I have a sad announcement to make. Xena, my Mom gerbil died sometime
between Saturday morning and Sunday morning. She was in a large tank with
her mate and 5 pups (6 weeks old). She was also soon to deliver another
litter. I was heading out to get new tanks Sunday to place the older pups
so she would be free to care for her new brood when she gave birth. She
wasn't an old gerbil she was maybe 7 months old. I'm not sure as she came
from the pet store with Hercules who is the old male they used for breeding
and they didn't want him anymore so I took them both. Xena was an excellent
first time mother and cared well for her 1st and now only litter. Sadly her
next litter wasn't to be born. She showed no signs of illness and was
healthy and happy at feeding time on Saturday! She was always first to pup
her head out of hiding when hearing the lid open for feeding time. My first
thought Sunday morning when she didn't appear was that maybe she had birthed
her pups during the night. I carefully looked at the underside of the tank
(I have it on a stand that I can see the bottom).
I thought I might see her with some pink babies. I did see a dark spot (she
was black) and her one black pup was already out and running about. I
gently tapped on the glass to see if she would stir and no movement!
Nothing! I knew something was wrong and with my heart in my throat I took
off the lid and started digging in the bedding. Sure enough...she was
buried...away from the nest and cold and stiff. I was so glad the kids
weren't home at that time. I looked her over carefully and didn't see
anything out of place..no runny nose, blood, injuries. She looked like she
merely laid down and died. I checked her stomach where the scent gland is
and nothing out of the ordinary. I was wondering...could it have been that
she tried to have her pups and died during the labor? I am totally puzzled.
Everyone else is fine. Everyone's eyes are bright and they are all alert
and active with no signs of any kind of illness.
I was so looking forward to her next litter. Her first she had 4 agouti and
1 black.
I decided to leave the pups with Hercules (Dad) for awhile until I can find
him a new mate. He's an old guy and I thought he's be the one to go soon
since he's pretty old for a gerbil.
What a shame. I used to watch Hercules groom Xena and she would stretch
right out as if she were in ecstasy! Now he doesn't have her anymore.
Anyone else out there had this strange experience?
