|
Mixing
Jul 21, 2004 11:29:29 GMT -8
Post by sweetie on Jul 21, 2004 11:29:29 GMT -8
Me again, I had asked this question in another posting but it was mixed with a bunch of other stuff too . Here it goes again. I have successfully integrated 2 feamles in one duna cage and 2 males in another. The duna cages are side by side and joined in several areas with blockers to prevent access but allow closeness. The gerbs are about 3 months old. I am not currently prepared or knowledgable to breed them. Question: 1) Will the close proximity of the cages creat an issue regarding females in estress? Will fighting ensue? 2) If at some future point I would like to breed them will it be possible to place the 2 breeding pair in separate duna cages? Will they need to be re-introduced for a trail period? 3) If mating is successful, could I then put the males in with each other again? 4) Could I put the moms and babies together in 1 duna cage or should I separate them? If I should separate them then: 5) Could I then place the moms back together after adopting out the babies? I guess I am asking for a lot but I want to make sure I have all the facts and that the gerbs are safe, healthy, and happy! Thanks for all of your support both now and in the past. This place is the best!! ;D
|
|
|
Mixing
Jul 21, 2004 12:10:21 GMT -8
Post by queenofthenile on Jul 21, 2004 12:10:21 GMT -8
1) I've never seen this to be a problem, but perhaps others have.
2) I don't quite understand what you are asking. If you decide to breed, you will have to split cage one male with one female. The breeding pairs then should be kept in seperate cages.
3) If you want to stop breeding, yes you can split the males up. You would have to reintroduce them slowly again, with a split cage because gerbils forget each other within 72 hours.
4) You can have each mom with her corresponding babies in a seperate tank. You would need to remove the male babies before 7 weeks to prevent inbreeding. Some people have had luck keeping mom and female babies together forever, but I have found that groups of more than 2 gerbils always fight.
5) You could, but again you need to reintroduce them slowly via a split cage.
|
|
|
Mixing
Jul 23, 2004 14:20:19 GMT -8
Post by Ritzie/Admin on Jul 23, 2004 14:20:19 GMT -8
I think Queenofthenile has answered most questions. About the first one: I have never had problems with that, but because they have a very good smell it might be a problem. Maybe it is a reason for declanning groups, but I don't really know!
|
|
|
Mixing
Jul 25, 2004 13:31:14 GMT -8
Post by sweetie on Jul 25, 2004 13:31:14 GMT -8
Hello Queenie, Thanks aain for the wisdom!!! I am now more knowledgeable regarding breeding. I guess the reason for the questions is because I want to be sure that I do what is going to work and you have the experience and knowledge. Thank you for sharing that with me/us. You have understood and addressed all the questions. Maybe with a little more research, I will be more confident. I think that the "Parents" having babies will be a great experience for the children. You did indicate that a year old is the best time to breed? Thanks again!!
|
|
|
Mixing
Jul 25, 2004 13:50:56 GMT -8
Post by queenofthenile on Jul 25, 2004 13:50:56 GMT -8
Peter feels that waiting until they are 5-6 months old is a good idea. Maybe this prevents the underdeveloped female from breeding too early? At one year old the litters will be the largest. I wouldn't introduce a breeding pair if the female was older than 1 1/2 years. I did this once and she wound up only concieving one baby and it was so big that it got stuck in the birth canal during labour. $80 later at the emergency vet, the mother was fine, but the baby was still-born. Anyway, so anywhere between 5 months and 1 1/2 years is a good age to introduce a breeding pair.
|
|
|
Mixing
Jul 28, 2004 21:40:38 GMT -8
Post by j on Jul 28, 2004 21:40:38 GMT -8
1) Will the close proximity of the cages creat an issue regarding females in estress? Will fighting ensue? I've had problems with the males over this, not with the females. My male and female tank used to be right next to eachother and when I'd take the top off the females, and they would jump out of their tank and run around on the boys tank. Never had a problem untill one day one of the females must have been in heat at the time. Males didn't see or hear her, they were sleeping under a ton of stuff. Came out twitching their noses and would jump up trying to get at the female. After that, they had dominance issues and kept mounting and chasing eachother for like a week. Also I tested them out of curiosity.. I put a different female on the top to see how they'd react, and they didn't care as much. Put the one in heat back.. they went nuts.
|
|
|
Mixing
Jul 31, 2004 9:28:53 GMT -8
Post by sweetie on Jul 31, 2004 9:28:53 GMT -8
Thanks for the info. I will keep watch and ensure no fighting erupts and take steps to separate the proximity of the cages if it does.
|
|