Dear Deb,
Thank you for replying to my message.
> >I have one female gerbil, who is pregnant since March 1st---at least I
> think
> >she is. I might be wrong, of course, but I'm relatively sure that I'm
not.
> >What can be the reason for such a long pregnancy? Or could it be a
disease?
>
> I think record quoted is 43 days. Which means she should have
> delivered about a week ago....
>
> Unless she's nursing another litter, there is usually nothing that
> would cause delayed and extended gestation.
She had her last litter three month ago and it did not survive (it was a
small one, only two pups). Additionaly, she was in neither way exhausted,
had enough proteines, salt and water.
> Is she looking chunky? If you hold her and gently feel her stomach,
> does she feel...'lumpy'? Has she decided that a flurry of elaborate
> nest building is her main occupation? (last day or two before delivery).
>
> How are you sure of that date? Was she with a male and he was
> removed at that point..and you observed mating before he was?
>
> Are you sure she just hasn't put on weight?
I am very sure that she did not put on more weight. Only her stomach is
bigger---chest, head and legs are normal.
I did not observe mating, but I felt her stomach on March 1st and believed
it was swollen. All the time she was with her mate, I did not remove him (I
never remove the male during pregnancy, delivery and nursing). But she has
not increased her nest-building activities.
> Are you sure she didn't have just one pup, and the pup
> survived, and the reason she's in the nest a lot is that
> she's caring for one well hidden one? The time frame
> you've mentioned, would mean the pup would be furred
> and at about eyes opening. It is unlikely, as small litters
> often don't stimulate the mother to produce enough
> milk, and they starve; but it could well have happened.
I've found no pup in the nest. But in the last two weeks of March, I was not
at home, because I had a job in another city. I asked a friend of mine to
take care of my gerbils and to especially watch over my pregnant female.
Both weeks she told me that she couldn't see any pups. When I was at home
during the weekend, I checked her stomach and every time it appeared to me
that she was "still pregnant".
Could it be that she had a small litter, which starved and was eaten by her?
Is it possible that she was impregnated by the male directly after such an
incident?
Bye, Mathias
