|
Post by tokyoandhazel on Jan 16, 2021 10:49:12 GMT -8
Sorry I’m writing just now. They are acting just fine. When Tokyo is going somewhere Hazel will just take care of her babies. They all sleep together in the same place. I also took some photos today. About taking Hazel from Tokyo and her pups, she would be devastated. I’ll watch them every 2 hours but they are usually asleep. Yesterday the pups fell in the tube when Tokyo tried to get out of her tent and she took every single pup to its home. Here are the photos. I’ll update what’s happening tomorrow. ibb.co/3R7w9jhibb.co/ZYZLcf3ibb.co/f04nnnGibb.co/zNBqzqRibb.co/6Wb9VJ9
|
|
|
Post by Markpd on Jan 16, 2021 13:50:29 GMT -8
Some nice photos Btw that tube isn't best placed, the pups could get knocked down it again and get hurt next time, or when they're a bit older they will wonder out and fall down the tube. Can't you move the nest tent?
|
|
|
Post by tokyoandhazel on Jan 16, 2021 14:19:52 GMT -8
Thanks:). I realized that the tube is dangerous but I think it’s safer to move the tent when they are a week old or closer to that, I don’t really want to stress the mother
|
|
|
Post by tokyoandhazel on Jan 17, 2021 4:23:09 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by tokyoandhazel on Jan 17, 2021 5:45:44 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by Shooting Star on Jan 17, 2021 10:41:47 GMT -8
I still strongly recommend you at least buy a second setup. You will need somewhere to put Hazel if she becomes a danger to the pups, and/or she starts looking pregnant. Considering she was with a male at the store, I would be surprised if she wasn't pregnant at all. Gestation is about 26 days, so she could very well be early in a pregnancy. Even if she's not pregnant, you'll need somewhere to put the pups once they wean. From what I can see in the photos, that setup really isn't appropriate for two gerbils, much less seven.
|
|
|
Post by tokyoandhazel on Jan 17, 2021 12:52:37 GMT -8
Thank you, I’ll interest in a tank maybe? Now Hazel doesn’t seem to be a danger for Tokyo and her pups but if she becomes aggressive or giving signs of being pregnant I’ll certainly move her away. I’m still looking for the perfect tank, what do you suggest me?
|
|
|
Post by tokyoandhazel on Jan 17, 2021 13:43:25 GMT -8
Guys, a pup fell again and I moved the tent, I was so stressed because Tokyo didn’t took the pup to it’s place, she took him to the sand box and let him there, so I made a choice, grabbing the pup and put him in the tent. I washed my hands, them I rubbed my hands with the wood shavings and finally touched Tokyo a few times. I took a photo with the pup to see if he’s ok. You’re right ShootingStar, Hazel is probably pregnant but it was to early to realize till now, when I felt her little belly, it’s not the best photo, but you can see a little there. ibb.co/yB4wdqRibb.co/FJNJW3Y
|
|
|
Post by betty on Jan 17, 2021 17:28:20 GMT -8
Yep - I would say that confirms it for her - she looked like she had the classic undertummy in the previous picture - but that last one really gives her a rounded look. She is a lovely Saffron - one of my favo colours.
OK - so yes, see if you can find yourself a nice big solid tank for her - at least 2ft (60cm) long (longer if you can) and they are usually around 1ft deep and just over 1ft high - and must have a suitable mesh lid (or you will need to make a mesh lid from c.1cm aviary wire. That would be a minimum size for starters if your budget or options are slim. However, if you can stretch to more or find a cheap tank (or two) secondhand online that is much bigger - that would be even better - and last you much longer if you are going to be keeping at least one pup for each mum too.
