Breeding in 1970

I'm just sharing a little bit of knowledge regarding breeding gerbils in the 1970s. A little winded but a good read. 

My internet at the time was the library or knowledge from a local mom & pop Pet Shop (there were no big chain pet shops back then).

The only colors at the time were agouti, pied agouti, black, and pink eyed white. Imagine my surprise 40 years later at how many colors there are now. I'm in heaven.

Since there were pied agouti, I assume there were pied black but not in my area in the Midwest. I so badly wanted a pied black. It was my dream. 

Knowing nothing about genetics, I purchased a black gerbil and bred to a pink eye white gerbil. Mind you I was only 12. I knew I was doing something wrong when all my offspring were just agouti. Hence, the importance of understanding color genetics.

The first pair I had were both pied agouti. And all their offspring were the same color. In hindsight, I am assuming it was a brother and sister because they were purchased at a pet shop. 

At the time, the pet shop that I frequented the most would order from Midwest airport animal holding facility. I don't think it exists anymore. But all exotic animals, domestic animals, and fish where flown into this area for holding to be shipped to local pet shops in the Midwest area.

There was not a lot of good information on proper gerbil care at the time. I don't even think they had a diet specifically for gerbils. I fed a hamster seed mix and lab blocks. I also used wire wheels because that's all that was available at the time. Thank God no broken legs. I kept a pair in a 10 gallon tank which now seems so cruel, but at the time that was acceptable. The last thing I recall was I rarely ever gave them any wood items to chew on. I'm bewildered I did not have overgrown teeth issues. I think what saved me was the cardboard they were given and the lab blocks.

I never split the pair after the second litter, which is common practice now. They continued to produce offspring until they stopped around 2 years old. They did slow down in production after the first three or four litters. The litters were smaller and far and few in between. I know now that this is a poor practice. My pregnant mamas were given milk soaked in bread. I never had a problem with it but I don't recommend. Interesting enough this pair lived over 5 years. RIP Mork and Mindy.

Back in the seventies they were stronger and lived longer. I believe the shortened lifespan is due to the LACK of a larger gene pool in the US. Most all the gerbils in the US are related somewhere down the line. My opinion only folks.

Interesting fact, I never experienced health issues during the five years I bred gerbils in the 1970s. That was quite surprising given the fact that gerbils have so many now. To name a few: allergies, siezures, deformities, short lifespan, and ovarian cysts.

I did have one gerbil's tail degloved when my brother was holding him. He was holding the gerbil by the tail and it bit him. And instead of letting go he just jerked the tail. Not cool, and I was devastated. So yes, degloving is a real thing.

Well that's my experience from 40 years ago. Of course my practice now is new and improved.

I ❤️ MY GERBIL