I'm so proud of Quark! He is a wonderful first time father. Since day one he's been sleeping with them and keeping them warm while mama gets out to stretch her legs. He's only ever pushed out of the nest when mama thinks it's time to nurse, and sometimes even then he manages to convince her that he should be around as well. All four pups are healthy and developing well. One week old tomorrow. One pup seems to be a little more "laid back" than the rest. He doesn't endlessly squirm when I pick him up, and he doesn't make much of a ruckus when I put him back down. I'm not sure if this is because of some undetectable illness, or if he's just a lazy laid back kinda gerbil. He otherwise seems healthy, so I'm hoping it's because he's an easy going fellow. :) One pup will definitely be a black/slate. I'm thinking Black, but I still find it hard to tell at this stage. The others are all "agouti" type, but what exactly I'm not sure. I believe one is definitely a golden agouti, but the other two look a bit different. *crosses fingers* Guess I'll just have to be patient and wait. *** On a side note, I still have Trinity and Einstein and their two pups to find homes for. If someone is interested, but doesn't want to breed, I can pair up the two males with their father, and pair up Trinity with a female from her next litter. Einstein is a beautiful Dove, his sons are Golden Agouti, one with a kinked tail, and Trinity is an Agouti. Please do let me know if any one is interested, or if you know anyone who might be interested. If I'm going to split them up as a breeding pair, I need to know soon, before the next litter arrives. :) I'd just hate to do it, for Trinity is a VERY good mother, and very affectionate. She's also pretty tame, and doesn't mind being picked up. I live in Charlotte, NC, but will travel to meet someone. I also know, more or less, the genetics of all of them, if you are interested for breeding purposes. Thanks. -Jackie & The Copper Dragon Clan
