Gerbil Pup Development
This is information I have collected all over the internet. Watching pups grow up is fun and educational.
Pups are born hairless, deaf, blind, but not dumb. They will squeak like small birds
Gerbil Pup Development
This is information I have collected all over the internet. Watching pups grow up is fun and educational.
Pups are born hairless, deaf, blind, but not dumb. They will squeak like small birds and be nursed by their mother. The pups should not be handled at this age as the mom is just adapting to them and is very sensitive. Their skin is a reddish color and black eyed pups will have a dark spot where their eye is. Red eyed pups' eyes will blend almost. There are small amounts of body hair and the ears are flattened.
Pups are still blind, deaf and hairless. A slightly darker pigment may begin to show up at this age. They will still be noisy. They can be touched if the mother is very trusting of the owner. The pups are very sensitive and should not be picked up. They should be checked for full milk-bellies to make sure the mother is feeding them.
Pups' pigmentation shows up more now. They are still blind, hairless, and deaf. Their whiskers and ears are beginning to become more prominent. They will begin to move slightly around the nest. The mother will retrieve them. They can be handled if the mother is comfortable with it for short periods of time. They should still have full milk bellies.
They are more mobile and can now squirm along and occasionally make it out of the nest. At this age you can tell if they are spotted or not. Sometimes you can tell genders but it is not the only age you should sex them. You can see their eye slits are more defined and that they are significantly larger. They still need to be nursed and kept warm.
The pup is pretty mobile and can leap from heights. The ears stick out more and are less erect than adult gerbils. Their tail is noticeably out of proportion as is their head. Their "peach fuzz" fur begins to show what pre-molt color they will be and their whiskers are longer and more defined. Their toes are more defined as well, and their leg muscles are beginning to develop. They should still be nursed but at this age, the mom can spend a little more time away from the nest since they are beginning to get their fur.
The pups' ears are more upright and at this age they can begin to 