> Greetings list,
>
> Reggie and Smokey's first litter is (or at least WAS) due sometime next
> week, but a few days ago, I noticed that they were scampering around their
> aquarium. When I stopped to watch, I realized they were involved in the
> usual gerbil mating ritual. The next day, I picked up Smokey and she
still
> felt like she's got a sack of potatoes in her belly. Basically, I'm
> confused. I'm not sure if she's still pregnant with the first litter, or
if
> it didn't take. If it didn't, why does she feel like she's got a sack of
> 'taters in belly? She also looks like the typical pregnant gerbil--she's
a
> tennis ball with fur and a tail.
>
> If anyone has any idea, please let me know.
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> -Kris
Hi Kris,
I'm experiencing a similar thing with one of my breeding pairs. She should
of had babies about a week ago, but instead I found them mating and no
babies. I'm wondering if she gave birth during the night and the babies
didn't make it. She may have eaten the pups before I found them. She is a
large gerbil to begin with so I can't tell if she looks any different. The
only difference is my breeding pair is much older than yours. My female has
been producing pups for year now for me. I do not know how many litters she
had before I got her. I'm assuming she is slowing down on having litters.
It's possible I may not get anymore from her.
If your gerbil still looks like a tennis ball then maybe she is still
pregnant. I've seen males try to mate shortly before the females delivers a
new litter.
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/
