! They don't know that right away!) Continue to do this with him everyday. Eventually he will begin to hop in your hand on his own and when he does, you know your bonding with him has taken a step forward. As long as you continue to build his trust in you, he will respond to you much more willingly.
I have one that all I have to do is cup my hands on the floor and he comes running and hops in my hands because he knows playtime is over and will possibly get a treat for going back in his cage with no issues.