My 2 "girls" just had pups

[jerrd101]

I'm both happy and annoyed. I have 3 babies. I'm just mad. My dad hates the gerbs anyway and is taking this as a oppurtunity to say we have to return 1. I dont want to deal with raisin more pups than this mainly cause I hate makin him mad. But I want to set up another cage and keep em all, separating the boys from the girls. Seems logical. I just hate to return a beloved pet to a petstore. Just lettin off steam but I'm mad

[queenofthenile]

That is really unfortunate. Can you ask if the petstore will take back some of the pups, because it's their fault they sexed them wrong. Unfortunately, the female is likely pregnant again (they mate right after birth). So be prepared for another litter. It takes about 35 days when the mother is nursing. What I'd do is remove the male 30 days from now and put him in a separate cage/tank. Then they won't be able to mate after the next litter is born.

I just wanted to add:
How long have you had the two gerbils? Because if it is less than 24 days, then she was pregnant before she left the store. Is one of the gerbils a male? If they are both girls, you shouldn't get any more babies .

[jerrd101]

yes one is a male. After looking its true. Oh yipee . more babies . Don't get me wrong. I love the babes. About another litter. Lets say Im playing dumb. I would love to keep em all I'll tell you how it works out

[pixytwinkle]

lol i had this problem too my female gerbil gave birth to 4 babies 2 weeks ago and i am only letting her have one more litter.
Wouldnt you think pet shops know what their talking about?
Anyway good luck with the babies.
My dad hates my gerbs too and said he would get rid of the babies but eventaully i persuaded him and he agreed
pixytwinkle

[callimico]

lol, my friend's little brother bought a male hamster from the store and 4 days later he gave birth to 9 squeaking babies

What I would do, is the day the pups turn 5 weeks old, is take all the boys out and put them with dad in a different tank, and leave the girls in to help mom raise the second litter so she won't be byherself. Then later you can leave a daughter or two with mom and find homes for the rest of the pups. But if mom starts to look heavy before 5 weeks better separate dad and older pups quick because she's within a couple days of birth.
If you want this site www.wagerbils.com/sexinggerbils.html has great pics on how to sex baby gerbils early so you don't end up with more suprise litters

Good luck with your newpups

[tony]

That-is-coooolll!!!

[queenofthenile]

Just as a warning, the new litter may arrive before 5 weeks, so you may want to split the sexes a few days earlier. My gerbil always delivered at exactly 35 days.

[jerrd101]

Thanks for the info That is what I was planning on but I'm gonna have to get rid of some . Dad was po'd about 2 imagine I I askes to keep 10.LOL So pet store'll be very very very last resort. When they get olderI put up signs on the net and In stores and school and stuff.

[sprigmom]

Sorry your Dad is so upset. Gerbils are such sweet, funny things!

Try really hard to find a teacher that's willing to take two for class pets; my son's former teacher did and she's had a ball with them. (Both boys) Grade school teachers are more likely to take them, I think. Science teachers are also good candidates; provided they promise to keep them as pets!

From what I've been reading lately here, PetSmart is a pretty good place, you might try there. Ask your friends and other family too.

Try to wash and dry your hands really well before handling them and handle them for a few minutes every day. It'll make them easier to adopt out if you get them accustomed to being held early. Be very sure that you haven't handled any other gerbils before you pick them up, or at least wash well in between! If you put them back w/Mom and Dad smelling like some other gerbil, they're pretty much done for.

Good luck, and enjoy them while you can!

[victoria73]

i bought 2 'males' from the pet store-they had about 8 or 9 litters. geez! it was always heartbreaking takin the lil guys 2 pet store not knowing whether or not they were snake food or not