My gerbil is getting bigger. How to tell if she's pregnant without stress?

It definitely sounds like Red may be a pregnant female, but he should be seen by a vet if he is not eating/drinking or urinating/defecating normally. Though it is unlikely, this drastic increase in size could be due to a growth within the abdomen or gastrointestinal disease. You can tell if a gerbil is a male or female by looking at the distance between the anus, located just under the tail and the genitals. In males, this distance is longer than in females. If the distance between Red's anus and genitals is shorter than his cagemates, he is most likely a female. The length of a gerbil's pregnancy is about 24 days, and it sounds like Red is nearing the time to give birth. As long as Red is eating, urinating, and defecating normally, you should not need to intervene with the process. Try to interfere with the new family as little as possible, and only spot-clean the cage, as gerbils are easily stressed and may eat their young. The mother and pups should also have free access to food and water. Keep in mind that gerbils can mate immediately after giving birth and become pregnant again, so consider separating Red from the cagemate as soon as possible if (s)he is pregnant.

There is not really much you can do other than remove the male (put him into a separate cage) and make sure she has enough bedding material. She will do the rest. You will have to remove the male, because he will mate with the female shortly after giving birth and then you will have more babies within 3 to 4 weeks. Gerbil males are fertile by the age of 3 weeks, so you will need to separate the babies by gender at that age. There are videos on the internet, where you can see how to tell the difference.

I recommend separating the male and female now before the female gives birth to avoid potential cannibalism of the pups by the male. Other than the female having an obviously distended belly, females have a shorter anogenital distance than males and lack a scrotum. For the pregnant female, I would not try to house her with other females until after the pups are weaned at 3 weeks of age (also to prevent cannibalism). When ready, the split cage method is recommended for introducing males or females that are not from the same litter. It involves keeping the 2 males (or 2 females) separated by a divider (plexiglass with holes drilled placed corner to corner dividing the enclosure into 2 triangles works well) and switching the gerbils 4-5 times a day for at least a week to get them accustomed to each other' ascents. After a week remove the divider only when you are able to carefully monitor them for fighting for 5-6 hours or longer. Generally they cannot be safely left alone together until you see them grooming each other and sleeping next to each other. Even then, if you notice any bite marks/wounds on either gerbil, separate immediately and do not attempt to rehouse together. Best of luck!

It will be difficult to tell if she is pregnant until the last week or so. You will generally see an enlargement of the abdomen and her mammary glands becoming more prominent. Right before she gives birth, she will lose her mucus plug and you may find that as well. Provide her with a clean cage, and material to make a nest. You may also provide her with a box (make sure it has a lid or no bottom so that you can check on things without disturbing the babies and mother). Mother hamsters can become stressed out easily and will fail to care for the young or even eat the young so it is very important not to handle the babies and mother after birth for the first 2-3 weeks. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Well, guinea pigs gestation period is about 65 days, and of course she has to have some contact with a male. In the past, I have been able to tell if they are pregnant by palpation. Also, if you gingerly placer your hands on either side of her belly you may be able to feel moving piglets. If she is an adult and has never had a litter please take her to see a veterinarian. Female guinea pigs can have a very tough tough me delivering if their pelvis has matured completely. Good luck to you and Rosey.

One way to tell is weight gain. Steady weight gain week per week can indicate a pregnancy. You can check Mama Chin's belly, and if you notice her nipples starting to peak out through her fur, that is another sign that she could be pregnant. The best way to know, however, is to have her examined by a vet who can determine for sure if she is pregnant.

With these pictures, I would guess she is pregnant. Gestation for a hamster is 15-18 days. On the third photo, it appears as if her mammary glands are developed. Usually hamsters start building a nest site in a corner. I would definitely separate her from the male as they can be aggressive during birthing. It is important to allow the female to have a quiet, minimally disturbed environment, especially during their first litter, to decrease the chance of rejection of babies by the mother.