2 of our gerbils, Madam Hudini, a darkpoint slate and Sir Ivy (both we got
from meg in WI) a ruby eyed silver fox had babies Today!!! 3 REWs and 3
Slates which was expected. But... One baby slate HAS NO TAIL.
I checked and double checked it. I know in rats sometimes a mom gets
careless and eats part of the tail wiht the umbilical chord. Not so here.
Usually theres a stump woth a blunt round end in such cases. This little
one though has a very very very short tail that still manages to come down
to a fine tip. The teeeeeenytiny tail is round all about like a little
corkscrew so he looks like a little baby pig.
Any one heard/seen this befor in gerbs? (I am familiar with the mutation in
rats, mice and cats). Hudini and Ivy have had several litters together and
all the babies have been physically healthy. No short tails. No kined
tails. nothing.
I will be watching this baby closely in reguards to physical development. I
know theres a risk for spinabifida, but so far things look fine.
I have a line of tailless rats, but as you know their tails are bald. I
wonder if this little gerbil will grow the end tuff on his tail- he would
look like a Bobtail cat with a "pompom" tail!
~A.G.
www.rodentfancy.com
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