pixytwinkle
Member
Molly and Misty, my lovely gerbils.
Posts: 737
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Post by pixytwinkle on Nov 20, 2004 9:45:30 GMT -8
thanx alot littlesqueekers that has really helped me. I will tey and find some meal worms. If i just seperate the cage instead of buying two seperate cages will i still be able to let them out together in a gerbil proof room if i watch closely so no mating happens or will they attack each other? Will the mother need a small box with bedding in it or something like that to give birth in? I am going to seperate them about 2 weeks before she is due to give brth does this give her enough time to adjust? Oh yeah and if a baby goes through the divider (as the holes are quite big) will the dad kill it as he has been sepertaed from them or will it be ok? ps. lovely gerbils littlesqueekers. ;D
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Post by doomgerbiluk on Nov 20, 2004 10:51:13 GMT -8
oh dear lots of questions I suspect a wandering baby would be kidnapped by dad to cuddle with BUT it might starve you need to be alert and return strays to mum a nestbox is nice but not essential I prefer my gerbils to ahve the option BUT with Tufy at least I cannot allow anys tructures where the pups can get hidden or she won't go look for them
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Post by queenofthenile on Nov 21, 2004 5:33:33 GMT -8
No you can't let them roam free together. If the get behind something, they could be doing their business and you wouldn't even know. Also, they may fight when let out together, so please don't do that.
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pixytwinkle
Member
Molly and Misty, my lovely gerbils.
Posts: 737
|
Post by pixytwinkle on Nov 21, 2004 11:07:36 GMT -8
ok thanx. Where can i get wax worms from as i have heard these are good for gerbils. Are they live or dead? If i do decide to put in a nest box what should it be made of? Wood a normal cardboard box work? When the babies arrive will it be ok for me to cover half of the cage woth something black to make mom feel more safe and make it nice and quite for her or will this just freak her out or something? Sorry about asking so many questions i just want to be prepared.
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Post by sweetie on Nov 21, 2004 19:42:55 GMT -8
Hey pixy,
I would rather you ask the questions. It shows that you aer responsible.
With mine, I did not give them a nesting box. This is so when they tunnel, nothing will get caught under. Also I wanted a clearer view of the babies. I did give them plenty of toilet tissue (unscented of course) and a blanket to cover half of the tank for privacy.
I hope it is a pleasant experience for you and the gerbils! Good luck.
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pixytwinkle
Member
Molly and Misty, my lovely gerbils.
Posts: 737
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Post by pixytwinkle on Nov 22, 2004 7:01:02 GMT -8
ok thanx i think thats all the questions i have to ask now. oh wait what about when se is giving birth what will happen and is there anything i have to do or any difficukties that might arrive? Do i have to take anything out of the cage eg wheel or anything that could harm the pups?
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Post by doomgerbiluk on Nov 22, 2004 8:09:20 GMT -8
she'll chase the male from the nest have her pups mate with her partner
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pixytwinkle
Member
Molly and Misty, my lovely gerbils.
Posts: 737
|
Post by pixytwinkle on Nov 22, 2004 10:36:48 GMT -8
ok then thanks if i add shredded paper that i buy from the pet shop will this hurt the pups or is that the fluffly bedding that hurts them? What age should i lower the water bottle so they can reach it?
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Post by sandy on Nov 22, 2004 12:11:09 GMT -8
Toilet paper is fine, the mum will shred it herself. The pups will wean from about 3 weeks old to 5 weeks old, that is when you lower the water bottle. Also at that time provide smaller seeds eg: a bird mix) and maybe some rolled oatmeal for them to eat with their tender and tiny little teeth.
If you can, get a big tank now and split cage it with 1 cm square wire so dad can be with the family. Or, another thing I've done instead is putting the wire top of a cage into a big tank with mum and pups inside it and dad outside it.
For the first week you should check the pups often, counting them because the mum can lose one in the bedding and they can die. I usually keep the bedding fairly shallow then for that reason, by the way. Giving her lots of toilet paper will help her keep the pups warm enough.
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pixytwinkle
Member
Molly and Misty, my lovely gerbils.
Posts: 737
|
Post by pixytwinkle on Nov 23, 2004 6:48:50 GMT -8
ok then thank i think i am all ready now. Thank you to everyone who has helped. i will keep you all informed when the big day arrives and if our camera is fixed then i will post pitures too ;D
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pixytwinkle
Member
Molly and Misty, my lovely gerbils.
Posts: 737
|
Post by pixytwinkle on Nov 25, 2004 11:08:58 GMT -8
sorry but i have another question if the gerbils mated last on the 16th of november by what date should i be getting prepared.
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Post by doomgerbiluk on Nov 25, 2004 13:39:49 GMT -8
28 days average you need do very little but any changes you do make can cause stress so sooner rather than later
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Post by sandy on Nov 25, 2004 19:01:17 GMT -8
well I guess Canadian gerbils gestate faster because mine take only 25 days!
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pixytwinkle
Member
Molly and Misty, my lovely gerbils.
Posts: 737
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Post by pixytwinkle on Nov 26, 2004 8:49:24 GMT -8
ok thanx alot ;D
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Post by queenofthenile on Nov 27, 2004 5:44:56 GMT -8
sandy, my gerbils were at 25 days too ;D (35 when nursing).
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