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In this video, you can see once again, that the young gerbil seems to know where it is going. It may go around the tank, but any time it wants, it can cut directly towards where it started. How it feels its way around? My guess: Through feeling, and animal navigation (Yes this is a true thing which you can read up more online.)
Still very unsteady, the young gerbil may stand on all fours, and suddenly flip over on its side, then try to flip themselves the right side up. |
This if one of the rare videos in which you can hear clearly, the sound made by young gerbils. You can see, in what circumstance they chirp and how they move around to find a comfortable position to rest in. |
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Day 12 and these are the observations:
- Eyes and ears are closed - Feet and hand ratio is more distinct (Feet becomes longer than the front hand by a significant amount) - Toes and fingers become longer and no longer stuck together - Tail grows thicker - Pups tend to jerk their body while sleeping (Like having a bad dream) - Head size to "rump" size are equal. (Rump: Back + Thigh) |
How do the gerbil pups get taken care of by their parents and the family? Two ways.
1) They bundle together as one, and each grown up take turns to lie down on top of the young to protect them and giving them warmth. 2) If the young move about and bundle in 2 groups, they will split up to lie down on the young. At this stage, the parents dont carry the young around to where they want the young to sleep at. |
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Today I managed to get a video of a strong pup hanging on to its mother for milk even as she runs about. This same thing usually happens, but 4-5 gerbils will just slide off on the ground and be left trying to overturn themselves.
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On the 14th day, the fur can be said to be fully grown through out the body of the young pups (even under the belly)
The nose and mouth of the gerbil also gets fully opened. No more blockage! Apart from the closed ears, the gerbil pups look almost a miniature replica of their grown ups. |