|
Anxiety
Feb 16, 2021 12:15:11 GMT -8
via mobile
Post by megsgerbils on Feb 16, 2021 12:15:11 GMT -8
Hello :-) Sorry if anyone notices that I’ve posted quite a few threads recently!
I just wondered if any long time gerbil owners have any advice. I have anxiety which causes me to have panic attacks, but also to over-think and worry endlessly about things. I’m currently in the process of a split cage with 2 adult females, but am also waiting to hear back from the vets after sending a stool sample from my other (female) pair of gerbils off to the lab for analysis, as one of them has been passing soft stools. The other day I also witnessed my bonded pair of girls behaving strangely. One was being quite defensive about one area of the tank and was chasing the other away when she tried to get to that area. No fighting, but it seemed quite aggressive. Ever since I’ve been super anxious about the whole situation, worrying about the “what ifs”. What if the split cage doesn’t work out, what if the soft stools are a symptom of something serious, what if my two bonded girls are beginning to declan... the list goes on.
My bonded girls have since been okay. Sleeping in the same nest and going about their usual business, but doing more boxing and play fighting than usual, and some dominance behaviours such as one mounting the other and a tiny bit of scent marking from one of them. This all started after I cleaned their tank for the first time since we got them, and since a visit to the vet to be checked over due to the soft stools. I think I’m over analysing it all after getting myself very worried about it as they seem fine and not scared of each other. I’ve since set up “pet cameras” in their room so I can watch them live wherever I am (a little sad, I know!). I’ve observed them going about their normal business and being around each other and acting fine.
I’m just ever so worried about it all, it’s pretty much consuming my days. I adore my girls and want to give them the best possible life (they all live in large tanks and have lots of toys and enrichment, etc). I’m just so worried about something bad happening, like a declan, or serious illness.
I feel quite alone in this and as though I’m being ridiculous. Any advice or reassurance would be so appreciated. ❤️
|
|
|
Anxiety
Feb 16, 2021 12:58:14 GMT -8
Post by yuzername on Feb 16, 2021 12:58:14 GMT -8
First off, my gerbils have had soft stools on and off randomly and they have been totally fine and never gotten sick. Second, why would the "pet cameras" be sad? I want to do that that's a great idea. Don't be so hard on yourself, also your girls sound fine, you probably notice it more when they fight and think they are fighting more. Play video games or climb a tree or take a walk or do something via zoom just to take your mind off of them. They're gonna be fine.
|
|
Thea
Member
Posts: 1,012
|
Anxiety
Feb 16, 2021 13:33:18 GMT -8
Post by Thea on Feb 16, 2021 13:33:18 GMT -8
I get very anxious about my gerbils too (mainly their health) and I can spend a lot of time worrying about them! I do agree it's important to do things like go for a walk to help relieve stress. I know it's really difficult, but I would say try not to think about what *could* happen, but where you are now. Remind yourself that the worst case scenario has not happened and most likely will not happen, and whatever you're scared about hasn't yet happened. I find when I get really anxious about things I almost convince myself that what I'm scared of is happening, and it helps to reassure myself that in the moment these things aren't true. Take a deep breath - it's going to be ok! I'm always here if you want to PM me x
|
|
|
Post by Markpd on Feb 16, 2021 15:01:57 GMT -8
I want to get some pet cams too! To see what they get upto when I'm not there Just a question megsgerbils, when you cleaned out the tank did you keep some of the old bedding? For any gerbils having their cage cleaned out is quite unsettling as their scent is removed (as well as burrows if their were any), putting back some of the old bedding back before you put them back in helps keep some of their scent and they'll be less unsettled. Atm I just sprinkle a thin layer covering the bedding, but you can also do part bedding changes (e.g 50/50). If they've still not settled down, have you got any of the old bedding you could put back in? (assuming you haven't anyway). Also if you didn't bring the 2 gerbils to the vet, the short time apart as well may have unsettled their relationship a bit, with the 2 instances close together that could explain the tiffs, but you said they're acting fine now right?, so it seems they've settled down again anyway . PS No need to apologise for multiple threads, finding out about gerbils and hearing from other owners and asking about it is what these forums are for , and keeps it alive!
