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Post by cheekygerbils on Sept 29, 2011 10:38:04 GMT -8
I was sitting watching Mary and Mogey play about and Mogey sat still and wagged her tail from side to side. I have never seen any of my gerbils do this before and was wondering what it means. She wasn't spooked and seems relaxed & happy
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Post by brighttreegerbils on Sept 29, 2011 10:57:39 GMT -8
That is interesting. I've seen irritated or sexually excited gerbils do a sort of tail whipping before, but nothing like a consistent wag. Try to get a video if you see it again.
-Matt
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Post by MoonstoneGerbils on Sept 29, 2011 11:08:28 GMT -8
I found a pup at a petstore who wagged her tail when i picked her up. Its was the most hysterical thing i ever watched. Her name is Swiggle.
Not sure why gerbils do it, i've only seen it a few times.
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Post by cheekygerbils on Sept 29, 2011 11:10:31 GMT -8
I will do Matt. It was very strange but she seems fine and there are no signs of aggression between her and Mary.
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Post by blocketh on Sept 29, 2011 12:49:42 GMT -8
Weird... Penelope did something like that a couple days ago. She was very happy though. It'd been nice and quiet and calm in the room, Sebastian and the pups were asleep, and she was enjoying some cardboard and munchies. I've seen her do it once or twice before. Maybe she just got the chills or something. or maybe she was mad at the cardboard. haha
I saw one of her pups do it too, but I think he was just trying to get around! lol
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Post by SunshineGerbils on Sept 29, 2011 12:50:38 GMT -8
Baby gerbils do that sometimes. I don't see it that often in adults but it is very funny.
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Post by esztershine on Sept 29, 2011 20:21:37 GMT -8
Great question as I never really knew what it meant. B&P did it a lot when they were young, not so much nowadays. But when they are out for fun I do see it sometimes, but never occurred to me it was due to irritation. K did it a few days ago, after I came back from a weekend away, he was out trying to get my attention and wagged his tail. Perhaps he was irritated by me leaving him?  |
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racammann
Member
I currently have 2 female gerbils - Suki and Zip. Littermates born end of Jan 2011.
Posts: 556
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Post by racammann on Sept 30, 2011 1:17:54 GMT -8
Mine wiggle their tail from side to side when they jump up onto the lip of the tank, but they're usually shuffling their feet and finding their balance so I put it down to that. They use their tails a lot for balance so would probably move it around a lot when they're doing really agile things.
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Post by cheekygerbils on Sept 30, 2011 4:09:03 GMT -8
I really hope it happens again, it was the strangest looking thing! So she is either irritated at me or fancies me!!  |
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Post by esztershine on Sept 30, 2011 6:10:14 GMT -8
I think It is the last one! I don't think she thinks you are irritating at all, you would have known about by now Years ago I thought it meant some kind of fear of something but over the years they look relaxed when they do It so I guess it may be a 'relaxed irritation' Or a funky 'you look charming my love' behaviour. But I always thought more on the 'Oooooooo, I am so excited' version. Perhaps some scientist could help us? |
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Post by blocketh on Sept 30, 2011 8:26:53 GMT -8
I've read a lot of places, and know from experience, that when you pick them up, they will swing their tail, has something to do with balance.
I agree... Maybe it's not irritation (or maybe it is sometimes) but it's also from just excitement, period. That seems to make the most sense to me.
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animarising
member
Pharmacy student, Geocacher and Gerbil Lover :3
Posts: 14
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Post by animarising on Sept 30, 2011 9:40:05 GMT -8
Our gerbil gerri does this all the time whenever you pick her up! She takes it to the next level and wags like crazyy!! Would make sense if it's from excitement as she's one of the most tame and best tempered gerbils of our four, but would also make sense if its due to balance, due to her being a dove gerbil and having the pink eye recessive mutations (thought to have poorer visual acuity?)
Either way it's so funny when she does it, it's almost as if she's greeting us like an excited pup!
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Post by esztershine on Sept 30, 2011 9:49:43 GMT -8
I think what Cheekygerbils meant was Mogey standing still and wagging her tail, side to side as she stood on her back legs 'sitting'. If you see It happen, normally they sit with wide open back legs and their front paws shake with the tail in rhythm Very cute! |
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Post by catnut on Sept 30, 2011 12:34:35 GMT -8
My Spencer wags his tail at times and he is 2 years and 9 months old. He seems to do it when he is nervous but he could also be excited as he does it when he is out playing. His brother Pacey doesn't do it as often,but they are skittish boys esp. when they hear a noise that may be a mouse,lol. They thump(or more like Spencer hides as Pacey thumps when he is upset or worried about a noise). I try to comfort them but they soon calm down once they know it is safe.
Tammy
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Post by SunshineGerbils on Sept 30, 2011 12:47:42 GMT -8
I had a gerbil, flash, that did it his entire life. It always brought a smile to my face |
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