Siena, Madison, Nairobi, Roma, Saffie and Sicily

Siena, Madison, Nairobi, Roma, Saffie and Sicily

The group of 6 females, mother and 5 daughters. They should be ok, but there could be problems at a later date if Siena is the dominant figure and one of the younger females wants the dominance. Although I am not sure if Siena is, as far as I can tell, Saffie appears to be the boss. She's always throwing the others on their backs. So I'm not sure, we'll find out once they are a few months older. By then the group might be smaller anyway if I remove any to breed with.

Siena - Red Eyed Honey - Genetics are AaCCeeGGpp. Siena is very, um how to describe?? She loves to come out and run around and is very hyper active with plenty of energy. She was an excellent mother, always on the pups and they were fat little things but she did also need her time out. With her second litter she was much better and didn't seem as frantic and much more relaxed with the pups. She is very strong too I've noticed recently, whenever we hold her you can really feel her strength, where as most gerbils will just sit there, you can really feel Siena's power! (aswell as being able to see it!)

Madison - Dark Eyed Honey - Genetics are: A-CCeeGGPp. Madison is very much like Dakota, will just sit there on your hand when the mood takes her, but other times she's like most gerbils and wants to get free! She is very pretty and has a gorgeous long tail - I love it! Though I'm not sure if it'd be too long for showing ;) I still think it's very pretty anyway! Madison was probably the pup that took most interest in raising the second litter, she seemed to be the only one that would help out and it did worry me a little at first because she seemed to be dominant and I wasn't sure if she'd try to harm them!

Nairobi - Dark Eyed Honey - Genetics are: A-CCeeGGPp. Nairobi is a DEH from the second litter, hopefully I'll be able to tell the difference between the two. So far all I can tell is that she is smaller than Madison, and seems to have a shorter tail... but who knows, it might get longer as she gets bigger and I can see it being difficult to distinguish between them.

Roma - Nutmeg - Genetics are aaCCeeGGPp. The only female Nutmeg we have, she is also very placid when on your hands. So whenever I get one of the younger pups out I try to put them in my hand together so they learn to be calm from her. Roma also has a beautiful colour, although probably not as dark as it should be it has a gorgeous even tone to it, she also for some reason seems to be the most beautiful out of the Nutmegs from the first litter... I can't really put my finger on it, perhaps she's not the nicest shape head or body, I'm not sure.

Saffie - Saffron - Genetics are: aaCCeeGGpp. Saffie seems to be the boss, whether it's just because she's young I'm not sure, as madison was quite like her when younger so she may change as she matures. Saffie is a gorgeous colour, hopefully she will do well in shows. She seems to have a strong orange colour to her, but as she is my only Saffron I don't really have anything to compare her to. She does have a bib and white paws, which may cost her points at show, but that is something that when I get lines going I will try to breed out.

Sicily - Red Eyed Honey - Genetics are: A-CCeeGGpp. Sicily is almost identical to Siena, only she's smaller and not quite as deep in colour. Perhaps once she's older her colour will darken so she will do better as any shows I might enter her to.

Saffie and Nairobi as pups.

Saffie as a juvenile.

Sicily, with Siena just behind her.

Siena, with Roma about to jump back into the tank.

Nairobi as a juvenile.

Madison.

Roma.

December 2004

A quick update on the girls...

I have plenty of photos of them, mainly sleeping but also some of them out and about in their tank. It's just a shame that with it being Winter the sun is so low and so the light isn't good enough for beautiful natural light photos - atleast it's pretty difficult, as I have to hold the Gerbil upto the window and they don't seem too keen and so I'll have to wait until spring or summer until nice natural light photos are available again.

Anyway, here are some photos that I've picked out:

Nairobi sleeps ontop of Roma

A Gerbil sleeping pile

Siena decides to take a nap in the tube

Settling down to sleep on the surface... Odd

Five in the sand dish