Hi Jason,
The safest solution is to setup a 10 gallon for the male, take out
the pups into the 20 gallon and leave the mom where she is with one
daughter to help out. And deal with introductions when you get back
from vacation. Your pups should be weaned by now if you have to remove
them.
I would do the introduction before you go on vacation, do so TODAY
so that you can watch the Adult and pups for two solid days before
leaving them alone. If they are not all nesting together by the time
you go on your vacation, I would be concerned about leaving them all
together and SEPARATE THE ADULT MALE from the pups until you return (he
can be alone for that length); you'd have to put together a 10 gallon
setup which would cost about $30.
What worked for my introduction of 4 older pups to an 8 month male
was to douse them all good in diluted vanilla so they are pretty damp
and concerned with grooming themselves. I put them in a tank with fresh
litter (and everything else new/washed) -- it shouldn't be too big --
use the twenty gallon. Do not put anything in there that they can hide
in. When you are sure they are "clanned", e.g., all in one nest, they
can have one nest box, open ended on both sides.
Again, I am working off only-one attempt (very successful, though)
on introducing an adult male to boy pups. They did take 4 days though
to all "clan" completely.
Donna
PS -- what are you doing about gerbil care when you are gone? A newly
setup clan and a new litter of pups are both good to keep a close eye
on. Is there someone who can check them frequently and call you if
problems?
PPS -- in response to the Save the GGMLEs experts, Yes! Let's!! -- And
please feel very free (anyone) to let me know if this or any other post
should be a private one and/or if I'm posting too much.
Jason Wrote:
>I have 2 tanks. One is 35 gallon, one is 20 gallon.
> In tank 1 (the 35 gallon) I have a pregnant female, and her
just over one month old babies (5 of them).
>
> In tank 2 (the 20 gallon) I have a male, which was the female's
mate but I removed him to prevent more babies.
>
> I want to remove the male babies from tank 1 and place them in
tank 2 with the other male because he is very lonely...and I
> want to do this before Monday because (here's the real problem)
I'm going on vacation for 2 weeks...and if I dont remove
> them now, by the time I get back tank 1 will be crouded with the
female's second litter, as well as the first one.
>
> My plan is, to put the females in tank 1, and the males in tank
2...
> I am just not sure what to do because of the weaning situation
with the first litter. They were born on June 26th.
