New member seeking advice

[daisy]

Hi everyone. I am new to the wonderful world of gerbils.  I entered this world when I started researching what small pet would be good for my nine year old son.  I initially focused on hamsters since I had familiarity with them from my own childhood.  I quickly came to see that gerbils would be a better fit, and learned all that I could.  Then I got the necessary supplies and secured two brothers from the same litter who were already living together.  But, despite all my research, I still have a few questions that I'm hoping someone can answer:

1.  One of the gerbils, Brad, is very dominant.  The other, Nick, appears almost shy.  When I put them into their play area, Nick hesitates to come out and then quickly goes into the wooden hideaway in the play area.  If I give them a cardboard tube, Brad takes control of it.  I fixed this by always giving them two.  I read that a dominant gerbil is the norm.  But, I'm still concerned.

2.  This is a little embarrassing, but Brad and Nick are virtually identical in appearance.  Both are jet black with white under their chins and on their front paws.  Although I can tell them apart by their behavior, I really can't tell them apart based on appearance.   Has anyone else had this problem?  Will it improve in time?

3.  Can gerbils be given peanuts in a shell?

4.  I feed them the same food they got in their previous home.  But, I also spread a mixed seed food in their play area so they can "forage."  Is this okay?

5.  I'm not sure how old they are, but they aren't babies.  Is there any way to tell>

6.  Brad and Nick don't like most vegetables other than broccoli.  How often and how much can I give them?

7.  Are any of the treat products at the pet store good, such as the seeds and other foods that appear to be glued together>

Sorry for all the questions but my son and I  really want these gerbils to have the best possible life gerbils can have.  This is very important to us. 

Thank you.

Daisy 

[betty]

Well, my answers to the questions would be these - but some are very opinion-based, so wait and see what some others say too:

1) One gerbil will always be 'dominant' to the other gerbil in their society - but it might be slightly different to the gerbil that interacts most with humans. Some of my 'children' take control over a toilet roll over their parents - they just love chewing more?

2) It can be very difficult, but I have 3 CP Agoutis - and I can only tell the dad apart from sight because his eyes look slightly larger - the other 2 I have to watch for a while to tell cos one is slightly fatter! Some people 'mark' their gerbils in a variety of ways - like snipping the tail hairs straight on one?

3) Yes - my youngsters love them. Oldies - not so bothered.

4) Mine all forage.

5) Not really once they are adult size; maybe weighing them might help 'lower' their age, especially if it is below 60/70g.

6)Just a small piece of vegetables once a day is enough, but maybe don't give broccoli EVERY day - as with anything - it may have something in it that can build up over time to imbalance their nutrition.

7) Many people use the treat sticks that you mention, I don't think they cause any serious harm, but may well contain ingredients prone to gain weight - they are after all a treat!

Hope that helps a bit until others reply.

[daisy]

Thank you for taking the time to answer. I'm happy to say that the gerbils seem very comfortable in their home.