I have one other question about my other pair, Hanna and Jo-Jo. I am
debating is I should take Jo-Jo out and put into a tank of his own tonight
or tomorrow. Several breeders have said that after two litters they should
be given a break. Of course the only way to do this is to remove the male.
**Honestly, I've never heard anyone on the GML say to give a break after two
litters. Maybe I missed something? It is possible that maybe the following
was misunderstood,, "In order to properly separate a breeding pair you will
end up with two litters".
**I would leave Jo-Jo in with Hanna unless you want to pemanently separate
them. It would be too stressful on the gerbils.
**The gerbils seem to give themselves a break once in awhile from breeding.
Ocassionally a breeding pair will skip a month or two at having a litter. I
believe this is their own way to give themselves a break.
I am curious to hear what the experts of our group recommend. Is it best to
leave breeding pairs together, even though they will continue to have more
pups? At this time this is not an issue for us. We have a market that can
handle the litters for the time being.
My only concern if Hanna and Jo-Jo's health and well being. If it is more
stressful to remove the father just before a new litter arrives I, of course
will not do it. If on the other hand it is more stressful for her to have
one litter after the other, then I should remove him.
**The best way to remove the male would be to wait until a litter has a male
pup that is old enough to be weaned and placed with the father.
Ann-Marie
