keldamouse
Member
rest in peace my dear lovely Leela youre in our hearts
Posts: 374
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Post by keldamouse on Mar 20, 2014 7:46:56 GMT -8
arisingdawn, I think it might be a good idea for you to find a new home for your gerbil.
I just don't like that your family is so against Zeke. They are small animals with instincts to protect themselves and if you have food on your hands or swoop in and scare him he may bite.
EEK saying that your brother is going to put him down sounds super cruel and I don't even want to think about what method he would use at home to do this. I am really worried about this little guy and you have to think about what is best for him. I don't mean to be rude but are you serious?
It sounds like you don't have real control over your animals welfare. You may need to rehome your little guy and try again when you are in direct control of your life and the animals that are under your control.
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Post by arisingdawn on Mar 20, 2014 8:37:45 GMT -8
My older brother is really concerned about me, he thinks Zeke might have rabies or something. If it really came down to it, Zeke would go to the vet or find a new, good home. I have just gotten back home, and I was able to ask my friend for all the details. He says there was no blood, or any evidence of fighting (I have looked around the cage and checked Zeke for any injuries.) Zeke is looking VERY healthy, and I don't think anything is wrong with him. My parents have seen him, and they are starting to understand. I'm heading to the pet store in a bit to get bedding and some toys to keep him entertained until I can get him a friend. I have found some breeders online that might have the friend Zeke is looking for The moment I got home, Zeke stuck his little face out of his wooden house and ran over to the glass. I took of the lid and stuck my hand in the bottom of the cage, and he dashed up my arm. I've checked for injuries, and he looks fine. He is a bit chubby though, so I am going to give him A LOT of play time to burn some of it off. I gave him some food and pet him for a bit, which he loved. I don't think I could give the little guy up (unless it was completely necessary.) Zeke has shown no signs of aggression, so I think he is doing pretty good. The next thing I need to worry about is split caging. I can go buy some supplies (as long as it's my money, my parents don't mind) and get it all set up. If you guys have ANY tips, I would really love to hear c: Thank you all so much for your help. If it comes down to it, I will find Zeke a loving home with lots of playtime and treats for the little dude XD EDIT: I have played with Zeke a bit more, and he is crazy to get out of his cage. He moves so fast, (which is unlike him) and will not sit still. Right now, he is climbing on anything he can and leaping at the lid. At one point, he managed to get out of my hands and onto the floor. I let him run around (he really could use the exercise) but then I lured him back into his tank with a treat. Also, I looked at him very closely-and I think there is a chance he is a female I had these suspicions is the past, but i'm not good at telling a gerbil's gender! Maybe I can get some pictures up
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Post by Jazzable on Mar 20, 2014 10:30:59 GMT -8
Definitely put up some pictures to make sure you know what sex Zeke is before getting a new friend! The last thing you want after this scenario is an unexpected litter of gerbil babies. Have you ever weighed Zeke? He may not be chubby, but just be growing to full adult size (if he was still young when you got him).
It's good that your parents are starting to understand a bit better. I haven't done a split cage before so don't have any advice, but there's lots around on this forum. And don't worry too much about Zeke being alone for a while. It's more important to make sure you are fully prepared before doing a split cage.
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Post by arisingdawn on Mar 20, 2014 10:48:19 GMT -8
Thank you so much c:
I think I might wait a week or two, until i'm ready for introducing.
Zeke is really energetic... He is leaping at the lid and scaring people. He is dashing on the wheel to get my attention, and it always works XD But when I take the lid off, he leaps up and tries to grab something. It actually scares me a bit, too. I'm afraid he is going to hurt himself...
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Post by Jazzable on Mar 20, 2014 11:09:09 GMT -8
Hmm, he may be a bit freaked out from losing Oreo and from generally stressful things happening lately. Make sure he's got plenty of places to hide in (boxes etc), and lots of bedding to nest in so he doesn't get cold or scared alone. He'll probably calm down soon enough, just avoid stressing him out.
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Post by arisingdawn on Mar 20, 2014 11:18:38 GMT -8
I've given him some tissue boxes, extra bedding and some cardboard tubes. He keeps running on the wheel (I think he's actually to get my attention) and jumping at the lid. He will run really fast for a bit, then stop and look at me. If he doesn't think i'm looking, he will run more.
Oh, and when do gerbils reach their sexual maturity? If Zeke is actually a girl, then I might have some pups on the way (which my parents do NOT want) Sometimes, when Zeke actually holds still, I keep thinking I'm seeing these sort of lumps moving around. If he was actually a she and pregnant, that would also explain the sudden weight gain.
