> I placed a dove-black gerbil pair with a friend and in their first
> litter one large, healthy pup was birthed; unfortunately he died at a
> few days (I'd guess unable to maintain body heat -- right?).
The single pup probably died more from starvation than lack of heat. Litters
of one and sometimes two can't stimulate the mother enough to produce milk.
During my breeding history I have had about 3 litters of 2 pups, only one of
the 3 litters survived.
>
> A second litter is due shortly,
> What is the chances that this second litter (and future litters) will be
> very small too?
The following litters should be larger, on average 3-6 pups. At this point
it is hard to tell how many she will continue to have. Chances are the
litters will probably consist of more pups and everything should be fine.
>
> Please answer soon, as I'm going to recommend if it's another one pup
> (or two) litter that they keep the nest box in place to help the pup
> maintain its temperature.
>
> Thanks! Donna A.
They can leave the nest box in there as long as the parents aren't digging
around it and pushing it over onto pups, and also be sure that the pups
can't get caught under it or between the box and glass of the tank.
I do not use nextboxes or houses in my breeding pair cages. I just give the
pair extra ripped up napkins to use. They do an excellent job shredding the
napkins (plain white) and mixing it with their Aspen bedding to make a big,
deep, fluffy nest.
Ann-Marie L. Roberts
T&T Gerbils
Escanaba, Michigan
Member of the American Gerbil Society
Pup Count Project creator and maintainer
Pup Count Home page:
http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/Reserve/1928/pupctlist.html
Please visit my website at:
http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/Reserve/1928/
>
