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Post by TJ's Rodent Ranch on Oct 3, 2023 5:18:41 GMT -8
Hi there! I hope I'm not a little too early with this, I suppose I'm just so curious to find out that I couldn't wait to start the thread  So, I have a Black female and a Light honeycream male that I recently bred, and they had a litter of five pups. At first I couldn't really tell, she had hidden them and I wasn't going to disturb her, but just yesterday she moved the nest out into the open. I was really surprised, because I wasn't expecting the pups to look pied! They have the exact same pattern on their skin as a pied, just slightly lighter skin. I haven't been breeding for that long and am not the best with genetics, so I was wondering if anyone would be able to help me. I'll upload a picture soon. She moved them back into the closed den again, but I didn't know if a photo was necessary so I decided to go ahead and post it now. Thanks so much! |
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Post by TJ's Rodent Ranch on Oct 3, 2023 8:05:13 GMT -8
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Oct 3, 2023 8:17:14 GMT -8
Yes, it looks like you have some pied pups. I believe honey cream is the nickname for a spotted light dark-eyed honey, so since spotting is a dominant gene it would be expected to have some spotted/pied pups in this litter.
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Post by betty on Oct 3, 2023 9:49:34 GMT -8
Congrats on the pups!!!
Black with a Black-Eyed Light Honey Cream* would for sure result in Agouti without knowing any of their recessive genes - as said above this would be both spotted and non-spotted (in fact all the colours I mention can be found in spotted or non-spotted as the spotting gene only lays over the top of the existing colours as it isn't a colour itself and doesn't determine the colours of the gerbils either). If you know any of the parents recessive genes we can certainly guarantee other colours - and if you know any parent or sibling colours - do let us know.
Most likely next common a gene would be that the Dad has a recessive 'a' (ie they had a black-based/self coloured parent) then you will get Black gerbils alongside your Agouti ones.
Less likely but not impossible - if mum has a recessive 'e' (ie they had a honey or nutmeg-based parent) then you should get more honeys and nutmegs too.
Red eyes genes are often lurking - which open up a whole raft of other colours.
Same with colourpoints.
*Light Honey Cream is quite specific genetically - (Light means they carry the ch gene - whereas they might be light in colour due to just the spotting).
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Post by TJ's Rodent Ranch on Oct 4, 2023 11:17:02 GMT -8
Hi there again! Yes, you're absolutely right! I checked the nest today, and they're at that point where they have what seems to be stuble, almost... but not quite fur yet. They're very clearly pied, I can't wait to see what they turn out like when they're older. I've also confirmed the other one is very much Black, and it's actually three pied, not two |
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Post by mygerbilprince on Oct 8, 2023 15:39:46 GMT -8
Oh my goodness they are precious! If you remember, send pictures of them when they're older, I'd love to see them with their fur grown in!
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Post by TJ's Rodent Ranch on Oct 9, 2023 11:22:54 GMT -8
Hello! Yes, their fur has just grown in a few days ago! I'm so excited to say that there are three Pied and a Black, but one of the Pied is a beautiful brown! I'm spending every minute with them, they're growing up so fast! they're already over a week old. Right now, I've been handling them quite a bit so they're comfortable with humans when they're older. The mother (Skittle) and the father (Keefe) both trust me very much and have no problem with me handling them, thankfully! Just the other day I was shocked as I put my hand in the tank and hung out with the parents before I went to handle the babies. Skittle was clearing out her den to move the nest somewhere else. She put them in my hand while she worked, and then took them back when the new nest was ready. I love that she trusts me so much. Also, (since I'm talking about my 'litter status' I thought I might as well mention) I have another litter from Poppy (the mom) and Patrick (the dad) who are a day older than Skittle's litter. There are two blacks and a pied in Poppy's litter, who I have been handling quite a bit as well. Poppy and Patrick trust me as well, but perhaps not as much as Skittle and Keefe. (Pictures of both litters below).  Here is Poppy and Patrick's litter.  Here is Skittle and Keefe's litter. Sorry for such a long post! I suppose I'm just very excited about these pups... no matter how many times I watch gerbils grow up, the magic really never fades |
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Post by catnut on Oct 9, 2023 13:15:04 GMT -8
adorable pups, wish i was closer as i love the pied gerbils and they are hard to find near me. |
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Post by TJ's Rodent Ranch on Oct 9, 2023 15:52:14 GMT -8
Yes, they're pretty difficult for me to find as well. I had to drive a ways (a long way out of my state) to get Keefe and Patrick, which were the gerbs that made these colors possible. I'm also partial to pied myself, which is partially why I'm so excited to have these guys. Well, if you ever visit the Southwest of the United States, you never know |
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Post by mygerbilprince on Oct 9, 2023 18:30:49 GMT -8
Ahhhh! They are so cute! They're like travel sized puppies! That brown pied gerbil is gorgeous! I'm adding brown gerbils to my "List of Gerbil Colors I Must Absolutely Own in This Lifetime" I hope to breed gerbils someday, just to keep as my own. I want to see them grow up and have a lifelong bond with them, I've always wanted to raise an animal from birth. That's way down the line though, I need to be the in position were I can afford to give a lot of gerbils the best standard of care I can. Your pups are adorable, tell Poppy & Patrick (great name) and Skittle & Keefe they did an excellent job caring for their babies!
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