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Post by crittercrazy on Aug 10, 2014 10:30:50 GMT -8
I have been considering breeding for awhile now, and want to make sure I know as much as possible before I make the final decision of whether or not to do it. That being said, how do you introduce the male and female? I thought it was as simple as a split cage intro, but after doing some research I've found some other opinions as well. So now I'm wondering which way is the best should I decide to do it, and would appreciate any info on that!! As a side note, some of you may have read/replied to my thread on whether or not I should breed, and I'd just like to say that I am taking your opinions and advice into consideration!!! If I do this, it won't be until I'm sure I'm ready and able to do it. So thank you for that advice as well! Thanks!
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Post by ashtree93 on Aug 11, 2014 0:39:53 GMT -8
When I introduced my male and female, I put them in a split. Then when her first heat arrived, she was stomping and the male replying. We removed the split and observed to make sure they would be ok. And that was it. They were in a split for 6 days and have since had their pups and haven't fought.
I think it depends on what type of female and the age of her. Lexi wasn't my dominant female, but in the middle. She had another sister who was below her in their hierarchy. She was 9 months when we split her with the male.
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Post by betty on Aug 11, 2014 1:58:51 GMT -8
Same for me - I just wrote about this on another thread.
I put them in a normal small split and swap for at least a few days before looking for her heat - then introduce. It has worked everytime for me so far. I don't think I have ever introduced a couple at any other time other than when she is in heat as they are almost guaranteed not to fight.
Good luck if you go ahead.
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Post by crittercrazy on Aug 11, 2014 7:34:49 GMT -8
Thank you! Another question- is it okay if the male is somewhat older then the female? If I do it, then the male will be six months old, give or take a month, while the female will be about three or four months. Is that too young? One place said she had to be six months but others said younger was better. . . Thanks again!!
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Post by betty on Aug 11, 2014 7:54:00 GMT -8
Younger is better for general mixing of any gerbils; but for breeding, slightly older is better for the female in terms of being developed enough to 'handle' having pups. I suppose you could look at it as: a young gerbil is still growing, so instead of all her energy going into growing herself, it goes into growing her babies. Childbearing is a very strenuous activity and takes a lot out of someone - and inexperienced mums may also make silly errors with their first litter - something no breeder wants.
Rodents 'can' breed from as young as 12 weeks in the wild and they often do, but then lifespans are much shorter 'in the wild' too.
Basically, it is up to you which option you choose for your female; but many breeders prefer the older females anyway so that they can see that they have developed into healthy good-sized friendly gerbils themselves before wanting to put their genes into the next generation. No point breeding from a young gerbil only to discover that upon reaching adult age, she hasn't filled out properly, is nervous or shy, or isn't healthy or suitable in some other way.
I know that new breeders want to get started straight away, but rushing these things can sometimes have negative effects further down the line. Oh, and the age between them isn't so important - as long as they are both adults and fertile, they will just get on with it!
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Post by crittercrazy on Aug 11, 2014 10:04:44 GMT -8
Thank you!! I'll definitely need to put some more thought into this. . . like you said I'm pretty eager to start as a new breeder, but I'm going to rethink my hesitant-plans of introducing them when she's about four months, and see if I can't be patient. Meanwhile, I do have one more question about something that has been confusing me. . . what do you put in the breeding tank? Some people say everything other then a wheel, some say only a few inches of bedding and a water bottle, others say the same only that also a nesting box, so I'm pretty confused. Sorry if I'm pestering you with too many questions.
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Post by ashtree93 on Aug 11, 2014 13:24:53 GMT -8
My breeding tank has a couple of different nesting boxes, food bowl, two water bottles (one at a lower height for the pups and one for the parents), a food bowl, loo rolls to shred and make bedding and there was a wheel in there prior to the pups being born. This has since been removed to prevent injury. They do have less bedding than my other gerbils. I probably gave them an inch or two when I last cleaned them out, but this has since increased with the nest building and toilet paper shredding.
I guess it is similar to a split tank, as there is the minimum amount of stuff in there. It makes them focus on the pups rather like how the split makes them focus on the gerbil on the other side of the split.
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Post by Shooting Star on Aug 11, 2014 15:22:29 GMT -8
I put everything in the tank that I usually do, except nothing heavy that the pups could get trapped under. Lots of bedding and cardboard and lighter chew toys. A big food bowl. I let my parents make actual nests under the surface-- they don't mind me digging around to check on the pups.
I'm adamantly against the idea that you need to deprive breeding gerbils of their ability to burrow for the pups' "safety". If you have parents who actually lose pups in bedding, to the point that they weaken/die, you have some pretty terrible parents. And if you just want to be able to see the pups all the time, well to me that's a bit selfish.
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Post by crittercrazy on Aug 11, 2014 17:16:40 GMT -8
Thanks! I'm sorry to be asking so many questions, but I do have another one. . . If I do this then it won't be for a month or so at least. The male and female I would be using are currently living alone, and I don't know how good that is for them. . . especially since they both, especially the female, seem to be pretty skittish. (And I don't think that's a temperament trait, since they were not that way when I got them and they were living with siblings.) I'm wondering if I could do a permanent split (only for a month or two though, and in a 20 gallon tank so they had enough room) so that they will have the company of each other without being able to breed? Or will that just stress them out? Thanks again- I really appreciate it!!
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