From: "Bill Cole" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Gerbils Newsletter" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 1999 3:09 PM
Subject: Ooops -- day 7/1
| All twelve pups are thriving. Moms Gloria and Sally continued to
cooperate
| on nesting and mothering, and on nursing without regard for whose babies
are
| whose. It's warmed up to around 70-75 (move to Seattle, you
Easterners),
| and the babies are sprawling around the top of the bedding instead of
buried
| in a nest.
|
| But -- the more cautious Newsletter advisors have persuaded me to
separate
| the fems. If I err, it's toward caution -- I was charmed over the
| communal mothering, but why risk the little guys. So PetSmart got
richer
| today.
|
| The good news is: Gene (also purchased as a fem) has NOT also given
birth.
| Although he's an excellent dad, I guess he feels he's done enough and I
| quite agree.
|
| The new 25-gal. tank is a bit bigger in floor area than the old 10-gal.,
| and it's nearly twice as high. I figure I can cobble up separation
screens
| and vertical spaces to manage most needs for dividing the litters by
sex.
| Pending delivery to my Family members (who have been oddly silent --
maybe
| I no longer HAVE Family).
|
| Sally, her six pups (one-day old) and dad Gene were moved. Gloria
stayed
| under the theory she would have become the dominant, so let her keep
her
| territory. Sally and Gene got a couple of the old climby/hidey toys,
and
| Gloria got a nice new wooden half-cylinder tunnel. Both, of course,
have
| the standard accouterments -- bowl, water and wheel.
|
| The tanks abut side by side so everyone can wave.
|
| I realize one mistake. The old tank cover clipped on, but the new one
just
| stays on by gripping tightly. The tanks are outdoors and that top won't
| stop a raccoon. We had a visitor a few nights ago, prolly a raccoon.
It
| didn't seem to disturb the tank, but did make off with a lab block and
| tasted other gerbil food.
|
| Thanks to all who've helped me through all this surprise. I appreciate
the
| advice, the moral support, and the nods saying that you've enjoyed my
| storytelling.
|
