Southpaw Mongolian Gerbil Project

07/14/2023

Hey all! Thought I'd give a little update on Southpaw Mongolian Gerbil Project:

We've had a few litters since my last update, and have established/preparing to establish a few new pairs. These new pairs are only put together after great consideration and we try to avoid as much line-breeding and inbreeding as we can. Im hoping to add a new gerbil from different bloodlines to our project soon! Right now we are focusing on these four pairings:

Fritz x Glenda
Fritz is a white male born 10/17/22 from Litter F, out of Maxwell x Dewgong, and is a 4th generation gerbil. Glenda is a silver female born 11/15/22 from Litter G out of Cubone x Elm and is also a 4th generation gerbil in my project. Fritz is quite large and has done well in the past fathering litters. Glenda is unique in that she has learned how to jump and hang on to the aquarium topper when anticipating food! She also is a good mother.

Silver x Gold
Silver is a grey (Burmese) male born 4/24/23 from Litter J, out of Fiji x Walnut, and is a 5th generation gerbil. Gold is a dark-eyed honey female born 4/24/23 from Litter L, out of Fiji x Glenda, and is also a 5th generation gerbil. My youngest potential pairing, they are set to be paired together once old enough. If they produce offspring later this year, it'll be my first generation 6 litter!

Fiji x Walnut
Fiji is an agouti (wild type) male born 10/17/22 from Litter F, out of Maxwell x Dewgong and is a 4th generation gerbil. Walnut is a black female born 8/7/22 from Litter E, out of Sandslash x Jasmine and is a generation 3 gerbil. Like his brother Fritz, Fiji is a good male with good fathering instinct. I really loved the F Litter! Walnut is a good mother as well as notably easy to handle.

Grahm x Henrietta
Grahm is a white male born 11/15/22 from Litter G out of Cubone x Elm, and is a 4th generation gerbil. Henrietta is an agouti (wild type) female born 11/29/22 from Litter H out of Maxwell x Dewgong and is a 4th generation gerbil. Grahm is easygoing and easy to handle, and Henrietta is quite large and beautifully sleek for a female. She hasn't produced a litter yet as she wasn't paired with anyone until now.

Please note that while these litters are produced for multiple reasons (including hawk food, pets, and trapping animals), ethics are made priority and all gerbils are given environments to thrive and be enriched, access to nutritional food and water, several inches of bedding material for digging, sand for baths, multiple toys and objects for chewing, observed daily and adjustments made to make their lives as stress-free and enriched as possible, and are handled daily if destined for pet hood or trapping.

Photo of a few pups from Litter Q, our most recent litter!

02/15/2023

This is Glenda, one of the 4th generation pups I have produced from my own lines. She was born back in November 2022. I just love the silver ticking that she has!

02/04/2023

My first 5th generation Mongolian Gerbil litter arrived tonight :) Fritz, white M, was paired with Maple, my Dark-eyed Honey F, to produce this litter! I've been selecting for longevity, health and handleability with the multiple generations of litters that produced these parents, and I'm really loving the outcome-- parents don't mind being held, don't dart away from the hand, and have yet to produce any health concerns so far.

This is Litter I, so I'll be looking for names that start with "I" when I name and weigh pups in a few weeks!

05/30/2022

Newest litter is doing well. :)

03/31/2022

Today was weigh day for my Mongolian gerbils!

I currently have seven gerbils:

My breeding pair, Jasmine (Siamese) and Sandslash (Agouti), which I am hoping produce a litter soon; if not, I may try a new pairing with Jasmine. If they produce, it'll be litter #4 for my little breeding project. I'm hoping to acquire a new female or two in the next litter to round out my foundation stock.

And my bachelor males, pictured below, who are all bonded and share a large enclosure with one another (in this small bin temporarily for weighing):
Toffee (Spotted Dark Eyed Honey; my eldest, the original boy I acquired with Coffee)
Wasabi (Agouti)
Curry (Agouti)
Folger (Black)
Maxwell (Black)

Folger and Maxwell we're the only surviving pups from my single Coffee x Jasmine litter (Litter C), and Coffee was quite old and passed away earlier this year. (YES, I shamelessly gave them coffee-inspired nicknames in honor of their dad haha). I am hoping to continue Coffee's lines through these offspring, as I appreciated his age and tolerance being handled. :)

02/07/2022

Coffee's pups sure are pretty darn cute. Wednesday they will be 1 month old! At 6 weeks (Feb 20) they'll be separated. This age is fun.

