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Post by murphybuddy09 on May 14, 2011 6:51:05 GMT -8
Murphy has always weighed about 100-106g and looked fine but since his brother passed away, his weight has gone up to 112g. He doesn't look overweight or anything so I'm just wondering what the average weight for a gerbil is?
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Post by esztershine on May 14, 2011 6:59:37 GMT -8
I would say around 90-120 gramms, but it varies between gerbils. Just like humans. There are people with large, medium or small frames. Watch Murphy as he is probably depressed by grieving. Give him more time out with you and have fun. If he is very 'quiet' you may need to think about getting him a mate. How old is Murphy? When did he loose his brother? (I guess he was called Buddy)
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Post by murphybuddy09 on May 14, 2011 7:28:49 GMT -8
He was very upset for a few weeks but he seems to be okay now. He is 2 and a half and Buddy passed 2 months ago.
He gets lots of time out with me etc so he's always active. I have been considering getting a friend but there seems to be more cons than pros. I'll have nowhere to put the newbie if they don't get on and I have no idea how to make a split tank with the set up I have ( I need to be careful because my cat ocassionally sneaks in).
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Post by esztershine on May 14, 2011 7:45:05 GMT -8
Fair play to ya! Eventually Murphy might 'heal'. I did a split trio after Korny lost his brother. It all went great then Korny stayed on his own. There were love, grooming, sleeping togethers then eventually fights I was gutted So I understand how you connect to the whole thing
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Post by murphybuddy09 on May 14, 2011 7:47:38 GMT -8
He seems to be fine apart from the 'comfort eating' thing. I've made a new thread asking for info on split cages etc. just to get an idea of things. I most likely won't be doing it but it's nice to know these things.
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Post by esztershine on May 14, 2011 7:49:56 GMT -8
I am thinking of answering to that thread of yours but it shall be loooooooooong
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Post by murphybuddy09 on May 14, 2011 7:58:16 GMT -8
I don't mind long answers, if you have the time to do so, that is!
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doug
Member
Posts: 2,064
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Post by doug on May 14, 2011 15:39:00 GMT -8
a six gram change is not much at all in an adult gerbil so don't be concerned, if his brother just went do not be alarmed if he goes in the next few months.
Doug
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Post by murphybuddy09 on May 16, 2011 7:39:49 GMT -8
Oh that's good then. I wasn't expecting him to even get through the first 3 days he was so unhappy. I'm kind of prepared for the fact I might lose him soon as I've heard of many gerbils dying shortly after their friend/brother.
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racammann
Member
I currently have 2 female gerbils - Suki and Zip. Littermates born end of Jan 2011.
Posts: 556
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Post by racammann on May 16, 2011 8:10:50 GMT -8
I had a large female gerbil - Lola, throughout her life she was always a consistent 90 grams. Then last xmas, when she was nearly 3, I went away for 2 weeks and she went to stay at my boyfriends house, where he has cats. When I came back she looked obese!! I was like what have you fed my gerbil??!! She's huge! He said he hadn't fed anything other than a handful of Gerri gerbil every few days. I weighed her and she was 110 grams - she'd piled on 20 grams in 2 weeks. I put it down to stress-eating from moving to a different house and the presence of cats... Just speculation, who knows! Anyway, 2 months later she was still 110 grams and started showing RI symptoms. My mother wondered if the respiratory problem was due to her weight, and not an 'infection' as such, maybe a heart-attack or something that causes wheezing or whatever, that affected the heart and lungs. Coco then suddenly put on about 15 grams after Lola died, and she died 3 weeks later.
I have no idea if your situation is similar to mine, there might be totally different things going on here, but it's interesting. I have no idea why my gerbils suddenly gained weight.
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Post by esztershine on May 16, 2011 9:59:53 GMT -8
Maybe Lola put on weight as she thought you left her behind forever and she was upset.
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Post by murphybuddy09 on May 16, 2011 22:50:08 GMT -8
I have no idea why he's putting on weight though, I've been feeding him the same amount as always. My guess is that before he didn't eat all of his food but now he does. All I ever see him do is eat, sleep and occassionally chew TP tubes.
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Post by esztershine on May 17, 2011 0:23:36 GMT -8
Hmmm. That sounds maybe he is bored. Try to have more fun with him. I know you dont want another two pups, but just want to tell you that my pups are next to Korny's house so can see, hear and smell each other and it is doing good on Korny. He is perked up and when there is thumping in one of the tanks, there is response from the other so he knows they are there and he is not alone. Try to give Murphy more fun out a day
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doug
Member
Posts: 2,064
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Post by doug on May 17, 2011 5:26:32 GMT -8
There could be an issue with age going on that has started the weight increase, gerbils will get less active as they age and just like people if your activity decreases but food intake remains the same weight will go up.
Doug
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Post by murphybuddy09 on May 21, 2011 13:23:47 GMT -8
I try to have fun with him but as soon as I remove him from the tank he freaks out. I think it's because the tank is all he has left with Buddy's scent on. I interact with him from outside the tank though and he always comes running to see me. I think his age is just catching up with him, it's hard to tell if it's age or he's upset.
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