Expecting Gerbil Pups soon!! - Page 2

Emma · 05-03-2005, 07:58 AM

I think there's 8 - can definitely count 7 in that picture and it looks like the middle top one is sitting on someone!

Gerbils should have 8 teats (two pairs thoracic - where you'd expect them to be - and two pairs inguinal - lower down the abdomen towards the legs) according to "Biology & Medicine of Rabbits & Rodents" Harkness & Wagner.

Emma · 05-03-2005, 08:43 AM

Huh, a different book (Rodent & Rabbit Medicine; Laber-Laird et al) says "number of mammae: 6". Confuddling! Well you've got the gerbil there to see

hammydude · 05-03-2005, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emma

Huh, a different book (Rodent & Rabbit Medicine; Laber-Laird et al) says "number of mammae: 6". Confuddling! Well you've got the gerbil there to see

LOL

Candace, be sure to get some pictures as soon as they become furry!

SnuggleHam · 05-03-2005, 10:34 PM

Im pretty sure that gerbils have six nipples, thats what Iv known all this time and what everyone esle that owns gerbils see to say, Ill have to count sometime, but Im pretty sure its sex.

Aslo I actually picked up the pups today and hand counted them so there is definitly eight pups in there hehe, some are starting to look darker, probably going to be burmese pups Yay!

Sam wasnt to happy about my poking at her nest, she decided to move it after, but she put it under the water bottle so I moved it across from there and shes seems fine with that. hehe...

Ill probably get more pictures around thrusday or friday.

SnuggleHam · 05-04-2005, 12:12 PM

More Pictures, hehe, Im such a nerd, But its exciting for me and I cant help it :P

Day four, Some of them are really starting to change in color, some are still pretty pink

hammydude · 05-05-2005, 02:34 AM

The pups are really coming along well.

Could some one explain to me the difference of a gerbil and a mouse.Was wondering because I came VERY close to getting a small black fancy mouse or a multi-colored gerbil today along with the Campbell's Russian Dwarf Hamsters.

SnuggleHam · 05-05-2005, 11:43 AM

Well for one thing gerbils are desert animals, the kind of gerbil you see in the pet stores are called Mongolian gerbils. Those are the common gerbils most everyone sees.

Mice come from all over :P Full grown Mongolian Gerbils reach a length of 12-14 cm from nose to the base of the tail. They are not noternal which means they sleep at night and are more active in the day. Im not sure what mnice are though? Gerbils dont have a strong oder like mice do and they are probably more managable then mice as they are bigger.

They are social pets like dwarf hamsters and do much better with a sam sex cage mate. Gerbils are good natured and inquisitive making them extremely good pets. The average lifespan is 3-5 years although they can live longer.

Mice probably can escape much easier but since gerbils are quite large you wouldnt have to worry about them squeezing through cage bars. But A tank or bin is more suited to the gerbil becasue they are known for excessive bar chewing :P

Youd really have to do your research on them though to see what you think. If you do get a gerbil you should get two. If you dont have a ton of room then you should get a pair of mice instead, But I say gerbils are better :P

Emma · 05-05-2005, 01:03 PM

I think mice can be a bit nocturnal but my friend's mice are active during the day too. They're more into climbing than burrowing, and are really quite small although can be tamed and handled. They're also social so should be in single sex pairs/groups. I quite like mice as pets

althought the males can have quite a strong smell about them, less so with the girls.

Some places to check out for further mouse/gerbil info:

http://www.petwebsite.com - basic general petcare

http://www.gerbils.co.uk - National Gerbil Society (UK)

http://www.agsgerbils.org/ - American Gerbil Society

http://www.gerbilsuk.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/index.htm - Gerbil Shows UK (really good site)

http://www.petermaas.nl/gerbils/english.htm - The Mongolian Gerbil website

http://www.miceandrats.com - London Mouse & Rat Club

http://www.afrma.org - American Fancy Rat & Mouse Association

http://www.fancymice.info/ - loads of mouse info

SnuggleHam · 05-05-2005, 05:37 PM

One of the Pups on day five, their ears look like they are opening and you can tell this one is going to be a burmese most likley... well I can tell at lest :P

Emma · 05-05-2005, 08:34 PM

Are you sure they're ok to be handled quite so much so young? I wouldn't have thought it'd be ok to touch the nest at all until they're venturing out themselves.