today I handled the pups from my new litters for the first time. They're five days old and I don't generally handle them until this time. Unfortunately I was in a a bit of shock. Of the four, two of them seem to have only half their tail, and on of these two has a deformed foot. Other than these obvious defects, they seem healthy enough. But now I think perhaps I should separte this pair and no let them breed again. I know that, in the way of gerbils, a second litter is inevitable, but with two of the four showing these signs I think that perhaps it just wouldn't be wise. I think that all four of them are boys, which means that the mother, once the father and pups were removed would be alone. I don't know that she would accept a female companion from a different litter, and at any rate, the two females from Tina's second litter already have prospective cagemates. So, the questions. Should I separate this pair to keep any more breeding from happening, and should I try to find a female companion for the yellow fox mother, should her second litter turn up no females? *sigh* I was really hoping to get some nice colors from this pair, but perhaps it just isn't meant to be. Any advice would be highly appreciated. Also . . . I was planning on putting the boys from Peaches' first litter with the boys from Tina's second litter. Should I be worried about the two with deformities? Should I just keep them together, or maybe watch as they grow and see how they handle themselves. I'd hate to have the boys from Tina's litter gang up on them. Thanks in advance for any advice given. RW ===== The GemStar Clan ---- Tina Ballerina, Crystal, and the babies; Spring and Misty, Kibble and Nibble, and Peaches and Cocoa __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail - only $35 a year! http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/
