Should I take the dad gerbil out of the cage when the first litter is born?

Question

I have three female gerbils and I want one of them to mate with a male gerbil. My dad doesn't think it's a good idea because he thinks they will never stop breeding. I don't want to take the male out of the cage when the first litter is born because both of the parents are needed to raise the litter, but if I leave him in the cage they will mate again. What should I do?

Answer 1

No it's not a good idea, because you'll get a TON of gerbils. I found out the hard way. And then you have to see which babies are boys because the babies will mate with the mother, at about 3 weeks old. It is very hard to tell if they are female or male at that age, so you may have a litter after a litter after a litter, amounting to dozens of gerbils. but if you do have babies take the father out and keep him out! It is bad...every litter a female gerbil has it takes a couple years out of her life, so pretty much you are leading her to an early death, which is very mean.

Answer 2

Yes.  

The males have be known to kill and eat the litter.

If it's the female's first litter she might do it too or if the cage if over crowded.

It's just best to remove the males from the cage until the young are about half the size of the mother.

When they are newborn "pinkies" is when they are at the greatest risk.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Your dad is right. If you don't separate them, they WILL continue breeding and produce litter after litter. I don't recommend you breed at all. What is the purpose of you breeding? Are your gerbils pet store gerbils? If so, they shouldn't be bred since their history or potential health problems they could pass down to their offspring. Not to mention, if they come from the same litter, you'd be inbreeding, and that's never recommended. What are you hoping to produce? Better pets? Show quality gerbils? Fantastic temperaments? etc. Have you done research? Have you talked to gerbil breeders to learn from their experiences, get some advice, and learn as much as you possibly can BEFORE attempting to breed them?

Are all three females kept together? If so, how will you be sure the male only breeds with one and not all three? How large is the cage/tank? If the tank isn't large enough to house all three females, the mother could get stressed out and cannibalize her young. If you have them in a cage, baby gerbils may be able to slip through the bars and get lost.

Many people are wrong. Male gerbils make excellent fathers and help care for the litter. Unlike hamsters and other rodents, they're less likely to cannibalize the young. However, if you were to breed them just once and wouldn't want more, you'd have to remove the father right when the litter is born. The male and female can mate pretty much right after the pups are born.

Please reconsider breeding. It's not a game. It's not something you just decide to do and just do it. It's a huge responsibility, and most people don't understand that. Unless you're willing to put forth the effort to learn as much as you can before breeding and breed for the right reasons, please don't.

Answer 4

OMG!!!!!!!

ALL OF THESE PEOPLE ARE LIKE LYING

YES YOU CAN KEEP THE MALE IN

THEY ACTUALLY HELP THE MOTHER

GO TO AGSGERBILS.ORG

Answer 5

You MUST remove the male after the first litter or he will eat the litter.  (have raised both hamsters and rats)  

Answer 6

if you dont want another litter than remove him right after the litter is born.  they mate as soon as she has them.  the males usually help the mother take care of them but she can do it alone.  if i were you i would seperate them a few days before your female is due.  have 2 tanks set up. a male tank and a female tank.  hopefully at least one male would be born in the litter to live with its day and keep him company.  if no male is born then buy a male for him.

hope this helps

Answer 7

take the daddy out!! it will kill the babies or hurt them badly!! Leave the mom to take care of them!

Answer 8

He will breed with the female again as soon as the litter is born. Take him out now.

Answer 9

yes take him out or he will attack and kill  them dad is not needed he'll just kill them