Post by reesesturtles on Aug 15, 2014 15:13:44 GMT -8
I have lost so many gerbils since summer began. It has just been a very sad season. And granted most of them have been elderly, already past the average life span, but I can't help but wonder if the extra humidity this year is contributing. I live in the southeast USA, and we have had rains almost daily this summer, so the climate almost feels like a rainforest.
We keep our apartment AC at 74 degrees farenheit (to the tune of $300/month), but the humidity keeps the apartment still feeling very icky and humid even though the temperature itself is properly set. I even set up small fans across each gerbil habitat. I have caught nearly all my gerbils this summer curled up directly in front of the fan breeze trying to get relief from the humidity. I feel so bad for them
But a couple days ago, Baron, only 1.5 years old and one of Trouble's offspring, passed away. This was a particularly difficult blow to me. I'm not entirely sure of the cause, but wonder again if the weather contributed. I noticed for the last two days he never came on top with the other 3 gerbils of his clan for food treats, or to get water or rustle in the hay. So when I went digging I found him buried at the very bottom of the tank stretched out in strange position. No signs of injury or trauma at all. But it looks like either suffocation or stroke. Though who knows, could have even been an RI. I feel so bad for the little guy. He was always the meekest and most skittish in my Trouble-line quad clan, so I had long ago decided he was not going to be a breeder in he line. Strangely, from adolescence on, Baron spent nearly all his time underground, even as miserable as this summer's humidity was, only coming above when he absolutely had no choice in order to get water and food, then darting back to the tunnels ASAP.
I doubt I could have done much given the circumstances and Baron's own behavioral patterns. But he was such a young little guy, and of course one of Trouble's boys (Trouble by the way has managed the summer okay, but does take advantage of the fan breeze daily). So I still feel really bad for him.
I put the surviving trio into a new clean habitat and am keeping an eye on them. I'm hoping it wasn't anything contagious that affected Baron. Poor fellow.
We keep our apartment AC at 74 degrees farenheit (to the tune of $300/month), but the humidity keeps the apartment still feeling very icky and humid even though the temperature itself is properly set. I even set up small fans across each gerbil habitat. I have caught nearly all my gerbils this summer curled up directly in front of the fan breeze trying to get relief from the humidity. I feel so bad for them
But a couple days ago, Baron, only 1.5 years old and one of Trouble's offspring, passed away. This was a particularly difficult blow to me. I'm not entirely sure of the cause, but wonder again if the weather contributed. I noticed for the last two days he never came on top with the other 3 gerbils of his clan for food treats, or to get water or rustle in the hay. So when I went digging I found him buried at the very bottom of the tank stretched out in strange position. No signs of injury or trauma at all. But it looks like either suffocation or stroke. Though who knows, could have even been an RI. I feel so bad for the little guy. He was always the meekest and most skittish in my Trouble-line quad clan, so I had long ago decided he was not going to be a breeder in he line. Strangely, from adolescence on, Baron spent nearly all his time underground, even as miserable as this summer's humidity was, only coming above when he absolutely had no choice in order to get water and food, then darting back to the tunnels ASAP.
I doubt I could have done much given the circumstances and Baron's own behavioral patterns. But he was such a young little guy, and of course one of Trouble's boys (Trouble by the way has managed the summer okay, but does take advantage of the fan breeze daily). So I still feel really bad for him.
I put the surviving trio into a new clean habitat and am keeping an eye on them. I'm hoping it wasn't anything contagious that affected Baron. Poor fellow.