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Post by crittercrazy on Jul 4, 2014 12:14:32 GMT -8
Hi, So I've had the idea of breeding my gerbils for awhile, but now that (long story) its actually become a possibility (mostly) I'm hoping for some opinions. As most of you know, I've only owned gerbils for a few years and have only had females. So I don't have a ton of experience but I've done a lot of research and am willing to put in a lot of effort. I guess what I'm looking for is whether or not you think its a good idea for me to be entertaining the idea or if I should wait till I have more experience? And also maybe a list of any "cons" so I know what I'm getting into? If I do do it then it won't be for another couple of months so mostly I'm just wondering how seriously I should be considering this. Thanks!!
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Post by johanne on Jul 4, 2014 13:13:21 GMT -8
What are your reasons for wanting to breed? Will you be able to find homes for the pups? Will you be able to keep extra gerbils in the long run if for some reason homes don't work out?
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NedIsNotOnFire
Member
R.I.P Giggle and Jess x, now you're both living happily over the rainbow bridge, together again xxx
Posts: 251
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Post by NedIsNotOnFire on Jul 4, 2014 13:32:48 GMT -8
Well with this whole pup incident thing, i defiantly agree with what johanne said! x 2 of the people who said they could take some have declined and now it looks like we don't have anyone who will take them x But on the whole, i think that it's a good experience for you to see them grow x Just make sure you have a reason to breed x Whether it be for a certain colour, personality ect. Try and stick to those reasons xx And also make sure you have a very knowledgable vet in your area x Just be prepared for LOTS of squeaking, and remember you should have 2 litters, so you may end up with 13+ gerbil pups x I was very lucky because all of the pups are very healthy and it doesn't seem like we will have any deaths. I am also lucky as Ökami seems to be doing a very good job looking after the little ones x If you are prepared for the worst, and you know how to deal with it, i don't see what would be stopping you x I've only had gerbils for 3 years, and all my knowledge is based from this forum, the little experience i have and other various resources, from the local pet shop to emailing specialist vets x
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Post by crittercrazy on Jul 5, 2014 9:49:36 GMT -8
Thanks guys. I guess I don't have a very sensible reason for breeding. . . mostly that I just love gerbils and the little pups are so cute and yeah that's about it. That's probably a pretty terrible reason huh? I guess the other reason would be that I'd like to try my hand at taming pups and basically the entire process, if hat makes any sense. I do not currently have enough space for it, but I'm going to buy at least enough tanks that should I not be able to place them there will be a male tank and a female tank, at which point I would need to get more cages if there were too many to be in either tank. I have some friends who would like gerbils, though of course they aren't absolutes so other then that I might offer them to a little pet store in town that sometimes takes gerbils from people with accidental litters. And last I guess I could always put an ad on the newspaper. So I'm guessing those are all terrible answers. . . please be honest if you think I'm not ready for this. Thanks again!!!
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Post by crittercrazy on Jul 5, 2014 10:20:00 GMT -8
And also, is a 10 gallon aquarium sufficient for a breeding pair? Or do I need to look for something bigger? Thanks!
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Post by Demonic Hope on Jul 5, 2014 10:48:46 GMT -8
I personally don't think you are ready.
A gerbil can have 10 pups a litter. So that is 20 gerbils. Now its not likely you'd get 20 pups but its a chance. Can you handle that many pups? And please don't give to a pet store. They don't screen owners. And do you really want a pup possibly living its life alone, in a Crittertrail, not even given proper bedding or food because some parent bought it on impulse for their kid? Or fed to snakes?
You are looking at a 20 gallon tank for breeding.Ten is to small.
Are you prepared for possibly loosing the female? Or having her kill her pups? Or watching the pups die if something goes wrong?
Do you have the money for a vet if the pups develop URI's and need antibiotics?
If you plan on using on of your females, it would be difficult to reintroduce her back to her sister. So you'd have to make sure to have a female pup for both mom and the remaining sister. Not to mention a pup for Dad. So not even keeping unwanted pups, you are looking at 4 tanks of gerbils. Can you manage that?
