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Post by thumpity on Dec 21, 2005 0:42:36 GMT -8
Okay, I visited another breeder and I have people waiting back in my area to adopt some of her gerbils, so far at least 3 pairs by Friday night, it's Tuesday now. The problem is this...
the 12 females were in one big group, I don't know how she did it and it is too late to call. I have a 55 gal tank that I put them into after rearranging my other gerbils and cleaning out tanks to remove smells--and so far everyone is doing fine, sleeping in one big pile- very cute. I started reading all the problems people have had with large clans and now I am worried. I've stayed up very late to watch them. I am very worried that the move to my tank may cause this very large clan to start fighting. The adopters are coming over Wednesday night to pick out their gerbils from this group....1)Will any pairing from this group get along? ....and
2)Do you think the group will remain stable at least through tomorrow night (I've asked the adopters to bring their cages so that I can move their pair into them and watch them for a couple of days) or should I hoof it down to the 24 hr Walmart and get a couple more 10 gal tanks?
They have been stable for 10 hrs so far, but I need to get to bed soon and I have to work tomorrow. AND then if I should hoof it to Walmart, what is the best way to decide who pairs with who? And can I do groups of 4?....I'm not mrs. moneybags, but will get whatever is necessary.
After tomorrow night, there will be 6 females left...any thoughts on this?
Thanks for any help.
-Kaye
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Post by whitmoregirl on Dec 21, 2005 3:01:07 GMT -8
How old are the females? If theyre young there shouldnt be any problems imminently. (Im assuming they're young yeah?) I have a group of four girls, but they *may* declan later, its a risk Ive had to consider as well as my trio of girls. Pairing from the group probably will be fine (as long as theyre pretty young) and they will sort their order out later when they hit sexual maturity. They *should* be fine if they were sleeping in a group, and 10 hours together without any problems seems good too  |
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Post by ashgerbil on Dec 21, 2005 4:48:44 GMT -8
yeah, the problems would usually start around the 6 month mark, so, as whit said, they *should* be ok for now if they've been getting on ok so far |
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Post by thumpity on Dec 21, 2005 6:51:00 GMT -8
They are almost all around 3-5 months, with the exception of one, who is 6-7mos. The 6 mo old is the dominant one. I tell you, the more I read the more amazed I am at this group. They did fine last night, but I am going to the store in a bit. I would just feel better, besides there will still be 6 in there after tonight. Thanks for getting back to me. I appreciate it. <yawn> so sleepy now -Kaye |
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Post by malabui on Dec 21, 2005 13:31:44 GMT -8
They should be fine for now. I got some of my gerbils off a breeder who put ALL the baby gerbils (of both sexes) in the same cage, but only till the age of maturity... and they were all find. There was only 1 female in the group most of the time so the poor thing acted like Mother to the rest of them ^-^
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Post by RitzieAnn on Dec 23, 2005 0:35:13 GMT -8
I wouldn't worry, and declanning isn't too bad. My 4 girls did it a month or 2 ago, but I put them in a 3 way split in my ten gallon, until my next day off. They're fine now. Um... If you have wire cages, or split cages, or any way to split up your big tank, you can always try to divide up the girls like that. You'll be able to see how each girl acts with just one or two of her friends, and not all 11 others. However, since they're so young, I wouldn't worry, really.
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Post by thumpity on Dec 23, 2005 0:53:38 GMT -8
Thanks everyone for responding. I knew they got along great for the other breeder, I was more nervous when I started thinking about the change in their environment when they moved here. All has gone well so far, 4 of the gals have been picked up, and the remaining ones are still sleeping in one big pile. There is one agouti who loves to sleep in the middle of the pack, against the glass. I thought the first time it was how she got squished, but sure enough, I watched and she is putting herself there. Here's a pic  Anyway, thanks again! -Kaye |
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Post by malabui on Dec 23, 2005 2:21:03 GMT -8
AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW THEY ARE JUST SOO CUTE!!! I just want to hugg them all!!! I dunno why, but sleeping gerbils are always just so ultra cute!!!
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Post by whitmoregirl on Dec 23, 2005 4:34:00 GMT -8
haha if I was there that burmese would be gone!! ;D
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Post by ashgerbil on Dec 23, 2005 9:35:00 GMT -8
haha if I was there that burmese would be gone!! ;D not if i could get there first!! ;D lol and is that a grey agouti to the left? s/he looks sweet  |
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Post by thumpity on Dec 29, 2005 8:16:21 GMT -8
Lol, yep she's a grey agouti, spotted. We've decided to keep the grey agouti, Ghost, and the really mottled black, Patches, she's a pet with one of her sisters not in the pic for my youngest daughter. I will use Ghost as a future breeder. The burmese is beautiful, but a little bit of a bully. I haven't let her be adopted yet, I want to make sure that she can be tamed enough with one sister to go to a new family. I have two other burmese, who are expecting soon (well, she's expecting from another gerbil, a dove, but they all moved in together when he arrived)...can't wait. The lighting in the pics are different, so they look different hues, but overall the male is darker (he's the one in the maroon tub).  (I removed the second pic..way too big, I'll need to resize it.) -Kaye |
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Post by ashgerbil on Dec 29, 2005 12:58:47 GMT -8
wow! ;D i heard that grey agoutis are pretty rare over in the US, congrats! ;D i love grey agoutis, they have cute little faces lol |
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Post by kimsgerbils on Dec 29, 2005 17:29:27 GMT -8
Grey agouti is my fave color!!! I've never produced one or seen one, but I love em anyways!!! Very cute sleeping pile photo |
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Post by thumpity on Dec 29, 2005 20:07:15 GMT -8
I must live in a great part of the US for them (grey agoutis), I have 2 of them (one from another breeder north of me), and am expecting several more. I have had two people south of me interested in my grey agoutis and polar foxes (basically gg's), both saying they are very rare in their area.
I just got lucky when I started breeding!
-Kaye
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