Neglectful Mother

[betty]

I am no expert on hand rearing pups - but there are plenty of other threads on here that follow it step by step so I would advise you start reading them (if you haven't already) rather than waiting any longer for specific replies on your own thread.

All I know from comments on here is that it is very difficult if not impossible to successfully rear gerbils to adulthood from so young. All I would hope is that the mother suddenly started feeding them again. Is she is a totally quiet calm undisturbed location with only the one nest to sleep in? I don't know if this is best, but I know gerbils love to be 'protected' by tunnels etc, so if there aren't any other 'safe' places other than the nest - she might go back in there and then the pups can feed?

[betty]

Sorry, I have no idea what to do then. I don't really check on my pups for the first week really - I just leave them all to it as it is such a crucial stage in their development and I don't want to upset the mum.

How many litters have you had before then - you must be quite experienced to know that the mother wasn't feeding them at all within such a very short space of time. I know sometimes after giving birth my females spend AGES off mating again and don't feed them for what seems like hours - but they are all fine.

Well, anyway, you have certainly got your hands full now then - full-time mum to 6 tiny pups. I hope you found something useful in some of the other threads about hand-rearing... I remember reading in one that it is very easy to squirt the formula up their nose instead and the liquid goes into their lungs which might explain the gurgling?

[lorelei80]

Stupid question, but are you 100% sure that she is neglecting them?
I was worried that my mother gerbil wasn't feeding her babies as she has a very unique way of "mothering". She packs the whole litter in a pile under a few inches of bedding and goes about her business. Occasionally she digs them out and gives them a feed, but to the casual observer they wouldn't even notice that there are pups in the cage! The pups must get enough to drink too because she is on her 2nd litter and both litters are healthy and strong.
My personal opinion is that most animals do just fine with their young and we are the worrywarts. I'd let her do her thing and maybe keep an eye out for milk in the bellies of the pups.