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Post by Fanta on Sept 9, 2012 16:02:50 GMT -8
Hi, My gerbil may or may not be pregnant - we don't know yet. But if she is, I'm scared because what if she'll eat her pups? I've heard of this happening before.  I've heard that you shouldn't disturb the mother or anything about the cage for the first week. But to what degree? Like how do I feed them? Can I look at them? Should I put her in the quietest room as soon as I see her belly getting bigger? Is there anything else I can do to prevent her from eating her babies? By the way, she'll have to raise them on her own... can she do this?! Thanks so much to anyone who replies! |
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Post by Fanta on Sept 9, 2012 17:43:06 GMT -8
Any thoughts?
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Post by banditcuster on Sept 9, 2012 18:46:49 GMT -8
Hopefully one of the breeders can come in and give you more information, this is what I know.
I think how much you can deal with the mother depends on her relationship with you. I would probably do a cage cleaning a bit before she is due so that the cage is clean. once the pups are born for the first bit I would just get into the tank to change water and to feed her, maybe offer her some treats if she comes out to investigate while you are there.
It is harder for her to raise them on her own but she can do it.
If provided with more protein in her diet, she shouldn't eat her young. Meal worms, scrambled eggs (cooled first) are great ways to add protein.
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Post by Fanta on Sept 10, 2012 3:45:49 GMT -8
Thank you so much that really helped.  I'll make sure to add protein and I read somewhere that eggshells help too... My relationship with her isn't formed yet, as I only got her 5 days ago. However, so far she's doing great. Thanks for the input - anyone else? |
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Post by banditcuster on Sept 10, 2012 11:14:35 GMT -8
your welcome. I have never offered egg shells but that is mostly because I don't eat eggs often and my cat just stares at me like i'm a crazy person XD I don't know if they sell it every where yet but Kaytee is selling meal worms and a 3.5 ox bag is like 3 bucks... and they have a larger size. it is for wild birds but my gerbs and my housemates carnivorous plants like them so far. |
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Post by Fanta on Sept 10, 2012 11:55:23 GMT -8
Alright, I'll see if she likes mealworms I actually doubt she will, though, because right now she won't even eat a single piece of fruit... I've tried just about everything. Dried bananas, raisins, dried papaya treats, strawberries, current.... she hasn't eaten one bite. However, she loves peanuts and seeds and just about everything in her seed mix. Any ideas as to how to get her to eat a wider variety? |
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Post by banditcuster on Sept 10, 2012 12:41:17 GMT -8
For my boys they weren't taking them from me the first time I offered so i just set a few in their a dish for them and now I offer them and they will happily steal them and run off to munch on them.
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Post by Fanta on Sept 10, 2012 16:29:41 GMT -8
Okay cool, I hope Fay gets to like them to like them too!
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I'll make sure to add protein and I read somewhere that eggshells help too...