01/25/2022

Sadly the runt of the litter didn't make it. Found her still warm under her mother and siblings this afternoon. She was several grams lower than her littermates, but had zest and movement up until I found her. I really thought she was going to pull through.

The remaining three are doing well.

01/21/2022

These four babies are growing up! They were in this container momentarily while I weighed them. All four are black in color with varying amounts of white on the front paws. The runt is doing well, too!

01/15/2022

Litter C has just started developing their fur! It's always exciting to see what we get color/genetic-wise. :) This litter is all looking dark-- most likely either black or slate! One of the four is a runt and a bit smaller than the others, but I am hoping it pulls through.

01/10/2022

My Mongolian Gerbil, "Jasmine," who has siamese coloration, just birthed her first litter! This is my third project litter overall (Litter C) and something in the works for the last few months. :) Exciting!

11/14/2021

So I entered into the American Gerbil Society virtual show this year, just to learn and gain the experience, and wanted to say thanks to the folks who made it possible and for the judges who provided honest and constructive feedback! I am relatively new to this side of gerbils and am incredibly thankful for the opportunity to participate. It was intimidating but helps me grow as a keeper of this species. I learned a ton. Through the feedback I got on my submissions, I have been able to improve my gerbils' set up and care with the inclusion of sand baths. :)

I didn't expect any of mine to place, and was surprised when Jasmine (my Siamese) was awarded 3rd in 2021 pup class and Ginger (pied Agouti) was given Honorable Mention in the photo contest. Looking forward to next year!

Thank you again.

11/14/2021

Litter B, comprised of just two pups: a male and female Agouti. They are 4.5 weeks old, just weaned, and will be separated from mom and each other in about 10 days, once they are 6 weeks old. I've nicknamed them "Sandshrew" (female) and "Sandslash" (male), as they are definitely ground types (like the pokemon haha). They LOVE to dig, and are seldom found on the surface of their bedding. :)

11/08/2021

Today, Juniper and Ginger are off to their new home! A family friend was really interested in them, and they are going into the best of care and experienced hands. :)

10/21/2021

Juniper, my pied black female from Litter A, and the largest girl among the three in this litter!

10/21/2021

Jasmine, one of my pups from Litter A. Her Siamese points are beginning to come in! She is a foundation female for my little breeding project.

10/21/2021

Looking like our second litter, Litter B, is two agouti pups

10/13/2021

Mocha had her second litter today-- just two new pups as part of my foundation stock with my little Southpaw Mongolian Gerbil Project :) Both pups are doing well. They'll be growing hair by next Saturday! I am also trying out paper shavings in our litter/grow out tank, as I am hoping they'll be a bit softer on these delicate pups.

I am happy to report that our first litter-- Jasmine, Juniper, Ginger, Wasabi and Curry-- are all doing well and have been split up accordingly. I slowly introduced Wasabi and Curry (males) to my older two males and all have gotten on well together! My three females also have gotten on well together in their own set up. :)

09/08/2021

Litter A at 6 weeks old! Today was weigh day and examine day. Everyone's weights today were within normal range (the litter ranged from 19g to 24g), with Curry being the smallest and Juniper being the biggest, and everyone is looking good. Clear eyes and face, alert, interested and active. Yay!

Here is a quick photo of them in their temporary enclosure I use for movement from one area to another-- used on days like today for weighing and observation :)

From top to bottom:
Curry, Jasmine, Juniper, Wasabi, Ginger

09/08/2021

Today was weigh day for everyone!

Coffee -- 88g
Toffee -- 83g
Mocha -- 47g

Litter A, 6 weeks old
Wasabi-- 21g
Curry-- 19g
Ginger-- 20g
Juniper-- 24g
Jasmine-- 20g

As they reach maturity around 8 weeks old, litter A will be seperated soon :) It is amazing how fast this process goes!

09/03/2021

Southpaw's "Mocha," she is my Agouti female and a foundation member of my little breeding project. She is the mother of Litter A.

