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#1
05-12-09, 07:56 am
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  Not Ranked. Helpful AND tactful post? : 0
Oh my. Anyone here have gerbils, or know of a website that's as awesome as this for gerbils? I have the gerbil care handbook website bookmarked, but I'm looking for more of a forum. My son and I each got a gerbil a couple months ago at our local (family run) pet store. The lady "checked" them and assured me that they were both male. Well.. they're not. The fruits of their labor (her labor?) have come sometime late last night/early this morning in the form of 6 naked, wiggling babies. I need help. Can you neuter a gerbil? If that's possible... then I'd really like to look into that. If not, I'm going to have to look into separating them and I don't want to stress either of them out with their new bundles of joy.       |
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#2
05-12-09, 10:18 am
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Not Ranked. Helpful AND tactful post? : 0
I don't know anything about gerbils. But congrats on the grand-gerbils!! I also don't know of any forums, but will keep a lookout! |
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#3
05-12-09, 04:17 pm
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Not Ranked. Helpful AND tactful post? : 0
Quote:
Thanks! I'm thrilled to have them, but don't want to be one of "those" pet owners who's irresponsible and just keeps having litter after litter. One is definately enough. |
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#4
05-12-09, 04:29 pm
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Not Ranked. Helpful AND tactful post? : 0
Do you still have mom and dad together? My understanding is that they come in heat every 3-5 days and will get pregnant withing 24 hrs of giving birth. Just like guinea pigs, if you haven't removed the male before birth you are extremely likely to have more babies. As for a gerbil forum, you could google for one. When I did, several came up but all had how to breeding info and I am really not to sure how accurate their over all info is. |
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#5
05-12-09, 04:44 pm
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Not Ranked. Helpful AND tactful post? : 0
The website I found through the American Gerbil Society says not to change anything about their environment (including taking dad out), or mom will stress and not take care of the babies. Dad helps mom out with the babies. I did, however just find a forum so I can ask questions about them. |
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#6
05-12-09, 04:51 pm
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Well Dad can likely impregnate mom again too if he hasn't already. You can adopt gerbils from rescues and shelters in most places too. |
| "Thank you, rabbitsncavyluv, for this useful post," says: | ||
sophistacavy (05-12-09) | ||
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#7
05-12-09, 05:41 pm
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Neutral : +2 (+2/-0)
Quote:
PS. I took Dad out about an hour after she gave birth...so that just shows how quickly pregnancy can happen. |
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#8
05-12-09, 08:40 pm
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Not Ranked. Helpful AND tactful post? : 0
Dad does help with the litter- gerbils are actually pretty cute when it comes to their love of babies- I've even seen a virgin female nursing baby mice that the mothers were neglecting. BUT- in this situation, it is much more important not to have any more litters. She's probably already pregnant, but in case she's not, take him out. I'm sure it's possible to neuter a gerbil, but you would probably need very specialized equipment run by someone who does a lot of rodent/very small animal work- so it will be expensive and you might have to travel to do so. Maybe one (or more) of the babies is a male, and then they can go in with dad. I think you wean gerbils at 2-3 weeks? Not sure on that, though. You'd have to look that up. But be sure to do that or else they might impregnate mom or their sisters (though gerbils usually are sort of like wolves where only the dominant female will mate and have offspring... usually. I wouldn't chance it). |
Gerbils 
