>> Wanted to add that leaving six older pups in might be
>> too stressful. I usually leave only one or two. Also
>> if you leave girls in beyond 7-8 weeks they are likely
>> to mate with the dad.
>>
>> Donna
>
>I thought this was true only if the mother isn't present? I thought having
"Mom" around had an inhibiting effect on the female pups' development, so
they mature later, around 10-12 weeks.
>
>Tana and The Little Rascals
It doesn't matter about the mother. If the father is in the
cage with his daughters, breeding can happen as early
as six weeks as the father is an 'experienced male' and
female pups in the presence of an experienced male
often mature faster.
I don't trust a pup to be with a more experienced opposite
sex gerbil past 42 days old. As Donna reported, she had
a 9 week old son sire a litter on his mother, and so on.
I have seen a father try to mate with six week old daughters.
Unless it's a same sex pup and you are leaving it in as a
companion as you separate a breeding pair (i.e., a son
with the father or a daughter with the mother) don't trust
them past that point (six weeks old).
If the litter of pups is removed at six weeks, you may
usually keep them one or two weeks more together
if needed without problems. After that somebody might
get the idea and get it right....
Deb
Rebel's Rodent Ranch