|
|
|
Anxiety
Feb 16, 2021 15:04:37 GMT -8
Post by catnut on Feb 16, 2021 15:04:37 GMT -8
I have anxiety as well and often worry about my gerbils so understand that. Just try to find things to take your mind off things once your mind goes to a a bad place or spend time with your gerbils. i had to separate my boys and they are still apart, were getting too aggressive with each other and i worry they aren't happy alone but then don't want them to hurt each other when i can't watch them. I may try to bond them at some point but right now, they seem okay alone but i spend time with them. Glad you got your girls' together and understand that can be stressful, just watch for signs and separate them if necessary.
|
|
Thea
Member
Posts: 1,012
|
Post by Thea on Feb 16, 2021 23:28:19 GMT -8
Just a question megsgerbils, when you cleaned out the tank did you keep some of the old bedding? For any gerbils having their cage cleaned out is quite unsettling as their scent is removed (as well as burrows if their were any), putting back some of the old bedding back before you put them back in helps keep some of their scent and they'll be less unsettled. Atm I just sprinkle a thin layer covering the bedding, but you can also do part bedding changes (e.g 50/50). If they've still not settled down, have you got any of the old bedding you could put back in? (assuming you haven't anyway). Also if you didn't bring the 2 gerbils to the vet, the short time apart as well may have unsettled their relationship a bit, with the 2 instances close together that could explain the tiffs, but you said they're acting fine now right?, so it seems they've settled down again anyway . Very good points, when I go to the vet I never bring more than the unwell one but I probably should. Luckily I've never had any issues with gerbils fighting yet but some gerbils can start having little squabbles as you say from little things like that. Pippa and Mali do have little squabbles a lot which concerned me a bit, but I do think all my gerbils when they were younger did the same. They still snuggle together etc. so I know they're fine!
|
|
|
Post by megsgerbils on Feb 17, 2021 2:09:27 GMT -8
Yuzername - Thank you. That's literally the sort of reassurance I need sometimes. I think I have over-researched (if that's possible!) about gerbils and so am hyper-alert to any changes. The pet cameras have been great and only cost £33 on Amazon (they're called 'littleelf' cameras). Everyone around me thinks I'm a little crazy but I love spying on what the gerbs are doing whilst I'm not in the room! Thea - Thank you for your kindness. That's something I need to remember sometimes; that what I 'think' is happening isn't necessarily fact. My PM's are always open ♥ Markpd - The pet cams have been great! Though I swear they know I'm watching them. When they do something cheeky they always look at the camera afterwards as if they know I've just seen them! I did keep some of the old bedding when I cleaned the tank. They live in an IKEA Detolf with a topper so I kept the small corner of bedding where they had made a nest, and also sprinkled a little of their old bedding on top of the new once I'd finished. I didn't want to do such a thorough clean, but they'd prevously been having Tiny Friends Farm Chinchilla Sand, and I'd read a lot of people saying some of its ingredients were unsafe. I switched the sand straight away, but being gerbils they had kicked some of the Tiny Friends Sand out and it was on the bedding, so I decided to get rid of the lot and give it a full clean just to be safe. Their nest was on the opposite side to the sand so there wasn't any sand near there, so I kept that bit. Though they've since made a new nest together anyways. When I took them to the vets I took both of them in the same carrier. They were okay and very lively, but obviously a little unsettled with being woken up and taken from their home and in the car to the vets. They're sleeping in the same nest and are mostly fine, going about their business as usual. It's just the odd tiffs that worry me. When they meet up in the tank after spending time doing their own thing they'll have a little boxing match, which I know is normal and playful. Though on a couple of occasions it has ended with one of them on their backs with the other on top, and a bit of squeaking. They then swiftly carry on with their business as though nothing has happened. I'd never seen this from them before now, but I think I'm spending more time looking and watching for it, so maybe they've always done it and I never noticed? They always had the odd tiff, as gerbils do, where one would push the other out of the way to get to the water bottle or to treats in my hand, or when they'd try and fit in their little house at the same time, and there'd be a squeak and one would be pushed out, but this always looked normal and never aggressive. I know I'm over thinking it, but unfortunately I can't seem to stop at the moment. Catnut - Sorry to hear you had to separate your boys, that must have been so tough. Having anxiety makes everything even more of a rollercoaster I find. Thank you for the advice. I go running around 4 times a week and try and walk on the days I don't run, so that gives me some headspace and time away from the worries of day-to-day. Thank you all for your replies, it means a lot to know I'm not alone here. It's so hard to distinguish what is normal behavior with gerbils sometimes, especially when I overthink every little movement. I really just want them to lead happy lives with me and am so scared of the idea that they could ever be upset/in pain in my care. I am keeping myself busy with other hobbies and trying to enjoy spending time with them again as opposed to sitting with them purely to watch for 'red flags' in their behaviour. Hopefully I can begin to relax a little over the next few weeks.
