As the female comes into 'heat' she will begin assuming a breeding stance with her back swayed and body stretched out. When petted over her back, she will remain motionless and sway her back even further. A thin mucus will be noticed coming from her vulva on the next day of the 'heat' cycle, which indicates that estrus will occur two days later. For breeding, place the female into the male's cage about one hour before dark. Closely observe the pair for mating activity or fighting.
Females can be very aggressive towards males and can cause serious injuries.
Also, remove the male shortly after a successful mating has taken place. Just before delivery, the expectant mother will become restless and may discharge a small amount of blood from her vulva. Do not handle or disturb her at this time. It is wise to clean her cage two weeks following breeding, so her cage is relatively clean when babies arrive. The pups are born hairless with their eyes and ears closed.