Difference between revisions of "Breed Gerbils"

Gerbil pups depend on you for completely good care. It can take a lot of time, patience, and money to care for and feed them. If you want to breed them, then you will have to make sure that you have the space needed for breeding and have done your research on genetics, ethics and general gerbil care. You must have homes lined up for your litters and be prepared to keep any that do not find homes.

Gerbil pups depend on you for completely good care. It can take a lot of time, patience, and money to care for and feed them. If you want to breed them, then you will have to make sure that you have the space needed for breeding and have done your research on genetics, ethics and general gerbil care. You must have homes lined up for your litters and be prepared to keep any that do not find homes.

Never breed on a whim. There are plenty of animals in rescues all over the world that would love a decent home.

Never breed on a whim. There are plenty of animals in rescues all over the world that would love a decent home.

#Buy your gerbils from a breeder rather than from a pet store. Buying two gerbils from the same pet store might give you two from the same parent and could be supporting rodent farms. Breeding from the same parent (called interbreeding) is harmful. The pups would have cotton both genes for any defects the parents might have had. They would also have less immunity against any diseases they were prone to get. It is best to locate a good gerbil breeder who knows the history of their pups, as well as genetic background.  Some breeders will cull so make sure their ethics match your own. You will need a network of ethical breeders to rely on so you can swap gerbils to keep your lines clean.

#Buy your gerbils from a breeder rather than from a pet store. Buying two gerbils from the same pet store might give you two from the same parent and could be supporting rodent farms. Breeding from the same parent (called interbreeding) is harmful. The pups would have cotton both genes for any defects the parents might have had. They would also have less immunity against any diseases they were prone to get. It is best to locate a good gerbil breeder who knows the history of their pups, as well as genetic background.  Some breeders will cull so make sure their ethics match your own. You will need a network of ethical breeders to rely on so you can swap gerbils to keep your lines clean.

#Know the gerbils' health history. Gerbils with a history of having fits or respiratory illness should never be bred from. Gerbils born with obviously severely crooked tails may have a congenital condition and should also not be bred from. Your breeding pair should be of good size. They should also have friendly personalities. Gerbils seem to inherit behaviors like pup neglect, it is worth knowing how your gerbils' mother coped with her pups. It is useful to know their genetics, enabling you to predict what color pups you will get.

#Know the gerbils' health history. Gerbils with a history of having fits or respiratory illness should never be bred from. Gerbils born with obviously severely crooked tails may have a congenital condition and should also not be bred from. Your breeding pair should be of good size. They should also have friendly personalities. Gerbils seem to inherit behaviors like pup neglect, it is worth knowing how your gerbils' mother coped with her pups. It is useful to know their genetics, enabling you to predict what color pups you will get.

#Monitor and record the matings so you know when to expect the litter. Remember that gerbils can mate within minutes of giving birth so you must be prepared for two litters. Its very stressful for a gerbil to raise a litter on her own so you should leave Dad in.

#Monitor and record the matings so you know when to expect the litter. Remember that gerbils can mate within minutes of giving birth so you must be prepared for two litters. Its very stressful for a gerbil to raise a litter on her own so you should leave Dad in.

#Mom's diet should be supplemented with extra protein while pregnant and nursing. This can be in the form of egg biscuit, cat biscuits, scrambled egg, dried or fresh meal-worms, whole nuts (crack the shells but leave the gerbils to remove them) or various other sources.

#Mom's diet should be supplemented with extra protein while pregnant and nursing. This can be in the form of egg biscuit, cat biscuits, scrambled egg, dried or fresh meal-worms, whole nuts (crack the shells but leave the gerbils to remove them) or various other sources.

#When the litter is born do not disturb the nest for the first week. This can stress Mom out and potentially cause her to eat her young. Leave Dad in to help raise the litter. If you must separate Mom from Dad, consider leaving an older daughter from a previous litter to help out.

#When the litter is born do not disturb the nest for the first week. This can stress Mom out and potentially cause her to eat her young. Leave Dad in to help raise the litter. If you must separate Mom from Dad, consider leaving an older daughter from a previous litter to help out.

#Pups are weaned at 4 weeks but should stay with the mother until at least 6 weeks has passed.  All pups your gerbils produce are your responsibility. If you can't care for them don't produce them. Three plus litters in a row puts stress on your mother gerbil, so remove the father before the birth of litter 3 (or even litter 2) so you do not exhaust your gerbil, but make sure an older daughter helps with the litter.

#Pups are weaned at 4 weeks but should stay with the mother until at least 6 weeks has passed.  All pups your gerbils produce are your responsibility. If you can't care for them don't produce them. Three plus litters in a row puts stress on your mother gerbil, so remove the father before the birth of litter 3 (or even litter 2) so you do not exhaust your gerbil, but make sure an older daughter helps with the litter.

#Never sell pups to someone who doesn't have a suitable cage or tank for them, and don't sell a pup singly because it'll be lonely, or any of different sexes. Don't sell more than two, as this could be risky.

#Never sell pups to someone who doesn't have a suitable cage or tank for them, and don't sell a pup singly because it'll be lonely, or any of different sexes. Don't sell more than two, as this could be risky.

*Be prepared for two litters. Gerbils can mate within minutes of giving birth and its very stressful for mum to raise a litter on her own.

*Be prepared for two litters. Gerbils can mate within minutes of giving birth and its very stressful for mum to raise a litter on her own.

*Male groups are stable at up to four, girls are better in pairs or trios.

*Male groups are stable at up to four, girls are better in pairs or trios.

== Warnings ==

== Warnings ==