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Post by tyrolink on Apr 10, 2007 10:08:17 GMT -8
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Post by ohmylokix on Apr 10, 2007 12:01:10 GMT -8
40 gallons is way too big for breeding. Babies could easily be ignored. Keep them in a 10-15 gallon tank with 2 inches of aspen bedding.
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Post by ohmylokix on Apr 10, 2007 14:22:13 GMT -8
If I recall correctly, Tyro wasn't prime breeding age. Be sure to have plenty of KMR around.
Also, she may be pregnant with a tiny litter. She may not 'fill out' like most pregnant gerbs do.
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Post by tyrolink on Apr 11, 2007 9:34:39 GMT -8
Yeah, she's about 9 or 10 months right now, which is near the end of breeding ability alltogether. Luckily she's healthy, when I last came here she was struggling with a few things. X.x
Today she looks and definitely feels heavier. I can say almost conclusively that she is pregnant. I'll go to Petco and pick up all the necessary items I'll be needing just in case something goes wrong.
I'm looking at practically every gerbil prgnancy site there is on the planet. XD I definitely want to keep these critters healthy and happy. Specially Tyro, since she's so old to be having pups at all. Especially a first litter. Luckily I have every day, all day to look them over and check things out if they need my help.
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Post by ohmylokix on Apr 11, 2007 12:13:32 GMT -8
You might want to make this her ONLY litter, since she is older. And if this litter doesn't survive, you won't have to go through the stress of losing TWO litters. f I were you, I'd tank the boy out. You don't have to, though.
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Post by tyrolink on Apr 13, 2007 4:25:13 GMT -8
She gave birth today, just a few minutes ago, and so far she's got three pups. One is small and was the first born, the others are normal sized. She's tending to them and letting them nurse. I would have taken Link out, but I figured the best chances of these pups surviving healthily is with the father there to help her, since this is her first litter.(I know, there might be tragic consequence to this decision, but I do feel for this first time, she should be able to have him there) If she had bred before, I would have seperated them. All of the pups are bright pink, yelping and looking for milk.  She's doing top notch, considering all she's been through. I'll keep tabs on them, and make sure she's feeding them properly. Wish her luck!  |
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Post by tyrolink on Apr 13, 2007 4:52:52 GMT -8
Make that four pups. One of them has a very black looking muzzle and is quite plump.
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Post by vacampbell on Apr 13, 2007 6:16:50 GMT -8
CONGRATULATIONS hope she continues to do well xxx |
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Post by tyrolink on Apr 13, 2007 6:41:36 GMT -8
Thank you!
I was just wondering, but how long does it take for the mother to produce milk regularly? Like a while before birth, or after birth when the hormones kick in?
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Post by vacampbell on Apr 13, 2007 6:52:35 GMT -8
i've never really thought about it  but i think if the pups dont have milk beans within the hour there is probably a problem with either there suckling or mum not producing how are the pups? still 4? |
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Post by ohmylokix on Apr 13, 2007 10:18:41 GMT -8
The black muzzle doesn't sound good. My friend's gerbil had a baby like that die the next day.
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Post by tyrolink on Apr 13, 2007 10:43:36 GMT -8
They got the beans in their belly, so I know she's producing milk. And yep, the chaos ended at four little souls. Tyro's already moved them to a new nest, and is letting them drink to their fill, and Link is having the most boring stretch of hours in his life. He's flattened out, half asleep and restless. I think initially he didn't know what to do, because everytime he saw a baby, he'd twitch and jump around and then lick them until Tyro bumped him away. *droop*  ...... well hopefully this black muzzle of death doesn't hold true for all gerbils....I'll keep my peeper on him...or her.. |
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Post by ohmylokix on Apr 13, 2007 11:01:59 GMT -8
Watch Link closely. MOST fathers are great and love their babies, but some less experienced daddies end up.. 'grooming' off a leg or a head. But this is very rare, and is usually the result of bad breeding.
You'll have to take Link out when the babies are around 4-5 weeks old. Keep him with a son or two, and he'll be a happy little thing. Be sure to keep an eye out for fits and fixed wrists.
I actually think that Tophie's baby died because Tophie was 11 months old when she gave birth, and the baby wasn't fed. The black muzzle is probably just bruising from being smooshed.
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Post by tyrolink on Apr 13, 2007 11:08:13 GMT -8
Yeah, I am a little wary of Link because of his anxiousness, and he was a little rough with them when he tended them. But I'm glad to say he never nibbles, but has resorted to licking when he does get a chance. Link has definitely grown into his role as a male, so I do plan on doing just that. The sons (I hope there are some) will have a good time with father. The idea of daddy gerbils grooming off limbs is so freaky. X.x The baby was born with the dark muzzle, I was able to see him being born, so I don't think it's bruising. Maybe it's the true pigment of his skin? I've seen some pictures of gerbil pups who look very similar to Tyro's pup. Tyro isn't that old, and gerbils can breed up until around 12-15 months, but this will be the only litter I plan on having. |
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Post by ohmylokix on Apr 13, 2007 11:22:00 GMT -8
Oh, Tyro's already pregnant. =) They mate immediately after.
They sometimes get bruised in the uterus. It happens sometimes. -Shrug- I saw my dove girl, Toshiya, be born, and she and her brother, Malinko had bruised muzzles. It might have just been the way they were seated.
Tophie was a lazy little girl, and was a runt, so her breeding days were probably over earlier than most.
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She's doing top notch, considering all she's been through. I'll keep tabs on them, and make sure she's feeding them properly. 
but i think if the pups dont have milk beans within the hour there is probably a problem with either there suckling or mum not producing
......