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Post by johanne on Jan 3, 2011 15:28:37 GMT -8
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doug
Member
Posts: 2,064
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Post by doug on Jan 3, 2011 18:50:01 GMT -8
I had never seen that before so I read some more on it, and I think I know what it isn't referenced much, it appears it is seen in a colony situation and is one of the ways that the younger gerbils sexual maturity is held back. I bet if we set up a large enclosure with a colony we could really see how this works.
Doug
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Post by jennem on Jan 4, 2011 11:29:51 GMT -8
Right now they are active ALL THE TIME. They've shredded everything they can get hold of and the wheel goes non-stop. Also a lot of chase/pin down/groom. Goldy is trying to mount Midnight periodically, including while Midnight is drinking from the bottle. Midnight is stoic about it.
Whether the light is on or off has no impact except that Goldy squints more often with the lights on. Either it bothers her eyes, or she's able to see my distant motion a bit more which scares her. But it doesn't increase or decrease their activity or eating.
Is a small amount of organic dried apple-no other ingredients, just dehydrated apple--an OK snack for them? They love it so much it seems like it would be the best hand-training treat unless it's not good for them.
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Post by johanne on Jan 5, 2011 22:14:04 GMT -8
Sounds like they're doing just great. ;D
Goldy will probably appreciate less bright light. Her eyes are lacking in melanin to filter light, so too much may be uncomfortable.
If they really like the dehydrated apples, that should be ok as long as you keep the amount very, very small and not every day. They're quite high in sugar, and too much will upset their balanced diet and can lead to diabetes. They don't eat much fruit in the wild.
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Post by jennem on Jan 16, 2011 8:30:08 GMT -8
The gerbils enjoying quinoa, their favorite treat food. Goldy's eyes are squinting because of the flash, they are no longer like that normally. Goldy's leg, it seems, is not going to fully recover. At least it hasn't so far. She can hold food with it, and dig a little, but she doesn't walk on it and it still appears swollen, although the color is good and the fur grew back. But she doesn't seem to mind in the least. Other than that, they are doing just great. Happy, active, and friendly. Thanks for all the help! Jennifer
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Post by johanne on Jan 16, 2011 9:20:24 GMT -8
It's so nice to see them doing well! And enjoying healthy snacks ;D
Don't necessarily give up hope yet on the leg. You just never know with gerbils. Though Doug might have been on to something about age, in which case maybe not. It's hard to tell with gerbils who have been through so much.
You might consider giving them a sandbath. Their coats look just a smidgen on the greasy side. A sandbath should fix that.
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Post by jennem on Jan 16, 2011 9:29:08 GMT -8
Their coats look like that because they are wet--they insist on building their nest directly below the water bottle and every time they climb in and out they bump it and get dripped. They'd just woken up here. But a sandbath is a good idea anyway, will pick something up this week.
Midnight is definitely very young but Goldy could certainly be older. But she's happy, extremely energetic, friendly, and eating well, so no complaints no matter her age.
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