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Post by mermer on Oct 15, 2020 16:00:43 GMT -8
i purchased some gerbils a just two weeks ago! one of them arrived to me pregnant and luckily because i researched them before buying and ii was able to notice the signs!
although as theyre my first i still wasnt sure if i was correct.. fastforward this morning and we have squeaks and i noticed three little babies! i was careful not to disturb the bedding and made sure there was plenty of the correct food and water available
my question is.. i only see two this evening is it possible she has eaten one baby? i dont want to go in and look as i dont want to disturb them. is there a tell to find out if ones been eaten or is just lost in the bedding? mum is wating lots of food and seems quite happy...
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Post by betty on Oct 16, 2020 3:18:11 GMT -8
Yes, when you are new to a gerbil mum, it is usually safest not to disturb her and leave her to catch back up with herself. It is possible that the baby is still in there and just underneath something of course. I have been sure I only had 3 pups before and out pop 4 (and one case I was sure there were only 3 (all the same colour) but actually after digging them out a 4 weeks for sexing there were 6!!!!).
Anyway, there is also the chance that one was lost either because of illness or injury which only mum knows best on of course - but there is no need to go and check as you can't change things even if one is missing - so best leave her.
If it was because she herself was stressed with the whole situation, then again, nothing you can do to change the past - only settle her future down which it sounds like you are doing.
Is she on her own in the enclosure of did she come with another gerbil?
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Post by mermer on Oct 23, 2020 12:31:24 GMT -8
She was only 9 weeks old when I got her so she's just about 12 weeks now. She had three but after the second day there were only two. She still has two and theyre now 9 days old.
She did come with another gerbil, we were told they were both female but of course we will know for sure in a few weeks. If she has another litter then I will remove her or him!
I think overall I'm just overly stressing because mum (shadow) hasn't had much time to get used to me and I don't want that to be reason she neglects her pups..
Trying to leave them as much as I can they are in a diy cage with lots of bedding and don't seem too stressed but I have noticed the other gerbil (coco) has been nipping at the babies, is this normal co-parenting behaviour or is coco a risk to pups?
I am awfully grateful for your advice! So appreciate it!
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Post by beachbumgerbils on Oct 23, 2020 12:39:58 GMT -8
If Coco is in fact a male and old enough to make babies, his sex should be pretty obvious by now. I would take Coco out (or watch him carefully when he standing up or hanging over a toy) and see if you can confirm the presence of testicles. If Coco is a boy, you are already in for litter #2. In general, gerbils are pretty good dads and what you are witnessing is probably co-parenting. But if Coco is a girl and you are noticing some rough behavior with the pups, then I would probably go ahead and remove her.
I just went through this whole thing myself. I rescued a group of gerbils and one ending up popping out 6 pups 3 days later. Between the stress of the transition and not knowing how much she had been handled, I didn't have high hopes for the babies. I did end up having to remove the 2 other adult females momma had been living with. I was hands off for the first week, but I really wanted to sex them at the 10 day mark. She does not seem to mind me messing with the pups at all if I put some sunflower and pumpkin seeds in the other end of the tank. I am now handling them all daily and momma has gotten a lot friendlier and more comfortable (and more demanding of treats!).
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Post by betty on Oct 23, 2020 15:18:00 GMT -8
Yes, mermer - we can help you find out the sex of the other gerbil - just either - like as said already; try to get them to stand up against the glass to get a look underneath the tail - or if you can handle them well, either pop them in a large glass jar and hold it above your head to see - or just hold them securely, tip them upright and look at their undercarriage - you really can't miss the man conkers in most males - although if you can make them warmer before looking it will make them easier to see if they are still small... Otherwise just get some one to help you take a picture of them upside down and post on here and we can sort you out. You don't want to wait for the third litter to sort them out - as the young mum will be totally exhausted and you will be overrun with pups! You need to take the male out (if it is a male of course) before the second litter is born otherwise he will mate with her immediately. Don't rush to take them out now as they can still help with this first litter - but if you see babies getting injured or you think babies are getting injured - then take out the other gerbil anyway - regardless of their sex. Here is a picture of an adult male and shows the best position for your gerbil photo for us to help you out: [a href="  "].[/a] |
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Post by mermer on Oct 29, 2020 9:49:13 GMT -8
Thank you all sooo much !!! Coco Hoping that this picture link works!! I had to wait until someone else could come take it whilst I held Coco! I've been able to hold the babies a few times but they have a little nest under a box and I won't disrupt it so I can only handle them when they are on the move! When should they babies start to open their eyes? Thank you again ! |
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Post by Shooting Star on Oct 29, 2020 11:23:44 GMT -8
Coco is female. Pups open their eyes at about 3 weeks old.
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