Christine Abbott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote
>Now that I am officially by default a gerbil breeder I have a few questions.
>
>1) I know that Felix will need to help Crystal with the pups. She has been
>up there a few times with Crystal in the bedding and Crystal is not at all
>aggressive with Felix so she must know she will need the help. Do I need to
>watch Felix for signs that she will hurt the pups?
>
>2) I was thinking that Felix was in the cage with Snowflake as well. What
>would happen if Felix dropped a litter in the same cage as Crystal about the
>same time? Would I need to separate the two while thier babies are small or
>will they still work together? Felix doesn't look pregnant as she is still
>very skinny where Speedy and Crystal are/were fat.
>
If they are in sync then things should be OK. It is later on if they
drop out of sync, or if the fight over dominance, that there will be
problems.
>3) Is there any thing to look out for since snow flake and crystal are
>brother and sister and the pups would be very genetically close? snowflake
>is REW and Crystal is a pink tinted/brown eyed golden argente. I would
>assume the pups will mostly end up pink eyed argente since snow flake should
>be totally recessive.
By pink tinted/brown eyed golden argente I assume you mean DEH. If so
there is a chance you will lend up with 100% Golden Agouti -
aaCCEEggpp
AACCeeGGPP
=
100% AaCCEeGgPp
This is true if the REW is c[b]c[-]pp instead of aaC-E-ggpp.
I doubt there is anything to worry about as far as inbreeding is
concerned. Problems are very rare.
>
>4) If speedy drops a litter, should I leave snow flake in there with her to
>help, or does dad need to leave the cage? Speedy and snow flake aren't
>related. speedy is a gray agouti so I would expect the babies to look just
>like her since most of her traits would dominate snowflakes.
I would remove the male and the female without a litter. The mother can
later on be left with one of her daughters. Keeping this group together
is asking for trouble IMHO.
>
>5) I know I can't clean or alter the cage for two weeks after delivery, but
>they do have a separate look out tower where they potty. would it be okay if
>during the two weeks that I opened just that and cleaned the bathroom or
>does that have to be left alone too? It is well away from the nest.
That will be OK.
--
Julian
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
National Gerbil Society
http://www.gerbils.co.uk/
