Gerbil breedings

DeadIrishD · Honored Member Joined: Jun 07, 2005 Posts: 265

my gerbil just had a litter of four babies, and I was wondering if by any chance that is due because its the first time shes ever had babies, or if its because she might be older than I had thought?

Rick · Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 7:56 pm Post subject:

Gerbils generally only have 3 to 10 babies in one litter. It's normal.

Rick
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Sisco Reptiles - Proud Breeder of the Tamest & Most Social Tegus. See www.SiscoReptiles.com

DeadIrishD · Honored Member Joined: Jun 07, 2005 Posts: 265

k thanks bc my rats used to have around 20 or close too it

Rick · Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 7:21 pm Post subject:

Rats do have more young, but for the young to be as healthy as they can you really don't want more young rats then 8 to 12. A mother has 8 nipples. Too many young rats means they need to fight for nutriants. Many people believe in 'culling' some of the litter if there are that many, but that's a point for a whole debate.

I cull, in the sense that if there are 20 pinky rats in a litter instead of all of them fighting for food, some of the pinkys become food early in their pinky stage. I then keep 8 to 12 that will grow quickly into larger meals.

Rick
_________________
Sisco Reptiles - Proud Breeder of the Tamest & Most Social Tegus. See www.SiscoReptiles.com

Brisamen · Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 2:22 am Post subject:

And so says Rick the mice farmer...lol

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