Y'all, Punches is ALIVE! Not only did his foster parents at Cedar Moon Gerbils accept him all those weeks ago, but they did a beautiful job keeping him warm, fed, and happy. Here are some pictures of him that Greta has sent me over the last month.
Punches at about 1 week when his peach fuzz was just starting to come in:
Punches at about 1 week when his peach fuzz was just starting to come in:
And here at about 3 weeks just after he opened his eyes:
And now at just over 4 weeks old, fully weaned, and ready to come home!
IMPORTANT NOTE: normally, 4 weeks old is too young for baby gerbils to be separated from their mothers. However, because Punches' foster mother only had him and one other pup, they got a LOT to eat and grew very fast. Greta is also a very experienced breeder, so she knows how to judge whether or not a young gerbil is ready to be separated and adopted. But this is an EXCEPTION. Normally gerbils aren't separated from their parents and adopted out until they are 6 weeks old.
Now that I've satisfied my breederly responsibility, let's get back to the fun stuff! The little gray puffball behind Punches in that first 4-week picture is his foster brother. The two have become such great buddies that I can't bear to separate them, so I've asked Greta if I can have the little Siamese boy as well. My fiance has named the foster brother "Kicks." I might have mentioned that he gave Punches his name because the little squeaker is such a fighter. Well, evidently Kicks is so named because he's coming along "just for kicks." How could I turn down names like that?
Our new boys will be coming home to Houston this weekend. I can't wait to see them. When I dropped off Punches and met his new family, both boys were bright pink and hairless, squeaking their little lungs out and wanting their dinner. And now, judging from the pictures, they look like the fluffiest little cotton balls in the cotton ball patch. I'm so excited!
So, one more HUGE thank-you to Greta at Cedar Moon! Because of you, Punches is alive and well!
Now that I've satisfied my breederly responsibility, let's get back to the fun stuff! The little gray puffball behind Punches in that first 4-week picture is his foster brother. The two have become such great buddies that I can't bear to separate them, so I've asked Greta if I can have the little Siamese boy as well. My fiance has named the foster brother "Kicks." I might have mentioned that he gave Punches his name because the little squeaker is such a fighter. Well, evidently Kicks is so named because he's coming along "just for kicks." How could I turn down names like that?
Our new boys will be coming home to Houston this weekend. I can't wait to see them. When I dropped off Punches and met his new family, both boys were bright pink and hairless, squeaking their little lungs out and wanting their dinner. And now, judging from the pictures, they look like the fluffiest little cotton balls in the cotton ball patch. I'm so excited!
So, one more HUGE thank-you to Greta at Cedar Moon! Because of you, Punches is alive and well!