|
Post by coloradogerbils on Jan 5, 2007 12:40:42 GMT -8
One of my gerbils had only one baby and didn't produce enough milk... My friend breeds rats and one was nursing at the time. We decided to try to get the rat to foster the gerbil...and it worked great! The mom, Henrietta, took her in as one of her own babies. Peter, the gerbil, (who happens to be a girl...it's a long story, LOL) thinks she is a rat. =D She is a nutmeg, if you were wondering. She's around 5 weeks old now. Yesterday I just put her with a baby gerbil around her age. She didn't know what to think of it! They seem to be getting along well, now. I must tell you it was ADORABLE to watch the little gerbil wrestling with the much larger rat siblings...heheh. This video and pic are a couple weeks old. Here is a video...I believe it will work if you click on it...(I hope). Don't mind the audio, Shelby (she's 4!) was being noisy... =P Here is a cute pic of them together... I might have a few other pics hiding somewhere. I will post them if I find them!
|
|
|
Post by doomgerbiluk on Jan 5, 2007 12:47:09 GMT -8
Jackie, one of the NGS judges, had to do this once. The gerbil pup and rat kittens where the same age and they grew up together. She removed the gerbil at weaning and placed him with other gerbils. Fostering is always worth a try.
|
|
|
Post by whitmoregirl on Jan 5, 2007 13:44:15 GMT -8
Awesome fostering story there S'luffly seeing a video and picture too! I noticed that Peter (lol love the name, Peter the girl gerb) still shows gerbil behaviour (the skitteryness is what I mainly noticed) - ah to be an animal psychologist
|
|
|
Post by kelis on Jan 5, 2007 14:45:33 GMT -8
Now that is just.........ADORABLE!! thats so cute ;D
|
|
|
Post by RitzieAnn on Jan 5, 2007 15:33:26 GMT -8
cute!
|
|
caz
Member
Posts: 6,237
|
Post by caz on Jan 5, 2007 15:49:42 GMT -8
I'm just suprised that Henrietta could take on yet another mouth to feed!!!! ;D That's a super real-life story! - great to see Caroline
|
|
|
Post by RyanF on Jan 5, 2007 17:38:24 GMT -8
Quite a nice story. Loved the vid.
|
|
|
Post by girlrazor on Jan 5, 2007 17:48:23 GMT -8
That is a lovely story and the video and picture you've taken are adorable! Thanks so much for sharing this! <3
|
|
|
Post by honey on Jan 5, 2007 22:53:38 GMT -8
That's amazing...and CUTE! Thanks for sharing.
|
|
|
Post by sallyf on Jan 6, 2007 6:47:21 GMT -8
so cute and its great that this little gerbil has survived with the help of a foster mum, its so difficult to try to hand raise{ if nigh on impossible if their really tiny] shes a lucky little fur ball and extra special because of this im sure! love the name peter, i used to have an aunty peter[long story] so it struck a cord with me!
|
|
|
Post by angielouise on Jan 6, 2007 7:41:08 GMT -8
Oh wow! That's great! What fantastic pictures and a lovely story! Thank you! ;D
|
|
|
Post by cliveandcharlie on Jan 6, 2007 9:33:20 GMT -8
Awww! Thanks so much for sharing little Peter's story. Do keep us updated on her progress. Linda
|
|
|
Post by justclaire on Jan 8, 2007 11:42:45 GMT -8
Wow thats amazing, and so very cute! Must have been a bit confusing (and hard work) for mom when one of her babies was running around while the others stayed in the nest lol! Thanks for sharing this story
|
|
cinnycinnamon
Member
Rest In Peace Jack Black 02/17/06 to 05/30/09
Posts: 1,280
|
Post by cinnycinnamon on Jan 8, 2007 15:33:19 GMT -8
Oh wow, I would have never thought about fostering! That's really great that Henrietta has taken Peter in. Loved the video too, BTW.
|
|
tony290984
Member
Rest in Peace Cherie and Shampers !!! I miss you both !!!
Posts: 1,128
|
Post by tony290984 on Feb 5, 2007 0:39:30 GMT -8
I had to look twice then, that's absolutely amazing !!!!!! Congratulations, without your quick thinking that poor baby would have died Tony
|
|