Hello. So I have bred chinchillas in the past and absolutely love the experience. I haven't in quite a few years and im just now getting back into the swing after having purchased two great chinchillas from a wonderful breeder. One is a violet female and the other is a pink white male, both two years old. They have been together since the end of March. The female went into heat (I know what to look for) from about May 1st or 2nd until the 4th ish. I marked that day. Due date would be August 20th ish. Then, a little over a month later she went back into heat on June 17th and I actually saw the mating occur several times. That's when my confusion started. I know chinchillas have a split uterus and I heard they will go into heat again even after they have become pregnant and this may result in pregnancy on both sides. One to full term and the other premature (which you may not even notice). She hasn't been gaining much weight until recently. She actually lost weight a while back so I figure if the pregnancy took in May she may have miscarried.
But, once she hit 9 weeks (if the May mating occurred) she started behaving oddly. She started pushing all of the bedding to one side. Since May on and off she has been naaaaasty to me (unusual for her), she began laying on her side or in odd positions, at night she is overly active and spends hours pulling on the cage bars as if trying to escape jail (she NEVER did that before), her fur is looking much more "ratty" than usual, and I know it sounds odd...but even the base of her tail (I assume near the pelvic region) looks.... for lack of a better term... Meaty, or thicker. So, having bred chinchillas I know most of these signs are typical pregnancy signs, but, she didn't start gaining weight until week 9 (if it's May mating). Now she would be on week 11 and in two and a half weeks she gained 24 grams. She is a smaller female so I'd assume by day 77 (which is today) I'd be able to see a noticeable difference in her size, but I don't. So is it normal for her to not be gaining weight until now? And is it possible that she could have gone into heat again if she conceived in May, or do you think she is gaining weight from the June mating after only 30 days? My old female was always obviously pregnant. This female is very tricky by exhibiting behaviors of pregnancy but showing behavioral signs that contradict the current physical signs. Thoughts, PLEASE!?!?
:impatient:
But, once she hit 9 weeks (if the May mating occurred) she started behaving oddly. She started pushing all of the bedding to one side. Since May on and off she has been naaaaasty to me (unusual for her), she began laying on her side or in odd positions, at night she is overly active and spends hours pulling on the cage bars as if trying to escape jail (she NEVER did that before), her fur is looking much more "ratty" than usual, and I know it sounds odd...but even the base of her tail (I assume near the pelvic region) looks.... for lack of a better term... Meaty, or thicker. So, having bred chinchillas I know most of these signs are typical pregnancy signs, but, she didn't start gaining weight until week 9 (if it's May mating). Now she would be on week 11 and in two and a half weeks she gained 24 grams. She is a smaller female so I'd assume by day 77 (which is today) I'd be able to see a noticeable difference in her size, but I don't. So is it normal for her to not be gaining weight until now? And is it possible that she could have gone into heat again if she conceived in May, or do you think she is gaining weight from the June mating after only 30 days? My old female was always obviously pregnant. This female is very tricky by exhibiting behaviors of pregnancy but showing behavioral signs that contradict the current physical signs. Thoughts, PLEASE!?!?
:impatient:
