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Post by Kenshin on Dec 29, 2004 6:35:17 GMT -8
Ok well amazingly i didn't even know it but my two gerbils had babies, 2 pups, I left the father in he seems fine, is that ok? Is 2 pups a very small litter for a gerbil? <Im used to mice> I mean the baby's are quite big though....
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pixytwinkle
Member
Molly and Misty, my lovely gerbils.
Posts: 737
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Post by pixytwinkle on Dec 29, 2004 9:32:29 GMT -8
hi im no expert on this but i think its fine to leave the dad in as they usually make perfect fathers and help the mothers out. 2 pups is quite a small litter but if its a first litter they are usually rather small. good luck with the new additions to the family! pixytwinkle  |
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Post by sweetie on Dec 29, 2004 16:25:34 GMT -8
Hey Ken,
Congrats on the new family. If it is her first litter and she only has 2 pups, you may want to check the bellies to make sure they have milk in the bellies!! I am sure she will be okay but some times with small amounts, the milk will not drop in 1st time mom's.
Dad is okay to leave in also. I left mine in and he was a great help to Mom. I have since separated them since she had her 2nd litter. Gerbils mate right after birth and can have another litter in 32-35 days later. That's what happened to me and I have since separated them.
I hope all goes well. Post pictures if possible ;D.
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Post by Kenshin on Dec 30, 2004 19:18:32 GMT -8
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Post by j on Dec 30, 2004 22:56:31 GMT -8
Yeah they might die. 2 pups might not be able to cause enough stimulation to get the milk out.
Just remove the father in about 3 weeks so the mother gets used to him not being there before the 2nd litter is born. She's definatley pregnant again.
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Post by doomgerbiluk on Dec 31, 2004 4:20:30 GMT -8
Are they lookign fine?
I've had this concern before. My first litter was 3 pups, 1 dead. I had read that if there are only 2 they will due and I scoured the net till I found the gerbilshowsUK forum. Meanwhile mum had it all under control. the two pups fed well, grew rapidly and became lovley boys.
I have never yet heard of a small litter starving from lack of milk, I have even heard of a gerbil mum who raised just ONE.
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Post by Kenshin on Dec 31, 2004 8:00:13 GMT -8
Alright...Hopefully they don't die, if they do I guess a new litter will be born in 35 days, Right now I'm totally loaded on mice, 2 days ago two females had babies 12 + 13 and last night another one had 15... .... but yeah I want gerbil babies  I really hope these survive, also, there MIGHT be some glass loose in the cage because the glass bottle broke when Shiner yanked it down so I cleaned out half of the 20 gallon *the side where the water bottle was* So I think I got it all, but yeah that really concerned me yesterday too.... meh, I'm rambling on but anyway thank's for your help I'll post updates!!! |
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Post by doomgerbiluk on Dec 31, 2004 9:44:51 GMT -8
lol@ rambling
Although it's best not to disturb a nest too early it shouldnt be major issue and iwht the glass breakage I would want to clean the cage before the pups start walking around (which they may do at oanly a few days old)
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Post by amie on Jan 1, 2005 13:43:23 GMT -8
Congrats on the new pups ;D What have you called them?
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Post by Kenshin on Jan 2, 2005 18:19:50 GMT -8
Meh, I'm not naming them anything Until I make sure they survive lol
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Post by Kenshin on Jan 3, 2005 15:42:44 GMT -8
The babies have survived for four days now, Dosen't that mean they are getting milk? I would think that if they werent for even two days they would die....  |
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Post by queenofthenile on Jan 4, 2005 8:24:18 GMT -8
It sounds like they should be fine. You could try comparing to my pics at www.gerbilbreeding.com/develop.htm. If they look much skinnier than my pictures, then they may not be getting enough milk and you can attempt to suppliment them. If they look about the same, then everything should be fine! |
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Post by Kenshin on Jan 4, 2005 20:45:35 GMT -8
Hm.... they are growing fur now.... at time's one will wonder around the cage.... They might not be getting as much milk as those babies but they are getting enough because they are growing... so they should survive, I'm alway's worried about handling them I have been lately, the mother won't randomly attack them because my scent is on them will she? So far she hasn't nor has Katie (My mouse)
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Post by doomgerbiluk on Jan 5, 2005 3:14:08 GMT -8
Gerbil mums are quite laid back about their pups
no she shouldn't attack you (I won't say won't as I have one overprotective mother gerbil)
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Post by callimico on Jan 5, 2005 12:15:44 GMT -8
You should be alright handling them, just make sure you wash your hands really well first so your scent won't disturb the first time mom. Congrats on the 2 pups btw. ;D
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So they might not get milk... won't they die then? 