missing toes?

[cgreat]

I got my gerbils as recuses and 2 out of 4 pups are missing toes. Can this be a inbreed thing? 

[LilyandDaisy]

I think it's more likely to happen from injury, though a congenital issue is possible. A mother gerbil might sometimes bite her pups' feet.

My gerbil Storm has a missing toe on one foot and the stump that's left is very sensitive. When I noticed the missing toe I touched the stump and he jumped out of my hands - I won't do that again! I don't know much of Storm's background but I know he was found in a box with lots of other gerbils who were attacking him so I assume it happened then or maybe when he was a pup.

[betty]

There are lots of reasons why gerbils may be missing toes but I don't currently know of anything structurally genetic that is heritable* and that often affects multiple gerbils and multiple toes. There are such conditions in existance of course - so it is always possible.

It could be something the mother does (pot luck with her first litter/s); poor husbandry (overcrowding, poor parent selection etc); environment (stress or other conditions, bars, substrate choice, etc); or just bad luck.

But - if it happened to more than one litter either that same parent combo or another litter in the clan - then you could start to narrow it down.


As for your question - yes - of course we can answer any questions you have about the ins and outs of inbreeding - just ask away.

*I know it is only words - but the two can cause confusion: 'Genetic' is anything that is affected by your own genes and that can affect your appearance from birth. Sometimes it is in the genes your parents gave you (something you have no way of avoiding (this is called 'heritable')) - and sometimes it is a simple mistake in instructions while you are being formed (often called congenital) A genetic condition though is not always heritable (not passed down from parents).

Sometimes though, something physical in a pup wasn't congenital - you just didn't see the pup born 'normally' before the issue arose. Often it was the effect of the environment around them - or their mums over-rigorous grooming/stress.

[cgreat]

Thanks!