Chelsea G. - 2012-04-05 I have a baby male Gerbil that my two older ones just had about a month ago. It was my females first litter and they all have been doing great hitting all there marks on time and everything. But now one of my baby males is having slight problems breathing and doesn't have use of his legs. Do you know what may be the cause of this and what can help and sadly if it's worth takeing to the vet. I'm not sure if this is treatable and would like to know if it is or not. He is very alert, know's where he is and everything just can't really use his back legs and this is the first time it has happen to him since he's been born. He was the 2nd to leave the nest and explore and also the 2nd to open his eyes and everything. He has been doing great up to this point. But like I said he is very alret as to what's going on around him. He can use his front two legs fine and everything, can't balance to stay up and doesn't have the use of his back legs and slight breathing problems. What could this be and is what's wrong with him treatable.
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Charlie Roche - 2012-04-06 I doubt it is treatable and even if it is, it would be terribly expensive. Possibly, your most adventurous fellow got himself in some difficulty and really hurt his back. He could have pulled a muscle or twisted it to the point where it hurts his back legs or he has lost control over his back legs because a nerve is damaged or hurt. You can try and place him in a smaller area, without anything he can climb up on - and no wheels etc. Make sure he is warm enough via placing a heating pad on low wrapped in a towel under half his enclosure or turning a light on 1/2 his enclosure. Possibly if he is warm and he stops trying to move around and if it is nerve damage - possibly he might be OK. Long shot but worth a try. You can also attempt to feel his legs and see if bones feel normal- same thing with back and hips. Right now, try and keep him so he can't climb, jump, and stays a little quiet and hoepfull if it is nerve damage or even a break, it might heel. If he is eating and pooping normally, there is a chance he might heal.
Crittery - 2011-05-04 Like the article - good to see advice on splitcaging although personally I do not do the neutral territory part since that conflicts with the point of making both sides smell of both gerbils.
However it is incorrect to say that gerbils can be kept in a wire cage - they MUST have room to dig. A minimum of 6 inches of a decent substrate such as megazorb, carefresh, ectopetbed or finacard is ideal (nothing sawdust, or pine or cedar based due to risk of serious respiratory infection). Hay is a good addition as well, chewing aids digestion and it helps them construct elaborate tunnels!
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Charlie Roche - 2011-05-04 I think I missed something. The Animal World article on Gerbils says to keep them in the same cage but the Animal World article on hamsters recommends a separate cage. Sometimes my brain doesn't go to the top floor but I think I just lost track of whether we are on hampsters or gerbils. I am sorry.
Imogen - 2011-12-31 I don't have gerbils, but have mice. I was wondering if gerbils are easier to look after than mice? I'm thinking about getting gerbils after my mice in the future but I'm not sure. Are gerbils better pets than mice? What's the best rodent...gerbil or mouse??
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Charlie Roche - 2011-12-31 That is more dependent on what you like. Some folks like gerbils and some mice. Some hampsters (me) and some birds (me) and some like big dogs and some small. It depends on you. You can see them at the pet store and play with them and decide.
Jordan - 2008-11-15 I don't have a gerbil, but my classroom at school has 5. 2 big, old, fat ones and 3 baby ones. ( The old ones don't live with the babys!) I was just wondering if you could put a hamster, or other rodent, with a cage with gerbils.
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Betsy - 2010-02-27 Absolutely NOT....you are asking for aggression and injuries...
Jonathan Street - 2006-09-05 I have two gerbils..there used to be three. Gerbils are amazing pets! They are so smart, you can let them loose on your landing or bed and they are very careful not to get too close to the edge. All the gerbils were girls, a caramel one, mongolian and black one, the black one died. I keep them in a large-ish glass tank, I almost NEVER give them water, we give them vegatable peelings and fruit instead and use them to recycle most of our card. They are still very active, and doing well aged at 4 and a half years, (3 months when we got them).