Pet stores and breeders really should be more careful - I am so sorry when this happens and people have to worry more - and spend more - than they originally intended.
|
|
|
Post by tokyoandhazel on Jan 17, 2021 22:08:50 GMT -8
Betty, you have totally right with the pet stores, they don’t even think that the females and the males aren’t the perfect match together in the same tank if you don’t want pups. Yesterday night wasn’t the best for me, I saw Hazel kicking the pups out of their place, I was so worried but I couldn’t let them like that, I moved Hazel over night in a box but she really needs a tank and the only one I found at the pet store is a 60x30x30 as far as I know, I’ll see today. I’ll also get a mesh lid but I need to get it online. Is there a problem if I won’t have a mesh lid for a month? Because I’ll get it from Amazon, I’ll search one in my country too, but there are little chances to find one.
|
|
|
Post by betty on Jan 18, 2021 6:32:59 GMT -8
If you have cats or dogs - it is a huge problem - even if you say they never go in the room. But again, we are in emergency measures here - so you could potentially get away with just laying something heavy on the top of some unfitted mesh - like a cake drying grid for example - until the lid arrives. In that case though, don't put in too much substrate rf anything the gerbil can climb on. Not only can gerbils jump quite high (a foot if they want) - but they can excavate all the substrate over to one side and create a ramp to just walk out the other side. Hopefully she will be too busy with her pups to look to escape, but it would be potentially disasterous once the pups were born if she did of course. I have never bought a lid to fit a tank as I have always been lucky enough to have the space to make my own - but do you know anyone with the tools and some chicken wire? They only need to make a simple frame to sit over the tank's top and mesh it. 4 pieces of thin wood. Hopefully you can find someone. It is just a simple frame like this - Simple Frame (long explanation)
|
|
Thea
Member
Posts: 1,012
|
Post by Thea on Jan 18, 2021 10:03:01 GMT -8
As betty says - a lid is essential with cats/dogs. I always keep the door of the room Rolo's in closed,. whether I'm in there or not. But even the times when I have accidentally not shut my door completely to the point that it clicks, my cat eventually can push it open and I've fond him a couple of times standing on his back paws leaning up onto the cage - and I have never been more thankful for a lid. However a careful person you are, lids are a must with bigger pets! I should also say welcome to the new babies, and congrats even if it isn't the ideal situation
|
|
|
Post by tokyoandhazel on Jan 18, 2021 12:22:21 GMT -8
Not the best situation, I know. Today I went to the pet store and they had a small tank (near to 8 gallons) and it was way too small for Hazel, so I had to take a cage, it’s spacious and I think it’s perfect for the pups, I’ll let a photo down the text. Tokyo is doing great, today she came out of her cage and she was so happy and curious but after 10 minutes I had to put her back to her babies. After the pups are grown up, I’m thinking to separate the males and females. I hope they will stay together, Tokyo, Hazel and their female pups + the male pups in the other cage which I’ll chose when I’ll know how many boys and girls are. Thank you both for telling me about the tank idea, but I had to take something today as I couldn’t wait anymore longer. I let a half of the cage with 10 cm/ 4 inches of substrate, I hope it’s ok. ibb.co/Rz85c5Fibb.co/K775DmKibb.co/Kj6tPjvibb.co/d6HdLbrYou can see my dog’s head in a photo, he is still admiring Hazel.
|
|
|
Post by Markpd on Jan 18, 2021 13:04:35 GMT -8
If you are hoping to put the 2 mums back together after the pups have grown up, that might not be a good idea, see the highlighted bit below (which I copied from this thread). I'm not much use for a survey like this, because my clans are constantly changing. For example, if I have a breeding pair, I'd eventually split the dad off with some sons I'm keeping, and leave some daughters with mom. Depending on my plans, I'll often remove the dad after a bit to pair with a different female, leaving the sons together. Then I'd eventually peel off one or more sons for breeding. Same with the females. My only long-term clans are my retired breeders, and even those tend to have some swapping around unless both gerbils in the pair are retired. Not uncommon with males, but I don't typically keep more than one post-breeding female in a clan. Once she's been a matriarch, a female wants to stay in charge; two of those together is generally a bad mix.
|
|
|
Post by tokyoandhazel on Jan 18, 2021 22:31:35 GMT -8
Well that’s another problem we need to fix:)) Maybe it’ll work if I get Tokyo to meet Hazel everyday so they can’t forget each other. I will try this way because I don’t want them to be like totally strangers. What about the cage? Maybe they will understand better if the cage is bigger or they remember about it?
|
|