Reptile & Amphibian Forums

It apears that gerbils are not a main diet around here? Is there a particular reasoning why? I started breeding Gerbils for a certain animal that is a finicky. A these guys love the gerbils, I have feed some of my other animals and they seem to do fine on them aswell??

Just thought I would throw this out there to you guys?
Start up some discussion on it.

Max

1, gerbils don't have large litters
2, they are monogomous
3, only to be kept in pairs, females are very dominant and will kill other females
4, pairs will have pups as late as 5-6 months after being put together
5, tails will deglove (skin comes off of the bone)very easy compared to domesticated rats and mice
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Shannon in Reno
2.3 dogs
1.0 cat
Bunch O fancy rats and mice
50 something chickens
1.0 Black rat snake
2.0 Albino corn snakes
0.1 Chissel tooth kangaroo rat
0.1 Rosy Boa
0.1 Kenyan Sand Boa
1.0 Amazing Boyfriend

I keep 1.3 and have usually 12-15 young born!
I run 2 cages and run about 24-30 every month and a half give or take.
Max

There are upsides to breeding them. They need little water, have no odor, and hardly need to be cage changed. They can be fun if you set up a tank filled 3/4 of the way with aspen. I have a kangroo rat they are on the same lines as gerbils. Her tank is full of boxes, tubes, paper, and aspen. The way I see it. If you have to breed something do it the best, most fun, cheapest but best for the animals, and most interesting as you can. This is why I breed fancy mouse strains that aren't bred for litter size just coat color and to be good moms. People should try it if they only have a few small species that need small feed. I did breed them for feeders 10 years or so ago. They just never seemed happy in a cage like a rat or mouse does, that's why I stopped.
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Shannon in Reno
2.3 dogs
1.0 cat
Bunch O fancy rats and mice
50 something chickens
1.0 Black rat snake
2.0 Albino corn snakes
0.1 Chissel tooth kangaroo rat
0.1 Rosy Boa
0.1 Kenyan Sand Boa
1.0 Amazing Boyfriend