BUT I probably am wrong, and just paranoid
Just a second ago, Zeke was going crazy running on the wheel, so I played one of my favorite songs, and he just looked at me and stopped running XD
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keldamouse
Member
rest in peace my dear lovely Leela youre in our hearts
Posts: 374
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Post by keldamouse on Mar 20, 2014 11:35:50 GMT -8
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Post by arisingdawn on Mar 20, 2014 13:50:03 GMT -8
Thank you, Kelda I feel worried about the split cage, though... If it doesn't work, they can get hurt and I'll need to buy a whole new cage. Plus I'll have to go find all the supplies and put it all together. I'm not old enough to drive around and get the supplies (I'm 13), and my parents don't appreciate driving me around everywhere XD I suppose I could walk Kelda, after Amy died, was her sister okay after that week of being super energetic? I'm hoping Zeke would be okay without a friend, but if it's necessary... Today I got to run into the pet store for a couple minutes (I love visiting pet stores) and I saw this lovely little gerbil pup all alone. He was curled up in a corner of the tank, so I asked to hold him. He was so cute <3
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keldamouse
Member
rest in peace my dear lovely Leela youre in our hearts
Posts: 374
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Post by keldamouse on Mar 20, 2014 14:45:09 GMT -8
yeah Amy's sister Leela is okay. Its been two weeks and she is adjusting fine. I make a point to offer to let her come out twice each evening (I work all day) to burrow under my shirt and sit on my shoulder and then run around on the couch and under and over the blanket and pillows. I think it helps her to have some interaction since she lets me scratch her back for a few seconds and kiss her nose.
Anyway If you give your gerbil a lot of outside play time each day or as much as you can and give them stimulating items they will be okay. I don't know long term. Someone with more experience will have to answer that for you.
Most important is that you have the correct equipment and a extremely secure split cage in order to do the split. Do you have a breeder that is near you? Some of them would sell a split cage or rent it. Some also are willing to do the split intro for you. Look on asgerbils.org for breeders in your area.
Anyway, boy gerils I have read are easiest to intro to young pups. You still HAVE to do the split cage and follow all the steps but the success rate is really high for that age combo.
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Post by arisingdawn on Mar 20, 2014 14:54:13 GMT -8
Is it expensive to have someone split cage for you?
I have a playpen for Zeke to run around in, but sometimes I just let him run around on the floor in my room. I never let him run on the floor for long, though. It makes me nervous. He usually gets to play outside his cage for a couple hours c:
I can't get Zeke to sit still for more than two seconds. He is so squirmy, which is really unlike him. He used to be the one that I could hold, and he would sit still and tolerate me petting him :3
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Post by streetwisegerbil on Mar 20, 2014 16:25:20 GMT -8
Keldamouse. Maybe you could copy and paste those links in your thread re the split cage.? Would hate for all your hard work to be lost.
They will never be easily be found in this thread which seems to be leaping from topic to topic.
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Post by crittercrazy on Mar 20, 2014 17:00:29 GMT -8
I understand parents not wanting to have pups- I'm about the same age as you so a lot of what I'm able to do with my pets depends on my parents. And I don't think your question of when gerbils are sexually mature was answered, unless I missed it somewhere. I'm pretty sure though that they might mate as early as 6-8 weeks. That's kind of strange to me that Zeke is so much more active now. I guess it must be something to do with the stress of losing his brother. . .? The only other thing I can think of is that Paisley, the two days before her death, was acting crazy and jumping all over the place and at the lid and basically everywhere. Not positive what that was. . .probably not what's up with Zeke though. Also if you're unsure as to whether or not Zeke is a girl or boy, you could put pictures on here and we might be able to help. It also helps to just look at pictures of other gerbils. Good to hear things are starting to go better!
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Post by arisingdawn on Mar 21, 2014 7:53:32 GMT -8
Today, Zeke has really calmed down! I can hold him and pet him again with him dashing off my hand <3
Right now, he is munching away on some food I have him c:
I'll try to get pictures up soon, all though it might be wierd to have those pictures on my camera XD
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Post by rexcalibur on Mar 22, 2014 20:56:33 GMT -8
If they were not fighting or attempting to kill each other when the other gerbil was still alive, more than likely one gerbil started eating the other after it died. It's disturbing, but it happens. They do it with their young too. Animals aren't wired the same way humans are. To them, that's a natural behavior.
Your family saying the other needs to be "put down" is ridiculous. They're acting like it's a savage pit bull that is out to kill. Hopefully they don't follow through with that.
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Post by arisingdawn on Mar 26, 2014 7:13:16 GMT -8
Yes, I do believe that's what happened
Zeke still hasn't bitten me or anything, so they have really have let Zeke go. They realized he is not some savage killer, it is just what gerbils do.
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