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Post by akane on Mar 5, 2012 20:02:34 GMT -8
but Petsmart, when they get their babies in (really young, like 5 weeks... once again, this is their supplier's fault), they keep them in the back for several days. Then, if they're still healthy, they go up for sale. Actually our petcos and petsmarts all have full adult gerbils that often are in individual cages because they are too old to get along in the small cages. Finding young gerbils is very difficult. I would bet they are many months old and will breed near immediately if they stay alive long enough. |
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Post by blocketh on Mar 5, 2012 21:39:21 GMT -8
oh wow... What color are they? I know sometimes the agoutis and blacks and REWs don't go very fast. Sometimes when there is an odd numbered litter of gerbils coming in, they all get adopted in pairs, and then one is left. No one wants to adopt a single gerbil, so it gets left and grows up at the store. Then, it's now an adult single gerbil who was probably the least appealing of the litter.... Though young baby gerbils go pretty fast, I've seen many single adults stay in cages for months and months... It's a sad thing.
The gerbil demand goes in waves though.. It's pretty high right now in my area, since most stores around my area don't sell gerbils anymore.. I think the supplier is having problems with it's breeders or something. Probably restocking. They had a huge sickness at the supplier not that long ago, and all the gerbils kept dying... So if a gerbil is found somewhere, it goes really fast. Needless to say, my business is doing great, however. haha so I don't mind.
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doug
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Post by doug on Mar 5, 2012 21:49:48 GMT -8
(really young, like 5 weeks... once again, this is their supplier's fault), you realize a 5 week old gerbil at one of these places is essentially impossible unless it leaves the breeder at 3 weeks. Due to required inspections and test they sit at the wholesaler for like a week, then they sit in the store for a week (or they are supposed to). Doug |
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Post by blocketh on Mar 5, 2012 22:06:29 GMT -8
Mine only sit in the store for about 4-5 days. My store once got a shipment on Monday night and they were ready to go by Friday (though they ended up getting very sick). I'm pretty sure they take them from the parents at 4 weeks. I've been the first to see them bring the babies in to sell after they've been quarantined before, and based on their size, they had to be about 5 weeks. 6 weeks is possible, but still quite small for 5 weeks.. But I guess it's possible that they're smaller due to the added stress and that they probably didn't get to wean as long as they needed to... But whether it's 5 weeks or 6 weeks isn't the problem, the problem is that they're being taken away from their parents waaaay too early.
The supplier is also located very close to my area, so maybe that's why the gerbils in my stores seem so young- they get there sooner..
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Post by akane on Mar 6, 2012 18:04:28 GMT -8
We have mostly greys and then some other red eyes like argente. I had a heck of a time finding my nutmeg and can't find black. I saw 1 agouti once in the past 5 months. They have new gerbils about every 3-4 weeks and they are always adults with only the occasional pair housed together.
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doug
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Post by doug on Mar 6, 2012 19:00:32 GMT -8
The rules in your state would affect that as well, here a vet inspects the animals and takes random sample, after several days the thumbs up is given. Doug Mine only sit in the store for about 4-5 days. My store once got a shipment on Monday night and they were ready to go by Friday (though they ended up getting very sick). I'm pretty sure they take them from the parents at 4 weeks. I've been the first to see them bring the babies in to sell after they've been quarantined before, and based on their size, they had to be about 5 weeks. 6 weeks is possible, but still quite small for 5 weeks.. But I guess it's possible that they're smaller due to the added stress and that they probably didn't get to wean as long as they needed to... But whether it's 5 weeks or 6 weeks isn't the problem, the problem is that they're being taken away from their parents waaaay too early. The supplier is also located very close to my area, so maybe that's why the gerbils in my stores seem so young- they get there sooner.. |
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Post by haylo on Mar 7, 2012 15:06:00 GMT -8
Regardless of where you get them from make sure you check they are healthy. You can do this by watching them in the cage first and also by holding them in your hands. Here is what you are looking for in a healthy gerbil..
Nose - clear, no discharge
Mouth - no saliva around it, no bleeding, teeth even & the correct length
Eyes - should be bright and clear with no discharge
Ears - clean and clear of wax or discharge
Skin/ fur - fur should be smooth, not greasy or standing on end, not roughled in appearance. There should be no bald patches (except the sent gland), lumps or injuries.
Body - should be able to feel bones but they should not feel sharp, should not look gaunt. Abdomen should not look distended. Breathing should not be laboured. should not be sat in a hunched over posture.
Limbs - should not be lame on any of them, no swellings, missing digits, wounds etc.
Anus/ genitals - should be clean, no discharge or diarrhoea. No lumps, protrusions etc.
Tail - should be complete with no injuries.
Behaviour - should be active, alert and inquisitive. Eating, drinking and grooming.
I know it's not always practical to check all this in a pet shop but it really is advisable. If they are not healthy then do not buy them, I know it is difficult but you will buy yourself a whole lot of heartache and the pet shop will just replace them, it's "supply and demand". Good luck! Hope you get some good ones!
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Post by akane on Mar 16, 2012 18:15:55 GMT -8
I've never seen a gerbil look or act sick in a store and yet I've gotten many. 90% of the time they are sleeping and then act normal when disturbed because they are unused to handling and hide any illness looking perfectly active and curious.
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