Hello folks, a few more questions here. My pups are now 4 weeks old
today....I love how curious they are about their world. I have two pups
that I have questions about. One pup has what appears to be a broken
wrist (front left paw) such that his/her toes are bent back touching
his/her fore-arm. I first noticed this a few days after birth but didn't
think much of it since this is my first time with baby gerbils around.
He/she does okay getting around...no climbing, obviously...but otherwise
fine. Is this a common birth-defect, or do you think the pup was injured
during/shortly after birth?
>This is called Flexed wrist it may be caused by >tendons being tight,
pulling the wrist back. >Gerbils cope very well with this condition. Any
>color can have this condition, some think its >more common among
lilacs.
My other question concerns a different pup that looks and behaves
considerably different than its siblings. I'm trying to handle the pups
more, so today I opened the lower door to the cage and placed my hand
and arm against the opening. A few pups took tentative steps into my
palm but quickly darted away. But then this little fellow....without
hesitation....ambled out from the nest, walked out onto my palm and up
and down my arm several times. He's the only pup that doesn't run away
when I bring my other hand near to pet it. He just sat there as I pet
him. Now I would normally call this just the behavior of a particularly
affectionate pup. However, his facial features are different than those
of the other pups....I didn't notice this until he was on my arm today.
His skull is not so elongated as the other pups, his eyes are about 2/3
regular size (and they don't "bulge"), and his body seems to be shorter.
Is this possibly the result of being born to incestuous parents
(siblings)?
>He may just be the runt and hasn't caught up >developmentally yet. Soon
he will aquire the >traits of a 4 week old gerbil. Now he looks like >a
3 week old one.
I don't know the lineage of the parents, as I purchased them in a pet
store. Since this pup is so trusting and affectionate, I'm definately
going to keep it.
Third question: I've looked at the websites that show the difference
between male and female gerbils, but I can't see any difference yet
between my pups.
>At ten days old look for dots. After that, look at >openings. Those
close together will be >females.
I'm okay until about nine weeks, right? They won't be sexually mature
until then? Hopefully I'll be able to tell them apart before then.
Thanks again.
-Jeremy
--
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