The Chao Life-Cycle

Chao go through a life cycle, and go through several stages in their lives.

Stage 1: Egg. Before a Chao's birth, it starts out in an egg. This stage will not last that long, which it can last up to a couple minutes.

Stage 2: Child. When a Chao hatches from it's egg, it is referred to as "Child Chao". This stage will last about one Chao year (Three to Five hours of time in the Chao Garden). While in this stage, the Chao will go through gradual change known as "Gradual Transformation, where its shape and color change depending on the characters, fruit, animals, and Chaos Drives it interacts with. This stage ends when the Chao enters a blue and green cocoon. This is known as it's First Evolution.

Stage 3: Adult. After the Chao exits it's cocoon, it is an adult. This stage lasts four Chao years (Twelve to Twenty hours while in the Chao Garden). Much like the Child stage, adult Chao go through gradual transformation, where its shape and color changes depending on its interaction with animals, and Chaos Drives. This is known as Second Evolution. This stage will end when the Chao goes in a second cocoon as the Chao dies or reincarnates.