URGENT! Mom freaking out...cage, still dangerous

[gerbilpup]

Hey Everyone,
I posted yesterday about the unsafe cage for my gerbil pups and went out and bought a one floor metal one today. I transfered the gerbils (mom and dad), but my problem is with the pups. The nest was in a removeable ball, so I removed the ball and placed it in the new cage but the ball is no longer attached to anything and can roll around...thus creating even more danger. The pups keep falling out. THe mom and dad do not seem so happy about the new cage and are definitely freaking out. The next in side the ball is well constructed and takes up the entire ball. It's made of cotton balls and paper towels and is very difficult to get from the ball. What should I do?

[Jennicat]

You have the mom and dad in there together? Do you really want ANOTHER litter of gerbils?

[gerbilpup]

I think it is already too late for that...They were mating the entire day after she gave birth, so the damage is probably done.

[gerbilpup]

I really need some advice ASAP. The gerbils are not doing well. Should I just move them back to the original cage?

[gerbillover]

OK, you NEED to get the pups out of the ball, that is really dangerous. Just wash your hands and take them out. Also - Don't use cotton balls for the nest, very dangerous. Stick will TP.

When you say "freaking out" What do you mean? All gerbils are going to run around their new cage and dig and shove bedding around, etc.

Please get the ball out NOW. If a pup falls out it could get hurt. I would advise you get
a hideout for the mom tho, to make her feel safe.

And if you don't want another litter, leave the dad in there until the mom starts to look pregnant, then take the dad out. But be sure to leave in 2 girl pups from this litter, to help mom out. And 1 or 2 male pups for dad, to keep him company ( as gerbils should not be kept a lone )

Good luck :)

[gerbilpup]

By freaking out...the gerbil is climbing the walls of the cage and trying to get out. As soon as the door is open she darts out. I tried putting her in her ball, but she went crazy just jumping up and down.....i tried to stabalize the ball, but that's not working...looks like i have no choice but to take them all out...my class just started 10 min ago...this is not a good situation!....so do i just take the babies out and put them onto the TP and remove the next? Will this upset the mom more?

[gerbillover]

Also - To make to mom feel more relaxed, drape a towel over half the cage, and but her in a dark room. Check on her in an hour and see if the pups are being fed.

Also - If for some reason your going out today, stop by your pet store and get some KMR ( kitten milk replacer ) in case she stops feeding them, its very important to have it on hand, just in case. - It's found in the cat/kitten section of the pet store.

[gerbillover]

Take the ball out, and then take the nest out and put it in the corner of the cage. Jumping up on the walls is normal. But right now you need to get the pups out of there, and do what I just said above, to make her feel relaxed.

[gerbilpup]

How do i pick them up? I think I am going to break them...both mom and dad are running around the room now, at least they are out of the way

[gerbilpup]

Thanks for all the help. I finally got the courage to move the pups. Everyone is back in the cage. The mother doesn't seem to be paying much attention to the pups, but hopefully she will as she gets used to being in a new cage and not having her old nest. The whole time she was out she just tried to get into the old cage. In two weeks, when the pups are older, hopefully I will be able to move them back. Thank you again for all your help. I will keep you posted on what happens. PS...I saw the pups for the first time. There are 4...two look dark and two are pink. I am really excited and hope the mom continues to care for the pups. If I leave home now for a little while, how will I know if she has fed them and whether or not I need to go and buy more milk?

[gerbillover]

Pick up the pups and look at their tummys, you should see white under their skin, that is the milk. If its not there, then there is a problem.

What color are the parents?

[gerbilpup]

One is black and white and the other is brown...the tummys are not as translucent and thus it is hard to see if there is milk, but the mom is actually paying attention to them now and has made a semi-nest with TP

[gerbillover]

The black and white one is spotted black. ( or pied black ) and the brown is called agouti.

Glad they are doing better :)

[jyrenze]

Pinch the skin on their backs lightly, it the skin returns to normal after a few seconds they are fed, if the skin hangs loosely there then they r dehydrated and most probably not fed.