At the end of last summer, I convinced my parents to let me get 2 gerbils. I did research and everything! Mymom didn't want me to..."No! Isn't the cat enough? I don't need another animal to mother!" In the end, they let me get 2 males, and I was a great mom! My mom and dad never had to lift a finger! I even payed for everything myself! Even my mom admitted I was doing a good job. Then, a couple months ago, one of my gerbils died. now, I have a new one, thats a girl. Im in the process of introducing them so they can mate. I even bought a new cage for the babies. I SO know what I'm doing. In the beginning, my mom was very strict about not breeding, but when I asked to get a girl, she was all for it! Shes really come to like them. But when I asked to get a guinea pig yesterday, she was all "no! arent gerbils enough!?!? Gosh! we don't need another animal!" I dont understand! Ive shown that im responsible... and she even likes the gerbils! What am i doing wrong?
2007-02-07 13:50:36 · 14 answers · asked by smileyrylee 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
The problem with getting a guinea pig is that they are a very socialabe animals if you only get one 9 chances out of 10 it will be depressed and wont eat so you'd probably be better off with two. They are the most loveable animal my one will actually cuddly up in my lap while im on the internet. These guys need lots of attention, and lots of exercise or they will look like big blobs lol mine do anyway. Not to mention now i do love my guys i do, but you have to clean there cage every other day sometimes daily. They sure do know how to stink up the place fast. They don't make there own vitamin c like you and i so you have to give them fresh food
2007-02-07 15:03:16 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I really think you should wait on the guinea pig idea until you've been breeding the gerbils for a while. Very soon, you are going to have a *lot* of gerbils. Can you really devote enough time each day to the cat, the gerbil parents, up to 10 gerbil pups (and then up to 10 more in the second litter, and then up to 10 more in the third litter!), *and* guinea pigs (more than one, since they are social)? Even if you think you can, it would be best to make sure before getting guinea pigs-- if you find out that you're wrong, it will be the animals that feel the pinch.
I know you say that you know what you are doing, but please, keep doing research anyway. It's the people that assume they know everything that end up having real problems. Also, have you thought about what can go wrong? Are you willing to pay for veterinary care for a litter that comes down with RI?
A few pointers:
-You need to breed in a glass tank, not a wire cage. Pups can be seriously injured and even die in wire cages.
-You are going to need *at least* two spare tanks for the pups, one for males and one for females.
Which brings up another point: what are you going to do with the pups? Keep them? Rehome them? If you plan on keeping them all, you will soon run out of space. Depending on litter size and the male:female ratio, that could mean 3-5 different tanks *per litter* (average litter is 6, but I've had females that consistently had litters of 8-10). And you'll have a litter weaned about every two months, if you keep the pair together. If you plan to rehome most or all of the pups, do you have homes lined up already? Realize that you will soon run out of interested friends and relatives, and most major pet stores will not take animals from small breeders, especially if they are not licensed.
If you haven't already, take a step back and think about all of these things. If you really think that you are ready, wait to get guinea pigs until you have bred gerbils for a while. If you think that you aren't ready, perhaps get guinea pigs instead of breeding.
2007-02-08 03:27:57 · answer #2 · answered by ShootingStar Gerbils 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, be careful breeding those gerbils. You are going to have a lot of babies before you know it. You are also going to lower the lifespan of the mother. The more litters a mother has, the more it stresses her out. Also make sure you know when to wean the babies and how to sex them so that they don't mate with each other or with the parents again. Also the male gerbil may eat the babies, so you might want to take him out of the cage before the female gives birth and after the pups are born. Basically I would suggest not breeding them. You don't really know what you are getting yourself into. I would suggest instead of breeding, get the guinea pig. Guinea pigs are really sweet. I had the same problem as you growing up. I wanted more and more pets and now I have tons of them. And although I love them, they are a lot of work. Just don't become a hoarder.
2007-02-07 16:12:33 · answer #3 · answered by pobrecita 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your mother sounds like her nerves are shot and she is stressed out. it sounds like if you are nice to her she will eventually see things your way so have a little patience and maybe do some nice things for her to remind her that you are a nice responsible kid. and remember not to be like her when you are a mom. spoiled kids are happy kids. i recommend a couple extra rooms for the animals. guinea pigs are better with other guinea pigs. plan on getting a couple or more. in small groups they will chirp and popcorn. i don't know if mom is ready for a guinea pig choir chirping but it is very entertaining. the only thing i can think of that comes close are croaking gouramis. maybe thats what you need. singing fish are fun too.
2007-02-07 19:32:30 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
your doing nothing wrong but she may figure since you are going to be breeding your gerbils that you will have to many to handle if you add a guinea pig to the mix. she may also figure that since you got the gerbils and are now going to breed them that you will want to do the same thing with the guinea pig. i hope none of the babies will be going as feeders. i also hope that you are not using a pine of cedar bedding as it releases phenols which are toxic to rodents.
2007-02-08 10:00:45 · answer #5 · answered by MommyCaleb 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just listen. I had the same only i had 2 cats to start with....eventually I somehow procured 48 animals. I hated it after that. Now i'm back down to 2 cats a dog and a few fish...listen to your parents. And don't pester, they're more willing to let you get it if you rarely bring it up.
2007-02-07 13:57:50 · answer #6 · answered by ►ŦŕǖŦħŦěĿĿęŔ◄ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you get enough pets they take over, it is insidious , I have adopted pets and have found homes for many. If you need more pets get animals that are on death row. Your Mom probably thinks you my get different interests in the future and if you have 3 or 4 years from now she will be stuck.
2007-02-07 13:59:07 · answer #7 · answered by magpie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your parents might not want you to have a guinea pig as you already have a cat and gerbils and she/he don't want any more pets at the moment.
2007-02-07 19:01:12 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
understand which you will possibly desire to not be waiting to safeguard a puppy by your self. Like as an occasion I have been given my first puppy that grew to become into completely my accountability i grew to become into 6(it grew to become right into a hamster) the only element I had help with that hamster grew to become into economic, commute, and while she gave start(I definitely have had around 6 hamsters provide start after being informed they have been boys) yet I definitely have a cousin it rather is 12 and has yet to instruct she is able to safeguard an animal by herself.
2016-09-28 14:07:45 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take it slow. Keep taking care of your gerbils and ask her about the guineapig at least once a month bot don't irritate her or your done for and she keep saying no
P.S. Please vote me as best answer please
2007-02-07 14:02:30 · answer #10 · answered by Anime Master 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