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Post by crittercrazy on Jul 5, 2014 12:09:29 GMT -8
Thanks Demonic Hope. The pet store would not be my first choice. . . that would be more of a last resort. As far as the Crittertrail/living alone thing, I would definitely be careful as far as who I'm giving the pups to. Even if that means I end up keeping all of them. My hope is that I will be able to find at least some of them homes with some of my friends and relatives who are interested so that I can practically guarantee that they get a good home. I can do a 20g too. Maybe this is going to sound bad. . . but the possibility of the mother or pups dying is not something that would keep me from breeding. Obviously I don't WANT them to die and I'd be sad when they do, but I've dealt with enough pet deaths that I can handle it. I wouldn't be using one of my current females. I would be getting another one, then when I'm done breeding her I'll leave a daughter with her and a son with the father. That would still (not counting any other remaining pups) leave me at four tanks which I can do. The thing I can't guarantee is the money for a vet. At this moment I do not have the money for it, but by the time I will actually be ready to breed I probably will. Do you still think I shouldn't do it? I appreciate your advice, I don't want to go into this on a whim and unprepared. Thank you!
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Post by johanne on Jul 5, 2014 12:29:56 GMT -8
To be quite honest, your reasons for breeding and ability to deal with any fallout don't pass the test. You would be wiser to not breed. You can get more gerbils from a breeder or a store if you really want to practice taming. Then you'd know exactly how many extra gerbils you'll have and things can't get out of hand. And you'll have more fun too.
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Post by crittercrazy on Jul 5, 2014 12:50:26 GMT -8
I have to ask- what would be a good reason for wanting to breed? Not that I'm questioning your opinion as far as my reason not being good, I'm just curious. Is there anything I can do that would help me pass the test? Or should I really just wait till I have more experience and better means to do it? Thanks!
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Post by crittercrazy on Jul 5, 2014 13:01:33 GMT -8
This is going to sound like I'm just making up reasons because I'm desperate or something, but I promise that's not what it is so. . . When I first got the idea of breeding in my head it was because there is only one place that sells gerbils within a 3-hour-driving distance of me and they only sell females. That annoyed me so I thought "I wonder if I could breed gerbils?". That's what started it sort of since after that I researched it a lot and haven't been able to get myself off the idea since. I'm going to guess that's not a good reason either so basically I just mentioned it in case you're wondering how I started considering this anyway. Really though, thanks for all your advice! I'm definitely going to think about it more.
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Crystal
Member
Bundles of love since 2002.
Posts: 1,445
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Post by Crystal on Jul 5, 2014 14:14:52 GMT -8
Breeding is a huge, huge responsibility for any Pet Owner who desires to breed, regardless of type of Animal. I agree with everyone else though, wanting to breed for more, cute gerbils or plainly for colors is not a viable enough reason to breed for pups. If you go to AGS: agsgerbils.org/Learn/Gerbil_Care_Handbook/breeding.php#breedingOr any other good gerbil website, they have several great advice or warnings, and what reasons to breed for and not to breed for. I can understand the frustration of no local gerbils, and you'd think that breeding and raising and taming your own would open up possibilities of local residents or people in your town/city/area would want one or a pair, but it does not always work out that way. I live in an area where no one is much interested in buying or adopting Gerbils. Even my own pet stores struggle with selling their own. You have to be prepared to house several gerbils, and you're risking lives in doing so too. It takes a lot of time to evaluate if a male and female are good quality to breed, and even if they do "pass inspection" you could still end with bad results. Breeders breed for temperament, good sturdy gerbils, no health issues (though common illnesses and diseases in old age are unpreventable), and that goes for good behavior as well. A nice gerbil who does not bite or is NOT aggressive is a good one to breed. One that has no frightened reactions towards human contact is also a good gerbil. Aggressive behavior and even Skittish behavior can be passed on, and you do not want that. Breeding for Colors should be the last thing on a breeder's mind. My advice is to continue researching online; there are endless results of Gerbil Breeders searched Via Google to look at who can share their wisdom. Me? I breed for good, tame, well-behaved and healthy gerbils. I do not breed at any open opportunity I get, I map out my gerbils and see what benefits them most. I have excellent qualities in my boys, therefore I searched for an applicable female to continue on my boys' genes and perfect health, and most importantly their temperament. Good luck to you, though (:
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Post by johanne on Jul 5, 2014 17:48:03 GMT -8
The short answer for a good reason to breed is to improve the species. That means you are able to judge the quality of gerbils available, structure, temperament, health, colour... and select the best. And you are prepared to follow through on the responsibility of developing ever better gerbils and ensure they have good lives.
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Post by crittercrazy on Jul 6, 2014 6:52:31 GMT -8
I think I might have misunderstood you. . . I thought you meant "why do you want to breed in the first place" but it sort of sounds now like "what do you hope to accomplish". Yes I definitely want to improve the species. I want to raise healthy, tame gerbils so I can give them to a good home. The other thing is that I'm not planning on doing this as a constant thing. Unless my plans pretty drastically change, I'm only thinking two litters, maybe three. I have yet to find a male gerbil though, so who knows. Thanks again!
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