Small Animal Community / Critters Community / Gerbils

Multiple types of pets

Ferrets Moderator — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:46:24 GMT

Have you owned several types of small animal pets? If so, which one turned out to be the best pet for you? Why?

Disabled Gerbil Ideas?

ToughLove — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 07:33:45 GMT

My gerbil Dorothy Bubbles lost a leg (not sure how) but I have lots of questions that maybe can be answered?

1) How could it have happened? She has a functional shoulder blade and appears to have some bone of her upper leg still in place.

2) Does it have anything to do with why she doesn't use her wheel?

Bullying Pet Shop assistant

Boo10 — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:02:34 GMT

When a short man finally helped me and my dad,74, he bullied me into wasting another £40 of MY money to buy a Gerbilarium, although I told him I already HAD two cages. It would have been shocking to by-standers, a shop assistant bullying a TEN YEAR OLD child. And he said I couldn't get a gerbil unless I bought the Gerbilarium. Thankfully, I have two darling girls to look after, my babies.

pups are dying

gerblover — Fri, 06 May 2011 19:22:06 GMT

I hope someone can give me some advice....I have had my two gerbils now for 2 years, a male and female. They have been breeding little pups for that long as well and all has gone ok until about the past 6 months....she is having smaller litters (2-3) and it seems her babies are dying at about 3 weeks after birth. They start stumbling around looking very skinny and within a few days I will just find them dead and buried. I thought this was caused by respiratory problems at first because I heard a clicking noise so I changed the bedding to aspen but now it is still happening. Now my thought is, is mom possibly getting too old to make healthy babies? I see the babies suckling but is it possible she is just not producing the milk anymore? Any insight would help me I am just torn up about what I need to do to ensure our gerbils health and the health of her pups.

Thank you all

Pregnant gerbil??

Angelicpepitas — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 11:31:01 GMT

My gerbil Oynx was recently in a "fight" with my friends male gerbil about a week and a half to two weeks ago. We couldn't get them apart for at least 45 seconds to a minute. She has been sleeping all the time now, is eating more than usual, has been VERY tempermental towards my other female gerbil in the cage [ Diamond ], her stomach is starting to sag a little [ she's usually REALLY skinny so if she gains any weight it's pretty easy to notice.] also she has been nipping me every time I pick her up. She almost never nips me. About 3 days ago I was holding her and she lashed out and bit two deep holes in my nose and wouldn't let go until I practically had to pull her off. She hasn't bit me like that since I first got her a year ago May. If you have any idea if she is pregnant or not, please reply your answer. I've never had or seen pregnant gerbil and can use all the help I can get to determine if she is or not. Thank you.

I'm afraid of mating my gerbils in case of the pups being harmed

Boo10 — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:14:36 GMT

I'm going to breed my black 1 year old gerbil Ivy with a gerbil from Kilmarnock Pet Shop.
But I'm worried about Ivy's sister Olivia. She bites a LOT, so I'm not so sure she'd make a very nice aunt and she might harm the pups. Please help!

My gerbil REFUSES to be toilet-trained

Boo10 — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:48:12 GMT

My 1yr old gerbil Ivy refuses to go to the toilet anywhere else but my hand

Would you give a friend a surplus 10 week old gerbil?

Boo10 — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:36:17 GMT

Would you give a very careful friend a surplus baby gerbil?

Gerbil Breeder in Pittsburgh

cortez1011 — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:14:23 GMT

Hi all!

I am a gerbil breeder in Pittsburgh, PA! I am registered with the AGS(American Gerbil Society). I currently have a lot of pairs available! I have both rescues and babies from my pairs!

I have a website with gerbil info and also info on the gerbils I have available! Check my website out at: http://angelnhalosgerbils.blogspot.com/

Thanks everyone!

Emergency help for my gerbil!

Angelicpepitas — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 07:59:31 GMT

If you read my Discription of the problem u already know whts wrong. Plz help. she is in alot of pain and the vets aren't open today... Plz help.

Thinking of getting a gerbil?

iluvjinger — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:05:56 GMT

This is an article I wrote filled with all the info you need to know before you get a gerbil.

http://therealowner.com/pets/bringing-home-a-gerbil/

Did this guide help you? And if you are an experienced gerbil owner, did I leave anything important out?

Enjoy!

Gerbil Diseases and the signs.