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Julie - 2010-02-27 It is really important to always have a water bottle in their cage even if they rarely drink from it. You can't always be there and if your gerbils want a drink and have no water, that is not appropriate.
Betsy - 2010-02-27 Don't forget that another great place to get a new pet gerbils is at local city or county animal shelters and private animal rescues...Petfinder has MANY gerbils needing homes in every state. Please consider adoption instead of soliciting pet shops or breeders. Many small animals are euthanized across the U.S. simply because no one wants them..
Bradley - 2009-07-27 Hi guys, as I know some petshops are not very good and you can't alway trust them when buying or asking for advice on pets or they are not friendy. But if you go to pet at home they are really nice and they make sure there animals are happy and not ill, and you can trust them with the advice, and they got big pet stores and loads of good stuff for your pets.
Holly - 2009-06-26 Hi, I have one gerbil, well I used to have 2 but one of mine, he was called t.j, he died when he was 10 months old, we do not know why though. My gerbil now, his name is j.j and he is 1 years old, bless him. I love him so much. He has nothing wrong with him bless him. Me and my mum always hand feed him and he loves it, hehe! He lives in a gerbilariam all by himself but he is fine! He's out playing right now bless him. Oh yeah and he loves the hoover, as soon as he hears it he comes out and has a dig around! Bless his heart, my mum always says bless his little cotton socks, haha!
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larry nutile - 2010-03-20 What color is he? I have one gerbil but I am thinking about get one more.
Sarah - 2009-04-04 My mother has 7 male gerbils split into two groups- they are very friendly and funny. I breed gerbils for a hobby and a few days ago I had five, but since then my nutmeg female has given birth to three chirping, squirming little pups. Due to her age, this is her last litter, and so an older daughter of hers helps her clean the pups and keep them warm- as opposed to dad who would normally be there (male gerbils are great fathers!)
The babies develop so rapidly it is almost as if they do so right before your eyes and soon their fur will start growing; we are hoping for some spotted varieties or variant Dark Eyed Honeys. :)
Amber - 2009-03-02 I had 3 babies gerbils and 2 died, and 1 died today. I have no more babies but until next time, they are going to have babies again, and maybe this time I will see them grow up.
Mongolian Gerbils, often referred to as just "Gerbils", are the best kept secret of the "pocket pet" world!
I have a baby male Gerbil that my two older ones just had about a month ago. It was my females first litter and they all have been doing great hitting all there marks on time and everything. But now one of my baby males is having slight problems breathing and doesn't have use of his legs. Do you know what may be the cause of this and what can help and sadly if it's worth takeing to the vet. I'm not sure if this is treatable and would like to know if it is or not. He is very alert, know's where he is and everything just can't really use his back legs and this is the first time it has happen to him since he's been born. He was the 2nd to leave the nest and explore and also the 2nd to open his eyes and everything. He has been doing great up to this point. But like I said he is very alret as to what's going on around him. He can use his front two legs fine and everything, can't balance to stay up and doesn't have the use of his back legs and slight breathing problems. What could this be and is what's wrong with him treatable.
I doubt it is treatable and even if it is, it would be terribly expensive. Possibly, your most adventurous fellow got himself in some difficulty and really hurt his back. He could have pulled a muscle or twisted it to the point where it hurts his back legs or he has lost control over his back legs because a nerve is damaged or hurt. You can try and place him in a smaller area, without anything he can climb up on - and no wheels etc. Make sure he is warm enough via placing a heating pad on low wrapped in a towel under half his enclosure or turning a light on 1/2 his enclosure. Possibly if he is warm and he stops trying to move around and if it is nerve damage - possibly he might be OK. Long shot but worth a try. You can also attempt to feel his legs and see if bones feel normal- same thing with back and hips. Right now, try and keep him so he can't climb, jump, and stays a little quiet and hoepfull if it is nerve damage or even a break, it might heel. If he is eating and pooping normally, there is a chance he might heal.
