>and nothing out of the ordinary. I was wondering...could it have been that
>she tried to have her pups and died during the labor? I am totally
puzzled.
>Everyone else is fine. Everyone's eyes are bright and they are all alert
>and active with no signs of any kind of illness.
Without having seen the late gerbil, from what you describe, it could
have very well been labor complications...if she was getting big as
if she was at the end of her gestation?
A necropsy might not have turned up much more than my best guess.
>I was so looking forward to her next litter. Her first she had 4 agouti
and
>1 black.
>I decided to leave the pups with Hercules (Dad) for awhile until I can find
>him a new mate. He's an old guy and I thought he's be the one to go soon
>since he's pretty old for a gerbil.
Leave one of the daughters in with him then. That much inbreeding
should not be a problem, as he might not even sire another litter.
>From what you said the pup colors were, it doesn't sound like you
have a lot of rare recessive genes, so it should be no problem.
>What a shame. I used to watch Hercules groom Xena and she would stretch
>right out as if she were in ecstasy! Now he doesn't have her anymore.
>Anyone else out there had this strange experience?
Yes. A sudden death is usually a stroke (or heart attack) or labor
complications. I've had all but the last happen in small pups.
My condolences to you and Herc. :'(
Deb
Rebel's Rodent Ranch
