|
|
Post by Pollyblue on Jun 6, 2015 5:49:46 GMT -8
Stella is having her second litter this morning, I know she will handle everything but I feel anxious! She has several of them scattered around the tank, in the corners and such. After she is done birthing them all, will she gather them up?
|
|
|
|
Post by betty on Jun 6, 2015 6:07:13 GMT -8
Just leave her covered and undisturbed for as long as you can. If they are still all over the place in a few hours, perhaps move them all into the same nest for warmth and see if she leaves them together.
I had a mum once who dragged the poor things into 3 different places for the first few days - but all still warm and all fed and by about day 3 they were all back together in the one place.
You can't make her love or feed them - but you can at least shove them back in her main nest and give them a chance...
We are all anxious mums the first few times - now I just leave them to it... (easy to say - I know)
|
|
|
|
Post by t1gg3er on Jun 6, 2015 6:27:59 GMT -8
How exciting you're there to see the birth although I can imagine how anxious you must be feeling - I'd have been on pins if I'd known when Gizzy was having her litter.
Hope she gathers them together soon.
|
|
|
|
Post by Pollyblue on Jun 6, 2015 7:35:34 GMT -8
I washed my hands, gave Stella some pumpkin seeds, rubbed my hands on some nesting and then picked up the babies in the far corner and put them with the others where Stella had been staying. There were 3, they were the first ones she had had and had been alone for a couple hours since we woke up and were a little cold, but still alive. I kind of scooped them up with some tp shreds so I didn't actually touch them. I think there are at least 5 total.
Hopefully I didn't upset her too much, but it was making me concerned that she was ignoring the others, like she forgot about them.
|
|
|
|
Post by betty on Jun 6, 2015 8:19:42 GMT -8
Usually the females go off for several hours after giving birth to have a mammoth sex-fest. I used to always worry about how long she was at it with her hubby, but they always had little milky-tummies.
Hopefully now they are all together, she will leave them that way and soon settle down for some feeding and toilet-washing. All snuggled together...
|
|
|
|
Post by Pollyblue on Jun 6, 2015 14:07:00 GMT -8
We were gone most of the day, she has them all in a new spot under the water bottle now  I gave her some food and checked her water. She is being a great mommy, nursing her babies. I put the food near her and she stretches just enough to reach some and then lays back down on them. She did move off enough that I could see them. I couldn't count since it is hard to tell where one ends and another starts, but i wouldn't be surprised if there are 7 or 8. I can't believe how tiny they are! |
|
|
|
Post by Pollyblue on Jun 6, 2015 16:12:19 GMT -8
There are 8 Should I be giving Stella puppy or kitten food? I have read that a few places. |
|
|
|
Post by t1gg3er on Jun 6, 2015 16:29:36 GMT -8
Wow! Congratulations - that's a big litter. Gizzy only had 4 each time so Stella has as many as both Gizzy's litters put together!
We've been giving Gizzy sunflower hearts & mealworms in addition to good quality gerbil mix with a high protein content.
|
|
|
|
Post by Pollyblue on Jun 6, 2015 16:42:34 GMT -8
We have given her a good gerbil mix with the higher protein since we got her, also sunflower and pumpkin seeds. The guy we bought them from also gave us food that is a good quality pellet type, we give them a mix of all the above. So maybe that is plenty of variety.
|
|
|
|
Post by Pollyblue on Jun 6, 2015 18:47:13 GMT -8
Her nest is right in the front corner. I snuck a quick picture when she was off duty  |
|
|
|
Post by betty on Jun 7, 2015 1:00:00 GMT -8
I don't think I have ever had 8 pups in one litter - she is going to be busy!
Lucky for you she has got them right at the front for now so you can watch them grow a bit. It's great when they start to colour up. What colours are you expecting again - I can't remember if you said what the other pups were somewhere?
|
|
|
|
Post by Pollyblue on Jun 7, 2015 5:22:30 GMT -8
I hope she does alright with so many all by herself.
The first litter is 7, there is one Dove, two Argente Cream and four Argente Golden. The dad is a Lilac. So these will probably all be variations of the same, light shades.
|
|
|
|
Post by betty on Jun 7, 2015 6:53:49 GMT -8
Ah yes - with a PEW mum - you must have both ch and chm genes.
So with the dad having none - you are getting just those same colours - but there are 6 shades in total between them...
If you keep her topped up with high protein foods and fresh water - and try not to disturb her too often - that is all you can do to give them the best start possible.
|
|
|
|
Post by Pollyblue on Jun 7, 2015 7:28:59 GMT -8
We are keeping the Dove with dad, since he is a male. He is the sweetest most mellow pup, and adorable  8 was a lot for this second litter, but at least it is almost guaranteed there will be a mix of genders. We will keep at least one girl from this litter with mom for long term. One thing I have been thinking, if it would be possible to keep two boys and two girls. That way when mom and dad die, there isn't a problem of finding a cagemete for the single boy or girl left alone. But, how would a mom and two daughters get along? I have heard mixed things about 3 females. And how hard would it be to introduce a 5 week old boy to his father and 10 week old brother? I am using two 20 gallon tanks right now, and a spare 10 gallon in the garage. |
|
|
|
Post by Pollyblue on Jun 7, 2015 7:30:08 GMT -8
I guess I could keep two boys now, instead of homing them as a trio...
|
|
I gave her some food and checked her water. She is being a great mommy, nursing her babies. I put the food near her and she stretches just enough to reach some and then lays back down on them. 