Angelicpepitas — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 11:55:09 GMT

Gerbils don't easily get sick, they are pretty sturdy critters. But when they do, knowing what might be wrong could mean life or death for your little gerbie. Emergency Symptoms= [If u notice ANY of these symptoms, take him or her to the vet immediately, don't wait to see what happens or it could be to late.] Appears to be in pain when handled, bleeding, cold, listless to the touch, constipation, diarrhea,paralysis,protruding or broken bone, rapid or labored breathing, refusing to eat or drink, sitting hunched, reluctant to move, weepy crusty eyes, or weight loss. RESPIRATORY AILMENTS= Affected animals tend to be lethargic, if you hold your gerbil up to your ear and you can hear a clicking noise, thats the mucus clogging his nasal passages as he breaths. Take the affected gerbil and his cagemate[s] to the vet immediately to see if they need to be treated. SORE NOSE = One of the most common gerbil illnesses. This happens when a gerbils hair on muzzle and nose loose all the hair on it, mostly from self-inflicted trauma, like rubbing his nose on wire cage bars or the type of bedding that you use. One other reason is the Harderian Gland. If the gland becomes infected by bacteria, the oils the the gland [ the bald spot on your gerbil tummy] irritate the skin which can lead to the gerbil scratching his nose, thus losing hair and causing irritation. I have learned that if this happens you can apply 1/4 tea tree oil to 3/4 oilve oil on your gerbils nose, and it will help heal the nose. Also giving Chinchilla dust daily can help keep it clean. TYZZER'S DISEASE= This is a HIGHLY contagious disease that is caused by bacteria. This is usually fatal if not treated early on. Symptoms include; Scruffy coat, lack of activity, diarrhea, loss of appetite, hunched posture, and dehydration. If you gerbil shows these signs, separate your gerbils and take them to the vet immediately. Lumps and Bumps= Check with your vet to see if the " bump" could be a tumor. KIDNEY DISEASE= Older gerbil commonly get this disease. Typical symptoms are weight loss, poor appetite, and lethargy. There is no cure for Kidney Disease, but you can prevent it by giving lot's of fresh water. As always, minimizing any stress is always helpful. STROKES= Strokes usually happen when you notice your gerbil is paralysied on one side of the body or all of the body. Also a persistent limp is common. If you gerbil doesn't recover soon, or will not eat or drink the kindest thing to do is take him to the vet and have him painlessly put to sleep. If you have any gerbil questions. Just post them and I will have an answer for you soon!

All About Gerbils

gerbil31 — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:54:30 GMT

Gerbils are so cool! They are simple to take care of and cute!!

Life expectancy: 3-5 years (my friend had one that lived to 6 1/2 years!)

Popular Breeds: Mongolian, Lilac, Agouti, Golden Agouti, Egyptian

Food refilling: Fill with new food every other day.

Water Refilling: Every Day

Cage Cleaning: Once every 2-3 weeks.

Hot tip: DON'T give your gerbil a bath in the water. It can get a life threatening diesese, wet tail diesese. This causes your gerbil to get sick and possibly die. If your gerbil is a little STANKY, buy it some Chinchilla sand to roll in. I give it to my gerbils and they are SHINY!

New England Gerbil Show April 30, 2011

tracyk — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 13:48:05 GMT

Love gerbils? Come to the 10th Annual New England Gerbil Show!

Saturday, April 30th, 11am-5pm, Middlesex Community College Campus Center in Bedford, MA. Gerbil owners and fans are invited to this family-friendly event. Serious gerbil owners and breeders may compete in official judging for the Best-in-Show honors. A fun Pet Class competition for kids gives awards for pets' endearing characteristics. There will be Gerbil Olympics events, exhibits on gerbil colors, gerbil art, other pets, specialty merchandise and a Parade of Gerbils. Admission is just $2.00 (maximum $10.00 per family). Visit www.agsgerbils.org or call 617-987-0243 for more information.

Gerbils shaking

Angelicpepitas — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 10:51:16 GMT

My gerbil shakes like vibrates, I think I read in something that means there happy[content] but I don't think so! Does anyone know why??? She only does it when I hold her! PLEASE HELP!!!! Thanks to anyone who can!!!

What is my gerbil?

Angelicpepitas — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 10:04:47 GMT

I got my gerbil about a year ago, and I still don't know what kind she is! Sorry the pic is alittle big, if you need a smaller one I can do that!

New England Gerbil Show May 1, 2010

tracyk — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 21:03:36 GMT

Saturday, May 1, 11am-5pm, Holiday Inn, Nashua, NH. Gerbil owners and fans are invited to this family-friendly event. Serious gerbil owners and breeders may compete for the Best-in-Show honors. A fun Pet Class competition for kids gives awards for pets' endearing characteristics. There will be Gerbil Olympics events, exhibits on gerbil colors, agility training, gerbil art, other rodents, specialty merchandise and a book signing. Admission is just $2.00 (maximum $10.00 per family). Visit www.agsgerbils.org or call 603-620-9906 for more information.

What kind of Gerbil?

gerbil31 — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:01:51 GMT

I have 2 one-year-old gerbils that are EXTREMEMLY cute! One gerbil, Cocoa, bites, but she is still awesome just like my Lilac, Daisy.

Showing

Ferrets Moderator — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 22:26:33 GMT

Do you show your gerbil? Tell us your best gerbil show story!