Post by katt on Mar 5, 2011 16:07:44 GMT -5
So I have heard nightmares about trying to breed gerbils. I know very little about them so I need some education.
1) First off, how does their care differ from mice and hamsters? I assume that it is pretty basic rodent care, and there fore very similar.
2) Are they more likely to chew through plastic than mice?
3) Can they open a barred cage easier than a hamster?
4) Are their diet needs similar to mice and hamsters? Basically a homemade mix of seeds, oats, grains, etc with some fresh veggies, fruits, and other scraps mixed in on occasion.
5) I feed my pregnant and nursing mice scrambled egg on occasion for some additional protein and calcium, is this ok for gerbils?
6) What is the ideal m/f ratio? With mice I go for 2f/1m or 3f/1m. With gerbils is 2/1 ok or is 1/1 better?
7) I read that introducing them is a Pain in the rear. If I get a m/f pair to get along, can I keep them together and breed them back to back (and retire them earlier of course) like I do with some of my mice?
8) Can ferrets eat gerbils live, or are they more along the lines of hamsters which are easier to kill quickly?
9) How many litters do they usually have. For example mice can have many litters, but hamsters I was told tend to only have 3-4 max.
10) What is the average number of pups per litter?
11) What is the average lifespan of gerbils? I am guessing 2-3 years?
12) Compared to hamsters, how sociable are they? I am also considering getting one just as a pet. Hamlet was hand raised from a pinky and very calm and accepting of people. Are gerbils as calm and sociable as hamsters, or are they more flighty like mice? (I have had mice that even with regular handling did not calm down very much).
I will have more questions, but that is it for now. haha
1) First off, how does their care differ from mice and hamsters? I assume that it is pretty basic rodent care, and there fore very similar.
2) Are they more likely to chew through plastic than mice?
3) Can they open a barred cage easier than a hamster?
4) Are their diet needs similar to mice and hamsters? Basically a homemade mix of seeds, oats, grains, etc with some fresh veggies, fruits, and other scraps mixed in on occasion.
5) I feed my pregnant and nursing mice scrambled egg on occasion for some additional protein and calcium, is this ok for gerbils?
6) What is the ideal m/f ratio? With mice I go for 2f/1m or 3f/1m. With gerbils is 2/1 ok or is 1/1 better?
7) I read that introducing them is a Pain in the rear. If I get a m/f pair to get along, can I keep them together and breed them back to back (and retire them earlier of course) like I do with some of my mice?
8) Can ferrets eat gerbils live, or are they more along the lines of hamsters which are easier to kill quickly?
9) How many litters do they usually have. For example mice can have many litters, but hamsters I was told tend to only have 3-4 max.
10) What is the average number of pups per litter?
11) What is the average lifespan of gerbils? I am guessing 2-3 years?
12) Compared to hamsters, how sociable are they? I am also considering getting one just as a pet. Hamlet was hand raised from a pinky and very calm and accepting of people. Are gerbils as calm and sociable as hamsters, or are they more flighty like mice? (I have had mice that even with regular handling did not calm down very much).
I will have more questions, but that is it for now. haha