Many of us do not use houses in the breeding pair tanks. With the gerbils
digging and scratching, it has been known that some pups have been killed by
the parents tipping a house over onto them and even food bowls and toys.
In most of my breeding pair tanks, they only have a wooden chew block, and
some have food bowls. Some of the gerbils seem to think they always have to
dig under the bowls and flip them over, for this reason, some of my gerbils
do not have food bowls. I have found pups trapped under bowls and houses.
It is best to give the gerbils plenty of tissue, paper, and cardboard to
chew up. They will make a big fluffy nest for the pups. This works just as
well as a house does.
Thanks,
Ann-Marie L. Roberts
T&T Gerbils
Escanaba, Michigan
Member of the American Gerbil Society
Pup Count Project creator and maintainer
Pup Count Home page:
http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/Reserve/1928/pupctlist.html
Please visit my website at:
http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/Reserve/1928/
I have a quick question. I have made for my breeding pair a very simple
house. (for lack of anything else to call it.) It is the width of the tank
and about five inches deep. The back, against the tank wall, is open and
the front, open to the rest of the tank, is open. It is made out of some
seasoned lumber that I had. They love to make their nest, out of white
tissue paper, under it. I have their feeding dish on top. It seems quite
stable and they have not moved it at all.
My first litter of pups is due in twelve to fourteen days. I had felt that
this would make them feel more comfortable and safe with their litter. As I
look at all the pictures on the WWW I have noted that most use nothing like
this. Is there a reason? Should I take the house out now, well before the
pups are due? Is it not safe? Or does it provide the keeper with better
view of the pups?
I would appreciate advise on the matter. I want to do this right!
Janet
