unique licking....

[RitzieAnn]

I wasn't srue if I should put this in the breeding section, or in the behavior section, because it's sort of both.

First off, my breeding pair love each other. There's no doubt. Ritzie and Keebler got along within 10-15 minutes of meeting, and they had their first litter 36 days after meeting. I was surprised it happened so quickly. They're great parents, and they always sleep together with the pups, and even before they had babies, they always cuddled. Well, my question...

Durring Ritzie's second pregnancy, Keebler licked her a lot. It didn't happen durring the 1st pregnancy, but the entire time she was nursing, and pregnant with this litter Keebler licks her. She'll walk right up to him, roll over and put her rear-end right in his face. Kinda like she was saying, "hey, lick me there." I just toss a towel over their tank and tell them to get a room... but I've never read anything about this. I think it's sorta funny, but I was wondering if anyone else's gerbils do this. Is it something that the male will usually do durring the pregnancy, or is this something more related to their relationship? Or just gerbil relationships in general.

I've just never heard of it before, and I did a LOT of reading before I decided to breed. Is this unique to Ritzie and Keebler, or did I just miss this kind of "act" in my research?

[lydia]

It is normal to sniff each other's rear ends,it is how they identify each other and any stranger's coming into their territory.
I hadn't noticed my gerb's licking around each other's genitals,but,I would expect this to be perfectly normal behaviour for them.At the moment she will be giving off a lot of hormonal smells,so is allowing him to get the full picture.
Otherwise,it could possibly indicate a bladder or urine infection,I seriously doubt this.With an infection,I would expect him to harrass her for smelling/licking,and for her to be into cleaning herself,as well as generally losing condition.

With your gerbils,it sounds as if it is perfectly normal behavour,that helps to strengthen their bond together.

Lyd

[RitzieAnn]

It's defianately NOT her rear end that he's sniffing. It's licking, and she certianly tells him to do it! It didn't happen with the first pregnancy. Just the 2nd one... and even still as her 2nd litter is 4 days old. He still does it for her.

[sweetie]

I have to be honest, I have never seen it either. I would imagine that since they bonded so well, maybe they are at a level that other gerbils don't get to. I would think that if she had one litter and they were healthy and on her second, that it should be fine.

I know some adult animals lick the pups genital area to stimulate urination etc but I have never seen it in adults.

[gerbil]

My male gerbil (kept alone now) keeps licking females too!