|
|
|
Anxiety
Feb 17, 2021 11:21:39 GMT -8
Post by Markpd on Feb 17, 2021 11:21:39 GMT -8
Good to hear about the cams, I really should get one! Btw, didn't you know Gerbils can see back through the camera to you? Well it sounds like you did what you could as far as keeping old bedding, and them together for the vets, and yea perhaps they were doing much of that behaviour beforehand? And yes people notice things more when we watch more, it's not just with gerbils btw, I've noticed at work that after we service their car or something the customer notices something new (e.g a 'new' warning light or 'new' damage) straight after (sometimes blaming us!) when it was their when they brought it in, or in the case of warning lights (I don't mean when they stay on) they were their since they bought the car! . Oh btw, here was when I was worrying about my boys! And yea occasionally it ends up with 1 of my boys on their back (although I think that's very rare now), but they quite often have tiffs! (No tail wagging since then JFYI).
|
|
|
Anxiety
Feb 17, 2021 15:28:38 GMT -8
Post by catnut on Feb 17, 2021 15:28:38 GMT -8
I do wish Tristan & Theo9they will be 2 end of April) stayed together, i was hoping they would be best buddies forever, most of my gerbils' have been, but they have very different personalities so guess that's why it didn't work out? The only good thing is Tristan has gotten much more friendly with me and we have our cuddles in the evenings (he naps in his coconut and i put it on my lap to pet him), usually i can't do that with my gerbils' until they are either older or not well. I'm sure you will know if something really is wrong and can ask on here anytime if you are unsure about anything. Take care.
|
|
|
Post by tanzanyte on Feb 17, 2021 15:52:20 GMT -8
I think most of us on here spend quite a bit of time worrying, but that's because we really do care about our gerbils.
I definitely agree with everyone, I'd love camera's where I can check in on them. We've just made a perspex play area for our boys and I love the fact that I can see them doing their gerbily things from the sofa. Half the time they are more entertaining than what's on tv!
I've noticed quite a bit of behaviour going on with my new girls. I can't work it out though as they seem to chase after each other and mount one another rather than it being one doing it to the other all of the time. I have no idea who is the dominant one yet but I wondered if it was anything to do with being in heat. I seemed to get a sudden spate of it and then I haven't seen so much this past week. The boys do similar, but again it never seems one sided. I do hear a lot of squeaking from the boys which concerns me, but I see quite a lot of it now with the perspex and it ends in a grooming session. One time they both fell into a cute nap in the corner. It concerns me and I start worrying about declan's, especially with the play area accessible to them with the possibility of becoming territorial, but as Betty said in another post, there isn't the talk around just how many gerbils live life happily together, and thankfully it's the majority.
As for serious illness, I think you will be even more on top of things having a pet cam than the rest of us. Half of it is noticing the little things, which you can do better the more you get to know them and the normal things they get up to in a day. It's horrid going through illness with them, but we can only do our best with what we have at the time. Being on here is great because it gives me other things to focus on, and I know there are loads of people with great advice when I need it. It's certainly helped me not worry quite as much.
I hope the split girls settle down and you can reintroduce them soon, and I hope you don't find anything amiss with your other gerbils health.
|
|