Step Daddy Gerbil?

[alexxndraa]

Hopefully, I got your attention because I need an answer. I had a pair together, nothing seemed to happen for WEEKS. I had another more mature male and irresponsibly put the female in with the new male before realizing she was pregnant with the first male. I'm 100% certain she is pregnant with the first male, because she is now pear shaped and these two have been together for only 10 days.

What do I do? What is the likelihood of the male killing the offspring of the other male? He seems to love her already and I feel bad keeping him lonely for 5 more weeks. I'm capable of handling another litter so that they can raise these pups together, as long as he's not going to kill the other male's babies.

I need an answer, not to be bashed like I was on Facebook.

[betty]

Hello and welcome to the forum alexxndraa - we don't do bashing here so you are in the right place to get answers.

The first question will be - do you intend to have a second litter with this pair and then split off the dad with a boy/boys and the mum with a daughter/daughters? I assume so as you were pairing up sexually active adults it was for a double litter anyway? If not though - you need to take the male out now-ish anyway (as they will breed again the minute she gives birth).

So, back to the answer if you intended for them to have a second litter - if the mum and step dad both sleeping together - grooming each other and feeding calmly together - then the male will most likely accept the pups (but this isn't 100% of course as each individual is different and this is somewhat of an unknown).

Females are the dominant gerbil in a breeding pair and so he will most likely step back when she gives birth and leave her to it. He will also most likely wait his turn (he will breed with her for hours within minutes of her first litter being born) so he will be focussed on that and hopefully not on the pups.

I certainly can't say for sure either way - but the only alternative is for her to bring them up alone - which also can have its risks.