Headless Insights: How baby gerbils grows up?

I tell you a little story for my A-litter. I have bred one litter of gerbils. Gerbils are a little small rodents. They have small ears, pink or ruby or black eyes, fur and hairy tail with tassel. Gerbils have many coloring, such as black, argente and agouti, and some gerbils have spotted (e.g. collared, white spotted and pied) with basic coloring.

Black gerbil Pippuri

Argente cream collared gerbil Pilvi

Agouti white spotted gerbil Tirri

The first I chose upcoming parents, and they are my own female gerbil Miss Ciara Hippiäinen aka Hippi and my friend's male gerbil Romeo. But this combination didn't work because Romeo was too old gerbil or something else went wrong.

Honey fox gerbil Romeo

Plan B was that I chose new upcoming parents, and they are my own female gerbil Miss Ciara Hippiäinen aka Hippi and my friend's male gerbil Nuutti. Then I put them in the same terrarium with separated by metal mesh. And then, when they agreed together, I deleted that metal mesh. They could live together.

Argente white spotted gerbil, and this litter's dam Miss Ciara Hippiäinen aka Hippi

Lilac gerbil, and this litter's sire Nuutti

Parents together, Hippi and Nuutti

Then, when the mating has happened, and the mother's weight begins to rise, it is time to remove the male in the other terrarium. I can begin to accustom the former roommate to him. Gerbil's gestation is about 23-25 days. During this period, the babies are growing in the mother's stomach and at the same time mother's weight and stomach grow. Hippi's normal weight is 59g and just before the giving birth her weight is 79g.

Before pregnancy

Five days before giving birth

Four days before giving birth

One day before giving birth

One day before giving birth

Mother make a nice nest for her and her babies. And the nest is place where she gives birth. Shortly before the give birth, mother's terrarium needs to be cleaned, because during childbirth or babies are young and weak, mother and her babies need their own repose. None can't disturb they!

Gerbil mother give birth quickly, and then she care her babies. Babies born weighing is about 3-4g.

Hippi cares of her the first or second baby

The babies are born totally helpless, hairless, blind, deaf and totally depending from their parents. They drink their mother's milk. I'll bring food and water for mother, but I'll give repose for them. I quickly checked the nest and found six babies.

Just born babies

One day old and now they have nails

Two days old, they grow and they shout squeal louder

Their whiskers begin to grow, 3 days old

Their whiskers and fur begin to grow, 4 days old

Their fur grow, and their ears open

I can be handheld babies the first time about the first weeks of age. I kept them in my hand the first time for six days of age. At this age, the mother shouldn't eat her babies, even though I handheld her babies . Yes, it is possible that the mother is eating her babies. I looked at their sex, but this handheld time is sort because babies are so small and weak. We have two females and four males. They weight about 6-7g.

Small Koova is male

6 days old babies

1 week old, I can see how their color to develop, these are argente male Haba and argente female Tyy

1 week old, there are someone spotted once

Small, cute Koova and his long whiskers

Fur growing and colors are clear, everyone are argente, 9 days old

About 8 grams per baby, 11 days old

Hippi made to nests and there are Nennu and Koova, 13 days old

Mother and her babies, 13 days old

Three males: Täpä (argente white spotted), Koova (argente collared) and Haba (argente), 2 weeks old

Otta is male and his color is argente white spotted, 2 weeks old

Ruoste is male and his color is argente, 2 weeks old

They are very fast and real bar of soap in my hand, 16 days old

Otta's eyes open today, 19 days old

Täpä's eyes have been opened, 19 days old

They can eat and drink themselves, but they drink also Hippi's milk, about 11 grams, 19 days old

A little bit cramp! 3 weeks old

Koova is so cute boy, 3 weeks old

Koova is 3 weeks old

Tyy is also so cute, 3 weeks old

Hippi lead by example and her son Täpä training shred, 3 weeks old

After three weeks of age is risky age because babies are susceptible to respiratory infection, if they don't get enough water and food, the three-week-old babies start to eat solid food, the mother's milk production will decline. I'll take care of hydration with water spray a little terrarium walls, of which the babies were able to drink. In addition, I changed the dust-free sawdust substrate. These babies fortunately escaped respiratory infection.

Babies grow teeth about 12-14 days of age. Babies need training for handling. Same time when I keep they on my hand, I can watch their teeth. The babies give the best handheld in the future, if it has been practiced from an early age. The babies are fast and hard to jump, but also weak, so they must be handled with care, but a little bit tightly that they don't drip on the floor.

They are so fast and so curious! About 15 grams, 25 days old

Koova is already like a gerbil, 27 days old

Here's a wild bustle and all of they don't fit on my hand anymore, 27 days old, about 17 grams

Beautiful girl Nennu and Tyy, 4 weeks old

Handsome spotted boys Täpä, Otta and Koova, 4 weeks old

Handsome small boy Haba, 4 weeks old

Täpä 4 weeks old

The babies are released to their new homes when they are at least six weeks old. Then they are ready to survive on their own. Gerbils always tend to live at least in pairs because they are a herd of animals.

The first Hippi's babies Nennu and Tyy go their own home when they are 48 days of age. The last who go in his own home is Otta, who went to his own home when he is about two months old. I left myself Koova, Täpä and Haba, and they form their own pack.

Last time together whole family, girls Nennu and Tyy left their family

48 days old, Ainoo Enkeli aka Aava (Nennu), female, argente collared

48 days old, Aamun Kaste aka Anniina (Tyy), female, argente

48 days old, Ajan Matkaaja aka Otta (Otta), male, argente white spotted

48 days old, Aromaan Kiitäjä aka Hyrrä (Täpä), male, argente white spotted

48 days old, Aamun Tohvelieläin aka Ruoste (Haba), male, argente

48 days old, Aarteiden Arkku aka Lenni-Kalle (Koova), male, argente collared

Otta, Hyrrä and Hippi together last time

When these babies was a six week old, they weight are about 26 grams. From now on, they grow and add weight to adulthood. They look almost adult gerbils, but they are much smaller in size and weaker. In the future, they to collect the mass of and size, and live their lives normally. And their mother back to normal with her sister Tirri.