Raen S <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote > > > >Main question: Would gerbil babies be closer to rats and mice or closer >to squirrels and chipmunks?
Gerbils are closest to lemmings and voles and are classified in the same group as them, Deer Mice and Hamsters. Next closest are mice and rats. All other gerbil-like rodents, including jerboas, meadow jumping mice, kangaroo rats etc are in different branches of the rodent family tree. Squirrel-like rodents, including chipmunks are in a separate branch of their own, and differ in many ways from other rodents. >Anyway, last night, After consulting with my husband, I realised we had very few >choices. Take half the litter and try to handfeed them; Leave >them all and let nature take it's course; Or take them all and try to rear >them realising that I'll likely lose half even if I do everything right based on >how weak they are. >I'm using a glass dropper. It has a computer wire casing minus the wire, >in one end of the dropper for a bottle; A heating pad for warmth and a glass fish >bowl for a nest/containing unit; A box with a heating pad in the >bottom for seperating the fed from unfed ones. Cotton balls and warm >water for cleaning faces, front paws, and bottoms; >Formula consists of egg yolk minus any part of the white, distilled water, >and evaporated milk. I'm feeding them every two hours but may switch to >three since most don't seem to need it that often. It takes one hour and >ten miutes to accomplish all eleven. >Advice on the formula anyone? The Gerbil FAQ (http://www.gerbils.co.uk/gerbfaq.htm) has some advice on hand feeding. I lost track of what you said, but the best bet for the pups is to leave all with the mother but to also hand feed them yourself to help her with such a large number of pups. She will do things like inducing deification that are difficult although not impossible for you to do yourself. -- Julian [EMAIL PROTECTED] National Gerbil Society http://www.gerbils.co.uk/
