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.
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.
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.
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.
6) What tipped me off that something was "wrong" this morning was that Felix
made a bed for herself in the bottom of the cage well away from the arial
nest that she usually occupies with crystal who had been very pushy over the
last two day trying to get the nest just right. Poor Felix just couldn't
figure out why everything she did to help build the nest was wrong. should
Felix start sleeping in the nest again with crystal and the pups or should
she continue to sleep in the bottom of the Cage? If Crystal doesn't want her
to continue to visit the pups will Felix and Crystal start to fight?
Those answers should at least get me started. I am so glad I found this
group and have information about breeding before the pups came. I know that
I would have done alot wrong by lack of knowledge.
Christine
