How to Breed Gerbils
Consider why you want to breed gerbils., Research split caging., Make sure you have good homes lined up for all babies before you have a single litter., Save up money., Buy your gerbils from a breeder rather than from a pet store., Know the gerbils'...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Consider why you want to breed gerbils.
There are so many animals in rescue that need loving homes that you must have a good reason for making more. -
Step 2: Research split caging.
Gerbils are difficult to introduce to each other, but should not be kept alone.
If the gerbils have known each other since they were pups, this isn't necessary. , Never advertise for free and be wary, some people see gerbils as a cheap meal for a snake. , Rodent breeders rarely make any money from breeding and you'll need to cover vet costs. , Buying two gerbils from the same pet store might give you two from the same parent and could be supporting rodent farms.
Breeding from the same parent (called interbreeding) is harmful.
The pups would have cotton both genes for any defects the parents might have had.
They would also have less immunity against any diseases they were prone to get.
It is best to locate a good gerbil breeder who knows the history of their pups, as well as genetic background.
Some breeders will cull so make sure their ethics match your own.
You will need a network of ethical breeders to rely on so you can swap gerbils to keep your lines clean. , Gerbils with a history of having fits or respiratory illness should never be bred from.
Gerbils born with obviously severely crooked tails may have a congenital condition and should also not be bred from.
Your breeding pair should be of good size.
They should also have friendly personalities.
Gerbils seem to inherit behaviors like pup neglect, it is worth knowing how your gerbils' mother coped with her pups.
It is useful to know their genetics, enabling you to predict what color pups you will get. , You do want the pups to get used to people and sounds, though.
Place the tank so that your gerbils have some privacy from other tanks and animals., Remember that gerbils can mate within minutes of giving birth so you must be prepared for two litters.
Its very stressful for a gerbil to raise a litter on her own so you should leave Dad in. , The tank should contain only a water bottle and bedding (about 3 inches of Care fresh and unscented toilet paper
- no material or fibers or "fluff" that is usually sold in pet stores).
You might want to toss in a half toilet paper roll for the parents to gnaw up every day., This can be in the form of egg biscuit, cat biscuits, scrambled egg, dried or fresh meal-worms, whole nuts (crack the shells but leave the gerbils to remove them) or various other sources. , This can stress Mom out and potentially cause her to eat her young.
Leave Dad in to help raise the litter.
If you must separate Mom from Dad, consider leaving an older daughter from a previous litter to help out. , You can use the nipple method from 8 days but this is not 100% reliable. , All pups your gerbils produce are your responsibility.
If you can't care for them don't produce them.
Three plus litters in a row puts stress on your mother gerbil, so remove the father before the birth of litter 3 (or even litter 2) so you do not exhaust your gerbil, but make sure an older daughter helps with the litter. , Don't sell more than two, as this could be risky. -
Step 3: Make sure you have good homes lined up for all babies before you have a single litter.
-
Step 4: Save up money.
-
Step 5: Buy your gerbils from a breeder rather than from a pet store.
-
Step 6: Know the gerbils' health history.
-
Step 7: Introduce the gerbils using a split cage
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Step 8: which should be located in a quiet and calm area of the house where there is not a lot of traffic nor sudden loud noises.
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Step 9: Monitor and record the matings so you know when to expect the litter.
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Step 10: Keep the breeding tank very simple without the presence of wheels
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Step 11: or toys and should be one level only.
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Step 12: Mom's diet should be supplemented with extra protein while pregnant and nursing.
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Step 13: When the litter is born do not disturb the nest for the first week.
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Step 14: Handle your pups regularly and sex them.
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Step 15: Pups are weaned at 4 weeks but should stay with the mother until at least 6 weeks has passed.
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Step 16: Never sell pups to someone who doesn't have a suitable cage or tank for them
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Step 17: and don't sell a pup singly because it'll be lonely
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Step 18: or any of different sexes.
Detailed Guide
There are so many animals in rescue that need loving homes that you must have a good reason for making more.
Gerbils are difficult to introduce to each other, but should not be kept alone.
If the gerbils have known each other since they were pups, this isn't necessary. , Never advertise for free and be wary, some people see gerbils as a cheap meal for a snake. , Rodent breeders rarely make any money from breeding and you'll need to cover vet costs. , Buying two gerbils from the same pet store might give you two from the same parent and could be supporting rodent farms.
Breeding from the same parent (called interbreeding) is harmful.
The pups would have cotton both genes for any defects the parents might have had.
They would also have less immunity against any diseases they were prone to get.
It is best to locate a good gerbil breeder who knows the history of their pups, as well as genetic background.
Some breeders will cull so make sure their ethics match your own.
You will need a network of ethical breeders to rely on so you can swap gerbils to keep your lines clean. , Gerbils with a history of having fits or respiratory illness should never be bred from.
Gerbils born with obviously severely crooked tails may have a congenital condition and should also not be bred from.
Your breeding pair should be of good size.
They should also have friendly personalities.
Gerbils seem to inherit behaviors like pup neglect, it is worth knowing how your gerbils' mother coped with her pups.
It is useful to know their genetics, enabling you to predict what color pups you will get. , You do want the pups to get used to people and sounds, though.
Place the tank so that your gerbils have some privacy from other tanks and animals., Remember that gerbils can mate within minutes of giving birth so you must be prepared for two litters.
Its very stressful for a gerbil to raise a litter on her own so you should leave Dad in. , The tank should contain only a water bottle and bedding (about 3 inches of Care fresh and unscented toilet paper
- no material or fibers or "fluff" that is usually sold in pet stores).
You might want to toss in a half toilet paper roll for the parents to gnaw up every day., This can be in the form of egg biscuit, cat biscuits, scrambled egg, dried or fresh meal-worms, whole nuts (crack the shells but leave the gerbils to remove them) or various other sources. , This can stress Mom out and potentially cause her to eat her young.
Leave Dad in to help raise the litter.
If you must separate Mom from Dad, consider leaving an older daughter from a previous litter to help out. , You can use the nipple method from 8 days but this is not 100% reliable. , All pups your gerbils produce are your responsibility.
If you can't care for them don't produce them.
Three plus litters in a row puts stress on your mother gerbil, so remove the father before the birth of litter 3 (or even litter 2) so you do not exhaust your gerbil, but make sure an older daughter helps with the litter. , Don't sell more than two, as this could be risky.
About the Author
Jose Thomas
Experienced content creator specializing in hobbies guides and tutorials.
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