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Post by sasukesmummy on Mar 12, 2014 14:31:06 GMT -8
Hi everyone,
I haven't posted in this forum in ages, but I am back! Yesterday was a very sad day as my gerbil Nudge died. I'd had him for 2 years and 3 months. He died quite mysteriously - no injuries, sickness, illness, or disease that I could work out albeit a bit chubby.
So it got me wondering - how old are your current gerbils? And for any previous gerbils, how old were they when they died?
Me first:
Narik is now a lone gerbil at 2 years and 5 months. Still healthy as far as I can tell (fingers crossed).
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Post by catnut on Mar 12, 2014 15:50:23 GMT -8
RIP Nudge. Take it easy on yourself.
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Post by crittercrazy on Mar 12, 2014 15:58:01 GMT -8
So sorry to hear about Nudge!  I've had six gerbils, three of them are currently alive, but here are all their ages. Peanut: Just about two years old, still active and has never had an sicknesses ect. Pebbles: Died from an unknown sickness that lasted a few months when she was a year old. Puddles: Got her as a companion for Peanut after Pebbles died. A few days after I got her she got some sort of an ear problem, either a tumor or cholesteatoma or something. She got better, but a few months later when she was probably just nearing a year old she died of a internal tumor of some sort I think. Paisley: Was around two or three months old when I got her, died from unknown causes after a few days. Pixel and Peppermint: Both healthy sisters of Paisley that are now around six months old, living with Peanut. Good luck with little Narik and hope this helps!  |
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Post by wolfgirl on Mar 12, 2014 19:21:08 GMT -8
I've owned 3 gerbil boys, one of which is still with us.
Dusty is about a year and a half, possibly closer to 2 years old (pet store gerbil) he has had what we think were mild strokes but has recovered both times it happened.
Koda was a rescue that I have no idea the age of or past health issues of when he suffered a massive stroke and passed away
Benny was only 4 months old when he passed in December. he had had an issue with spinning when he tried to walk that cleared up on its own about 2 weeks before he had a series of seizures and died in my hands.
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Post by Thelodar on Mar 14, 2014 7:17:02 GMT -8
I have absolutely no idea how old my current three are. I adopted them from a shelter, just know that they were adults when I got them. I've only had them since September (or October, I don't actually remember at the moment). My first gerbil, Oatmeal, died when she was 2, pretty early in the second year if I remember correctly. My next gerbils, Ruby and Ginger, both died when they were two years old, within three months of each other. Then my third set, Lilac and Lavender, died when they were three. Lilac was 3 yrs, 9 months. Lavender died a month or two later. It's strange, my pairs always died so close together.
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Post by sasukesmummy on Mar 14, 2014 12:06:24 GMT -8
Well your replies are sort of comforting in that he seems to have had a fairly average-ish lifespan. I really felt awful when Nudge died as I'd read about gerbils living 3-5 years so I was expecting it to fall in that range... he seemed healthy. So is 2 years and 3 months an okay age for a gerbil to die? It seems so young to me...
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Post by Nightingale on Mar 15, 2014 5:32:09 GMT -8
I'm really sorry about Nudge! I have two gerbils right now. Mocha turned three yesterday and Blackberry will be four on the third of April I believe. They have some health problems though so I'm not sure how much longer they'll be with me. :/ My oldest lived, Lucky, was nearly six when he died. However, I have had ones who died around a year old or at age 2-ish. It varies. Albinos and PEWs are the least healthy and black gerbils seem to be strongest, though I could just be imagining the latter. I think a lot of lifespan is indeed down to genetics. So although 2 years 3 months does seem a little young to me, there probably wasn't much else you could have done. I try to focus on giving them the best life I can first, no matter how long that life turns out to be, and I'm sure you do the same. |
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Post by chakotay on Mar 18, 2014 0:01:02 GMT -8
Red is 8 months old; Sassy is 7 months old. These are estimates as I bought them from PetSmart on 10/2/13 and was told they were around 3 months old then. My previous gerbils have lived to 2 1/2 years age or above. The two who passed in the last year both were around 3 years old.
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Post by sparky on Mar 18, 2014 15:19:28 GMT -8
I'm sorry to hear about Nudge.
I've had 6 gerbils in the past and I have 5 now. Sunshine and Moonbeam are about 1.5 years old. Edgar, Allan & Poe are a little younger - about 1 year 3 months old.
Of my previous gerbils Squeaky reached 2 years 2 months, Sparky was 2 years 6 months, Sprogley was 2 years 8 months and Sprocket was 2 years 9 months when she died. Then we took in 2 rescue gerbils that were 3 years old. Homer made it to 3 years and 3 months and Bart reached 4 years old.
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Post by amandarinorange811 on Jun 4, 2014 18:46:24 GMT -8
Tigerlily is about 3 years and 7 months old and Ash is about 3 years and 5 months old. I can't remember how long my 2 previous girls lived...I feel that it may have been right around the 3 and a half to 4 year point. I'm really hoping to get at LEAST one more year out of my current gerbils. Sorry to hear about your baby |
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Post by tangerine on Jul 6, 2014 10:27:01 GMT -8
Mine are roughly 2 years and 5 months old (Pet-shop gerbils, so I don't know their exact ages.)
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Post by betty on Jul 7, 2014 2:17:39 GMT -8
Wow Nightingale - 4 and 6 years old for a gerbil, I have never heard of that - your gerbil genes must be amazing! I think the world record is 8 years - but typically 2.5 to 3 years is average and mine currently fit that plan.
I have had pet gerbils for just under 3 years so far, and I have only lost the first 2 I brought: Betty at 2 years, 8 months (a few months after a severe beating from her daughters) and Beagle at 2 years 3 months. The next oldest is 2 years and 7 months, so I can only hope I have them for nearer the 4 year mark next time....
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Post by woodsmoke on Jul 8, 2014 1:13:38 GMT -8
Well my boys are just coming up on a year, and are a pair of cheeky beggers that i just can't say no too!
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Post by wordgerbil on Jul 10, 2014 4:50:35 GMT -8
I just got a new pair of babies (Higgins and Webster) but my old pair lived a long time. Scrabble lived to be 4 years 2 months and Yahtzee lived to be 4 years 4 months. I was pretty surprised since they came from PetSmart, and their longevity convinced me to go back to PetSmart for Higgins and Webster.
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Post by ninestone on Jul 10, 2014 16:26:59 GMT -8
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- Narik (lil man, brown with white markings).
