Espiritus <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote
>
>I have several questions. First, I have a young
>(5-week old) gerbil that is very small although its
>breeder assures me that it will grow (I have no reason
>to doubt her), that MAY be a female according to the
>breeder, but I believe it to be a male. Friday it
>started licking itself and it is now bald and very
>swollen around its genital area. Any ideas? I separatd
>it from its mother when I noticed this behavior and
>the results.
For sexing go to:
http://www.gerbils.co.uk/gerbils/gender.htm
>
>Second, I have heard that people ship gerbils and am
>wondering how they do it.
Check the archive of this list for previous discussions.
>
>Third, does anyone know the history of how the gerbils
>became "colored"? I remember them as a child being the
>agouti only, like the degus of today. I am curious
>about when, where and how the "sports" occured.
Digging things out -
SP White spotting appeared in the US in the 60's.
c[h] The origin of Himalayan is unknown but was present in the UK by
1970.
a Black appeared in the US in 1971.
g Grey appeared in a London Petshop in 1975.
p Pink-Eyed appeared in a London school in 1977.
e No-one knows when Extension of Yellow (DEH) appeared but it was in the
US, probably in the 80's.
e[f] Schimmel appeared some time shortly before.
c[b] Colourpoint was discovered in an Irish pet shop in 1994.
d Dilute (Maltese dilution) appeared in a German laboratory in 1997.
The NGS genetics page has information on the distribution of these
mutations. www.gerbils.co.uk/gerbils/genetics.htm
>
>Finally, how does one get them registered and where in
>the world are these shows that I hear about? We show
>horses and dogs. . . may as well show gerbils!
All shows are in Europe as far as I know.
To find out about shows in your country you should join the relevant
Gerbil organisation in your country, if there is one. Some societies
have registration schemes, and some do not.
There is a list of societies at:
http://www.gerebils.co.uk/gerbils/links.htm
--
Julian
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
National Gerbil Society
http://www.gerbils.co.uk/
