Hi-
Just my thoughts:
>If you are not within reasonable driving distance from a good gerbils
>breeder or pet store, then get a lizard instead. You aren't within reach
>of a gerbils veterinarian either.
Or, if you breed in an area and cannot sell all the pups you breed, then
don't breed. Please don't make impassioned pleas to strangers on this list
to buy your gerbils because otherwise you'll "sell them to the petstore". I
only bred one female at a time in Fairbanks. There just wasn't enough
desire for gerbils in Fairbanks. I chose to stop breeding now that I've
moved because I there are just too many petstores in the area and I cannot
compete with them.
If you chose to breed, be responsible. Only breed as many as you can keep
or sell. Do not depend on illegal shipping methods for your customers.
Feel free to illegally ship, but don't DEPEND on it.
Most important, try not to get so caught up in the colors game that you lose
sight of the welfare of your animals. How many times has this list seen a
new gerbil breeder get so excited about obtaining every possible color and
breeding said colors only to have that same breeder write several months
later for help because they have too many gerbils. This is not responsible
breeding. Take breeding slowly. Start with one or two pairs and wait a
year or two before drastically increasing your gerbil population. Use that
year or two to discover if you really like gerbil keeping and breeding; to
discover whether you have what it takes to sell your gerbils; to discover if
you have to discipline to clean cages, socialize gerbils, and find new
owners.
I discovered I did not have what it takes to breed gerbils, so I stopped. 7
gerbils is more than enough for me. I can't handle much more. As much as I
have been tempted to keep more gerbils or to breed exotic colors, I just
don't have the discipline and time. I love the gerbils I have and will
continue to love them until they die. At that point, I may chose to get
another same-sex pair or I may not. Until then, I dedicate myself to my
current gerbils and avoid dreams of exotic colors.
>
>Some people have started new "lists of breeders" web pages. Most of them
>don't seem to know what already exists. They are spreading confusion.
The AGS site already has a list of member breeders. The NGS site already
has the capabilities to advertise gerbils for sale and gerbils wanted. I
agree that new sites aren't necessary. The current sites should be used
more often instead.
That's my thoughts for the day on this matter.
Deb Adams
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