If you’ve been keeping a female gerbil with a male gerbil, there’s a good chance they’re pregnant. Gerbils are prolific breeders and their litters can contain up to 8 babies. Detecting your gerbil pregnancy can be easy if you know what to look for. Here are some signs to watch for: increased aggressivity, swollen belly, and increased appetite.
But most of the time, it is difficult to determine if a gerbil is pregnant because most of the gestation period they don’t act differently than their normal behaviour as they become more aggressive only in the last week of gestation. If you think your gerbil is pregnant, take her to the veterinarian for a check-up.
Is My Gerbil Pregnant?
When it comes to rodents, there are a few species that stand out for their reproductive capabilities. One of these is the gerbil. Gerbils are able to get pregnant all year round and go into heat every four days, with a four-day break in between heats. This means that they are very fertile and can produce a large number of offspring in a short period of time.
Gerbil pregnancies can be difficult to determine since the gestation period is short at around 4 weeks. But if your female gerbil has been around a male gerbil, chances are that she is pregnant. Keep in mind that gerbils can have babies as early as three or four months old. Most gerbils get pregnant from the first time they mate.
The average gerbil gestation lasts 24 to 26 days. Most owners spot the gerbil’s pregnancy in the last three days before she gives birth. This is when the swollen belly becomes obvious.
Signs that a gerbil is pregnant
- Weight gain. Gerbils can gain up to 3 grams per day during pregnancy;
- Increased appetite;
- Behaviour change. In the last week of pregnancy, gerbils become more and more aggressive;
- Body changes. The gerbil’s belly will become rounded;
- Starts to build a nest. This happens in the last 2-3 days of pregnancy.
Gerbil Nesting
If gerbil pups are born, they cannot regulate their own body temperature immediately. They depend on their mother building them a warm nest in which they can survive. If their mother didn’t do this, her pups would virtually die out in the cold.
Gerbils start to build a nest in the last 2-3 days of the gestation period. So if your gerbil has gained weight and has been in contact with a male recently, nest building is sure to follow.
Gerbil mothers will need to be left alone at this time. Do not disturb the nest — not even for a quick look — until the pups are at least two weeks old. Any disturbance could be detrimental, as the mother can easily become stressed out and may then abandon or even eat her babies.
For this reason, it is also advised to remove the male gerbil from the cage.
What To Do If a Gerbil Is Pregnant
If you have a gerbil that is pregnant, there are a few things you can do to help ensure the health and well-being of both the mother and the babies. Make sure the litter box is cleaned regularly and that there is plenty of fresh food and water available. If the mother gerbil is feeling stressed, try to provide her some calming activities.
1. Consult the Vet
If you see the signs listed before, it is important to consult the vet. As the gerbil pregnancy is difficult to detect, this is the only way to be certain. If you think your gerbil is pregnant, the veterinarian will confirm your suspicion and estimate the gerbil’s stage of pregnancy. They will also check her overall health and answer any questions you might have.
2. Remove the gerbil male
As mentioned before, it is advised to remove the male gerbil from the cage. The male gerbil can stress out the mother and affect her health. Another reason is that gerbils can mate immediately after giving birth, and the female gerbil could get pregnant again right away.
3. Food supplement
When a gerbil is pregnant, her appetite will increase. This is because she’ll need an extra supply of calories to help grow her babies. She’ll also need to build extra fat reserves to turn into milk. Pregnant gerbils will eat a lot of vegetables, fruits, and nuts to get the right mix of nutrients they need.
Here is a short list of what you can feed your pregnant gerbil:
- Mealworms and crickets;
- Nuts and pumpkin seeds;
- Small pieces of scrambled egg or hard cheese;
4. Provide nesting materials
In the last days of pregnancy, the female gerbil starts building a nest. You can help her by providing some comfortable materials for bedding, such as:
- Hay;
- Paper towels or toilet paper;
- Plain white tissues.
5. Separate the babies
Gerbils reach sexual maturity at 8-9 weeks. So it is important to separate the male and female gerbils before this happens. Gerbils can survive alone when they are 5 weeks of age, so it’s recommended to wait until 6-7 weeks before separating them from the mother.
By this time, the baby will:
- Have grown all their fur;
- Be able to see and hear;
- Be playing and running around;
- Start to eat solid food.
What happens if you touch a baby gerbil?
In the first week of a baby’s existence, you should not handle or touch him or her unless absolutely essential. This is due to:
- When not in the nest, newborn pups immediately feel chilled.
- Baby gerbils are delicate and easily injured.
- Handling the infants so soon after delivery can generate tension and anxiety in the mother.
Only pick up a baby if it is in urgent danger within the first week. For example, if it falls out of the nest and the mother gerbil does not recover it.
It is okay to begin handling the puppies after week two, but you must be careful. Use a scooping motion to take them up rather than taking them from above.. Reaching from above may frighten gerbils, who may mistake you for an airborne predator.
Each infant should be held one at a time. Hold them low to the ground and over something soft, such as a pillow. This way, they won’t be injured if they fall out of your hands.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you think your gerbil might be pregnant, the best thing to do is consult a veterinarian. They will be able to give you specific advice on how to care for your gerbil during her pregnancy, and can also help you determine if she is actually pregnant. Taking proper care of a pregnant gerbil is important for both the mother and her babies, so be sure to follow the vet’s instructions closely.