08/27/2021

Southpaw's "Jasmine"
DOB 7/28/2021
Meriones unguiculatus
Female
Siamese Color
Litter A Offspring
Parents: "Toffee" (Spotted Dark Eyed Honey) X "Mocha" (Agouti)

08/27/2021

Southpaw's "Juniper"
DOB 7/28/2021
Meriones unguiculatus
Female
Pied Black Color
Litter A Offspring
Parents: "Toffee" (Spotted Dark Eyed Honey) X "Mocha" (Agouti)

08/27/2021

Southpaw's "Ginger"
DOB 7/28/2021
Meriones unguiculatus
Female
Pied Agouti Color
Litter A Offspring
Parents: "Toffee" (Spotted Dark Eyed Honey) X "Mocha" (Agouti)

08/27/2021

Southpaw's "Curry"
DOB 7/28/2021
Meriones unguiculatus
Male
Agouti Color
Litter A Offspring
Parents: "Toffee" (Spotted Dark Eyed Honey) X "Mocha" (Agouti)

08/27/2021

Southpaw's "Wasabi"
DOB 7/28/2021
Meriones unguiculatus
Male
Agouti Color
Litter A Offspring
Parents: "Toffee" (Spotted Dark Eyed Honey) X "Mocha" (Agouti)

08/27/2021

Here is some more information about Southpaw Mongolian Gerbil Project:

Southpaw Mongolian Gerbil Project is a very small privately-owned and operated Mongolian gerbil breeding project located in southeast Missouri. This project is strictly for personal and small-scale hobby-related efforts; this project is NOT intended for large-scale/pet store operation.

All SMGP gerbils are maintained ethically, utilizing 20+ gallon aquarium tank setups with several inches of various bedding material for digging and burrowing, and multi-level structures to allow for vertical climbing and exploration. All gerbils are fed a carefully formulated, nutrient-rich, and appropriate gerbil diet. All gerbils have access to multiple enrichment items and toys, including items to gnaw on to keep their incisors at an appropriate length. Gerbils are handled daily and exposed to various household sounds and sights, resulting in well-rounded pets. The foundation gerbils of SMGP are from unrelated lines and acquired from different locations in Missouri.

Pethood is the prioritized goal of this breeding project. Pet prospects are not yet available, as SMGP is still in the process of establishing this breeding project. A limited number of pet prospects may be made available in the future.

About the Owner:

Bridget Ulrich, owner and founder of Southpaw Mongolian Gerbil Project, has significant animal and wildlife experience, and an academic background in science education, biology, animal and wildlife care. Bridget has owned and raised Mongolian gerbils since 2007, and began SMGP in 2021.

Bridget is a licensed master falconer and has been practicing falconry for fifteen years. She has interned and volunteered at multiple wildlife and environmental-related entities, including World Bird Sanctuary in St. Louis, Missouri, and Wildcat Glades Conservation & Audubon Center in Joplin, Missouri.

Master of Arts (M.A.) in Teaching Degree, Unified Science: Biology (2020)

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree in Biology, Major in Wildlife Conservation/Ecology, Minor in Sociology (2014)

Secondary Teaching Certifications:
Biology (all levels)
Unified Science: Chemistry
Unified Science: Physics
Unified Science: Earth Science

Illustrator of Hayabusa, Harris Hawk Wo Tanoshimu Hon ("Book for Enjoying Falcons and Harris' Hawks") by Kanako Takakura. This informative book brings education regarding keeping captive birds of prey and successful falconry practices to those in Japan, in their native language. Prior to this book, there has been very little resource material in Japanese for those interested in falconry and raptors.

Bridget is an accomplished digital concept artist and has been self-employed through her work since 2015.

08/27/2021

08/27/2021

Hi there and welcome to my little Mongolian Gerbil breeding project's corner of the internet! Thank you for liking and following this page!

What are Mongolian Gerbils?

Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) are fascinating little mammals. Their Latin name loosely translates to "clawed femur," and in their native range they inhabit grassland, shrubland and desert, including semidesert and steppes in China, Mongolia, and the Russia. Unlike rats and mice, they have long furred tails which help them balance when standing upright on their hind legs. They are important primary consumers in their native range, and are a prey species for multiple predators. They are a social species and typically do best in pairs or small groups. They dig and create burrows; in their native range, they will create complex burrows with upwards of 20 exits!

Here is a photo of one of my project's foundation sires, Southpaw's "Toffee." :)

08/27/2021

08/27/2021