A Baby?!?!?

[ginger123]

So my suspicions that the stupid pet store people were wrong about the sex of my gerbils has been confirmed. I don't think two female gerbils have the technology to produce a baby! I found the little pink squirmy thing in the cage the other day... but I don't know how old it is. I'm thinking it's a few days old.

So what do I do? I don't want to have three gerbil cages. I know that gerbils mate after the birth of a baby... so I figure I can be expecting more babies. I really don't want all these gerbils. I only wanted TWO FEMALES.

[soltanifamily]

Hi Ginger,

Sorry to hear about your accidental venture into gerbil breeding; it happens a lot. Here's what I know...

1. To be honest, that single pup probably won't survive. Single pup litters rarely do because the mother gerbil normally can't produce enough milk to feed the pup. Bearing that in mind...

2.) I would suggest that you move the father into a different tank. Maybe, just maybe your female isn't yet pregnant with the next litter. If she is, I'm sorry but you're going to have another litter. Ultimately, I'm trying to prevent you from having a third litter (if, in fact, the second is a forgone conclusion).

3.) Both mother and father will need companions. If the pup doesn't survive, you can consider a couple of options. a) Get the male "fixed" by your vet and leave him with the female, b) adopt a male and a female as companions to the gerbils you already have or c) adopt out the male and get another female to keep the girl you already have as company. You mentioned that all you wanted was a pair of females anyway.

If the pup does survive, you're going to have to accurately sex it and depending on the gender, it can become a companion to one of your adults once it's weaned. You should also figure which gerbil is the male and which is the female. To do so, visit www.rodent.demon.co.uk; it's the National Gerbil Society webpage and they've got excellent instructions on how to distinguish what gender your gerbils are.

If I can be of any further help, please don't hesitate to contact me through this forum or at my e-mail, Soltanifamily@aol.com. Good luck and let me know how it turns out.

[ginger123]

Thanks!

That's really sad that it probably won't survive. :( I read something about giving it a small piece of bread soaked in milk... will that work? I think I'll adopt out one of them to prevent this from happening again.

[soltanifamily]

Hi again,

I've read that bit of bread soaked in milk can work. Depending on the age of the pup and whether or not it's able to "nurse the bread," it may work and it's well worth a try. I believe I read that evaporated milk is best. I've also read that kitten formula is good too.

I haven't ever supplementally fed one of my gerbils, but I've got kitten formula here at the house in case I have to. Good luck and please let me know how it turns out.

[gara]

dont leave me hanging what happened did the baby survive? what'd you about the adults. Is your female pregnant again? I hope all is well and good luck!:)

[soltanifamily]

No, sadly, the baby didn't survive. It's parents are with me and and have been split-tanked (waiting to see if mom is, indeed, pregnant again). If not, I'll pair them with a couple of my gerbil pups and adopt them out.

[AnimalLover03]

I got two (male) gerbils for xmas.Then to my surprise they gave birth to babies!I kept them ALL in the same cage..and yes the parents mated again..so then I had 2 more babies in the cage.At 6-8 weeks I gave the first litter away..the second litter was a week too young..so i seperated the parents then.I still have the two babies, but I am going to give them away soon.i am just very lucky that my parents didnt mate again..cuz so far there are no babies!ur best bet is when the babies are like 4 wks old to seperate the parents..if another litter is born then maybe u should keep 1 of the previous litter of pups (the same sex of coarse)and give the others away.That one would help the mother with the new babies.And when ther are old enough give them away.And maybe you should just keep the baby that u kept with the mother..or give it to a friend.Hope I helped!

__________________________
Proud owner of:
4 gerbils (soon to be 2)