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==Physiology==

==Physiology==

Most laboratory chinchilla are provided with a variety of components in their diet which includes pellets and hay. Although chinchillas eat large volumes of hay they do not drink a proportionate volume of water and chinchillas are known to survive on remarkably small amounts of water.

Chinchilla should be provided with a variety of components in their diet including mainly hay and pellets. Although chinchillas eat large volumes of hay they do not drink a proportionate volume of water and chinchillas are known to survive on remarkably small amounts of water. Chinchillas have very dry faeces and only produce small volumes of urine with very little odour. The laboratory chinchilla requires room temperature (18-24C) and approximately 14hrs of daylight/artificial light to be optimal.

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Chinchillas have very dry faeces and only produce very small volumes of urine with very little odour. The chinchilla requires room temperature (18-24C) and approximately 14hrs of daylight or artificial light if in labs, is optimal.

Within a laboratory environment chinchillas are not prolific breeders and there can be difficulty in maintaining breeding stocks. Puberty is not usually reached until approximately 8 months old and they have long oestrous cycles of 41 days, with 2 to 3 days of oestrous. The length of gestation for a chinchilla is 111 days and the range of litter sizes varies between 1 to 6 with 1 or 2 'kits' most common. Larger sized litters may result in fatal fighting amongst the kits.

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Kits are usually weaned at between 6 to 8 weeks and at this age it is possible to pass these young onto another lactating mother without any rejection issues.  Chinchillas have a post-partum oestrous and therefore it is possible to produce two litters in a breeding season which is between November to May, although the male is fertile throughout the year.

Kits are usually weaned at between 6 to 8 weeks and at this age it is possible to pass these young onto another lactating mother without any commonly encountered rejection issues.  Chinchillas have a post-partum oestrous ans therefore it is possible to produce two litters in a breeding season which is between November to May, although the male is fertile throughout the year.

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