Like the article - good to see advice on splitcaging although personally I do not do the neutral territory part since that conflicts with the point of making both sides smell of both gerbils.
However it is incorrect to say that gerbils can be kept in a wire cage - they MUST have room to dig. A minimum of 6 inches of a decent substrate such as megazorb, carefresh, ectopetbed or finacard is ideal (nothing sawdust, or pine or cedar based due to risk of serious respiratory infection). Hay is a good addition as well, chewing aids digestion and it helps them construct elaborate tunnels!
I think I missed something. The Animal World article on Gerbils says to keep them in the same cage but the Animal World article on hamsters recommends a separate cage. Sometimes my brain doesn't go to the top floor but I think I just lost track of whether we are on hampsters or gerbils. I am sorry.
I don't have gerbils, but have mice. I was wondering if gerbils are easier to look after than mice? I'm thinking about getting gerbils after my mice in the future but I'm not sure. Are gerbils better pets than mice? What's the best rodent...gerbil or mouse??
That is more dependent on what you like. Some folks like gerbils and some mice. Some hampsters (me) and some birds (me) and some like big dogs and some small. It depends on you. You can see them at the pet store and play with them and decide.
I don't have a gerbil, but my classroom at school has 5. 2 big, old, fat ones and 3 baby ones. ( The old ones don't live with the babys!) I was just wondering if you could put a hamster, or other rodent, with a cage with gerbils.
Absolutely NOT....you are asking for aggression and injuries...
I have two gerbils..there used to be three. Gerbils are amazing pets! They are so smart, you can let them loose on your landing or bed and they are very careful not to get too close to the edge. All the gerbils were girls, a caramel one, mongolian and black one, the black one died. I keep them in a large-ish glass tank, I almost NEVER give them water, we give them vegatable peelings and fruit instead and use them to recycle most of our card. They are still very active, and doing well aged at 4 and a half years, (3 months when we got them).
It is really important to always have a water bottle in their cage even if they rarely drink from it. You can't always be there and if your gerbils want a drink and have no water, that is not appropriate.
Don't forget that another great place to get a new pet gerbils is at local city or county animal shelters and private animal rescues...Petfinder has MANY gerbils needing homes in every state. Please consider adoption instead of soliciting pet shops or breeders. Many small animals are euthanized across the U.S. simply because no one wants them..
Hi guys, as I know some petshops are not very good and you can't alway trust them when buying or asking for advice on pets or they are not friendy. But if you go to pet at home they are really nice and they make sure there animals are happy and not ill, and you can trust them with the advice, and they got big pet stores and loads of good stuff for your pets.
Hi, I have one gerbil, well I used to have 2 but one of mine, he was called t.j, he died when he was 10 months old, we do not know why though. My gerbil now, his name is j.j and he is 1 years old, bless him. I love him so much. He has nothing wrong with him bless him. Me and my mum always hand feed him and he loves it, hehe! He lives in a gerbilariam all by himself but he is fine! He's out playing right now bless him. Oh yeah and he loves the hoover, as soon as he hears it he comes out and has a dig around! Bless his heart, my mum always says bless his little cotton socks, haha!
What color is he? I have one gerbil but I am thinking about get one more.
My mother has 7 male gerbils split into two groups- they are very friendly and funny. I breed gerbils for a hobby and a few days ago I had five, but since then my nutmeg female has given birth to three chirping, squirming little pups. Due to her age, this is her last litter, and so an older daughter of hers helps her clean the pups and keep them warm- as opposed to dad who would normally be there (male gerbils are great fathers!)
The babies develop so rapidly it is almost as if they do so right before your eyes and soon their fur will start growing; we are hoping for some spotted varieties or variant Dark Eyed Honeys. :)
I had 3 babies gerbils and 2 died, and 1 died today. I have no more babies but until next time, they are going to have babies again, and maybe this time I will see them grow up.