mice VS. Gerbils for hognose

[sapphire_moon]

yes, and it doesn't work for my group...(They smell SO bad )

[Nicky]

Sorry can't offer an opinon as I've never worked with gerbils, just wanted to say congrads on finding your little guy Also just thought i'd throw in rats are the best when it comes to no smell, my friend keeps them and you'd never know thier in thier it's amazing.
Sorry couldn't be more helpful
Kayla

[snakehunter]

I cant find where I got that gerbils are fatty, it may have been hamsters, but Im quite sure I have heard they are.

[zero&stich]

sappire-

maybe move your breeding colony to another part of the house? Say the basment or another room? or maybe look into building your own breeding facility outdoors complete with heat incoperated inside to keep them warm. just a thought.

[sapphire_moon]

HA! If I had the money to build an outdoor breeding facility do you really think I would put it towards mice? As for moving them to another part of the house, no go, I have cats and dogs that have the run of the rest of the house, no basement (I am in an apartment).


As for the rats thing, tried it long ago when I did breed rats, he wouldn't eat them. And I can barely bring myself to "do in" the mice, now that I have PET rats, I don't think I could breed and kill my own rats as I no longer have any of the stuff from my "gas chamber" and would have to whack them.

and I know they hardly smell.... lol

[zero&stich]

HA! If I had the money to build an outdoor breeding facility do you really think I would put it towards mice?

I took that idea from a person I know of in Ontario, so I though it might be an option.....Take a deep breath.

1 thing that has worked for me, to switch my BP's over to frozen is scenting a frozen rat with mouse urine. As gross as that sounds, it worked. If you have the stomach for it, try it out and see if you can get your Hog switched over to frozen, to whatever its capable of eating now.

Good luck.

[sapphire_moon]

lol, sorry to jump on you!

He ate another f/t mouse, so maybe there is hope !!!

[zero&stich]

Sweet!!! Are western hoggies normally fussy? Your not the only case I have heard of with hogs fasting. Just wondering.

[sapphire_moon]

well mine is, lol, I can't really use the fact that he came from a pet shop against him, as the people there bred him, and I was able to see the mother/father.

The first time we got him, he ate a f/t for us, then he wouldn't eat anything but live, now (after he was loose for 3 days, and hadn't ate for like 3 wks), and has ate 2 times since then and both times was f/t. If he eats atleast 2 more times f/t then I will consider it a success, lol.

[zero&stich]

That's cool. Tis the season though. I think even colubrids go through their spirts of fasts. By the time mid March comes yours and mine will be volchures(sp)!

Thanks for the info on Hogs also.

[sapphire_moon]

ya, I've had him for over 1 yr, and I think he has ate a total of 12-14 times maybe ab it more now that he has actually ate 2 wks in a row. Which he has NEVER done.

[fedupdon]

the best way is to buy f/k or f/t no smell unless you forget to put them in thr freezer

[sapphire_moon]

see though he was NOT eating f/t OR f/k. That was the problem with the smell.

Now the he is actually eating f/t I have cut back to one male, 3 females (male in own tank) so I can breed when I need to. take them out at the size I want them, and not worry about it until I get down to a few f/t mice.

[Auskan]

Sapphire, since you are only feeding one snake right now (and he doesn't eat that often!), it would probably be more economical for you to just buy food for him. I have a couple of places I can buy live feeders from around me (yes, even pinkies) , so you might be able to find some near you too?

As for your original question, gerbils smell less than mice because they are a desert species and thus use less water and urinate less. They are also not fatty - that is hamsters. Their litters tend to be smaller than for mice - 4-8 - and they don't produce litters quite as often. The gestation is about 28 days versus 21 for mice, and after the litter is born, although they will mate immediately, implantation of the new embryos will be delayed if the mother is nursing, so the next litter won't be born until around 54 days after the first. A bonded pair is best. Females will often fight if there is a male around. I have heard that if keeping more than two together, its actually better to have one female, two males, but I don't know if this is accurate or not.

[sapphire_moon]

I am sure I could. But I don't like the feeling of throwing away money when he doesn't eat. So I would rather breed.