cinnycinnamon
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Rest In Peace Jack Black 02/17/06 to 05/30/09
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Post by cinnycinnamon on Dec 12, 2005 17:12:54 GMT -8
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Mud Pony
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We can only be, what we give ourselves the power to be!
Posts: 284
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Post by Mud Pony on Dec 13, 2005 9:21:50 GMT -8
That looks like it got pulled out. Mayeb one of his cage mates did it, or he got stuck in or around something? it doesnt look bad at all. Is the skin broken or is there a scab? even if there is he look healthy & should be fine without you doing anything. Just monitor his cage mates & anything in the tank/cage that may have sharp or any edge that could grab his hair. other than that it should grow back & be fine
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Post by AndreaS15 on Dec 13, 2005 10:52:06 GMT -8
I'm with MudPony on this one. Just check for scabs or scaly skin to make sure it's not ring worm. He sure is a cutie!
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Post by doomgerbiluk on Dec 13, 2005 11:40:10 GMT -8
It looks like hes had an accidental removal of a clump of fur but do watch for signs of barbering, where over-enthusiastic grooming results in hair loss (and of course for infection, mites and ringworm). With any symptom including hair loss if you are worried or/and it continues without apparent reason see a vet.
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Post by meganb52 on Dec 13, 2005 13:53:24 GMT -8
I agree with everyone else. My first thought was barbering, as Doom already mentioned.
-Megan
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cinnycinnamon
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Rest In Peace Jack Black 02/17/06 to 05/30/09
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Post by cinnycinnamon on Dec 13, 2005 17:36:40 GMT -8
Thanx you guys for all your replies! I've checked Buddy today and no signs of anything serious like ring worm or mites. So it very well could be that Timmy got alittle over enthusiastic in grooming Buddy. He is very aggressive when it come to Buddy cuz Buddy squeeks alot. But he does not appear to be harmed when Timmy mounts or grooms Buddy. Yeah, so that must be what happened to Buddy then cuz I do not have anything in the tank that would be too little for his head (wooden houses or what have you). Andrea, Buddy is my nicest gerbie boy of the bunch. He's one of my favorites. He is a cutie, isn't he? Thank you again for answering my question!
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Post by AndreaS15 on Dec 14, 2005 14:09:03 GMT -8
He looks so saoft and cuddly! I love 'big' gerbils
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Post by AndreaS15 on Dec 14, 2005 14:09:21 GMT -8
He looks so soft and cuddly! I love 'big' gerbils
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cinnycinnamon
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Rest In Peace Jack Black 02/17/06 to 05/30/09
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Post by cinnycinnamon on Dec 14, 2005 15:48:02 GMT -8
Oh he is really soft and cuddley! Hehehehe!! But today there was some trouble. I take my gerbils out to play every other day. So today when I went to get Buddy and Timmy, I noticed blood all over Timmy. And when I found Buddy, he was also bloody. Apparently, they had a fight. Most of the wounds are under the chin and lower lip. I've cleaned them both up as best I could and they seem to be getting along again. As for Buddy's hair loss, today it has a red mark on it. So now what do I do??
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Mud Pony
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We can only be, what we give ourselves the power to be!
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Post by Mud Pony on Dec 14, 2005 20:52:21 GMT -8
If they are fighting then they are declanning, and ifblood has been drawn then your best bet is to split them up into separate tanks. usually when blood is drawn you cant get them back together.
I would split them up & look to get a new young gerbil for each of them and introduce them by split cage or in a neutral area under close observation.
Anyone else?
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Post by AndreaS15 on Dec 14, 2005 21:43:24 GMT -8
I'm in agreeance with Mudpony... Once blood is shed, there's just to much of a risk that next time will be fatal.
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cinnycinnamon
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Rest In Peace Jack Black 02/17/06 to 05/30/09
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Post by cinnycinnamon on Dec 15, 2005 11:34:21 GMT -8
Hi Mudpony and Andrea! Well as for Buddy and Timmy......Buddy is goin on 3 years old and Timmy is 1 year and 8 months old. Timmy dominates Buddy. Always has. When I went to check on them this morning, they were sleeping together. And when I checked on them about an hour ago, they were sleeping together. Their wounds are healing nicely, too. So that's a plus! I don't want to sound mean or anything, but I cannot afford two more gerbils in order to split them two up. I already have 8 gerbils and with three cats (one of whom needs insulin), 8 fire bellied toads and 3 hermit crabs, I simply cannot afford it. Plus, I'm not working which doesn't help matters. Hopefully, that all soon change *crosses fingers* I will for now, just keep my eye on them and not change anything from their tanks. Last Monday (the 12th), I changed the bedding on their top tank and added a new toy. So maybe that was a reason why they were fighting??? I appreciate your suggestions. Thats why I love this board so much. Everybody here is so helpful and nice!
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Mud Pony
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We can only be, what we give ourselves the power to be!
Posts: 284
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Post by Mud Pony on Dec 15, 2005 21:25:36 GMT -8
Sorry to hear about your sturggles cinny, unfortunatly in this life we all have them In your situtaion what I would do besides watching them very closely is ( if you notice anymore aggression ) separate them and clean the tank VERY well. What you would basically try to do is de-scent the tank and anything that was used in it. Some i have heard them using is mild bleach & water solution to do so. I'm not sure what the mixture ratio is... I haved used a dryer fabric siftner sheet once or pepper mint oil. I jut wiped the dryer sheet all over the tank & any object placed in it. Same thing if you use the peppermint oil. They mask he gerbils scents. And or to be on the safe side you can de-scent the tank & then split cage them for a while. I have used these things a time or two & so far they have always worked for me. Maybe you were lucky & they with thier one little argument established the pecking order. But just always be very careful. as it can collapse again. Good luck!
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cinnycinnamon
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Rest In Peace Jack Black 02/17/06 to 05/30/09
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Post by cinnycinnamon on Dec 16, 2005 19:42:51 GMT -8
Hi Mudpony! Yeah, it is true that we all have life struggles. I just didn't want anybody to think that I was making an excuse, ya know? I just being honest. I've not seen any more aggression between Buddy and Timmy. When Timmy first starting mounting Buddy aggressively way back when, I had to split cage the both of them. Cleaned their top tank again today. All seems to be going well. No more gerbie scent. Thanx for the suggestion and your advice! Very much appreciated.
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cinnycinnamon
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Rest In Peace Jack Black 02/17/06 to 05/30/09
Posts: 1,280
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Post by cinnycinnamon on Dec 29, 2005 18:31:22 GMT -8
Just an update..............
Buddy's hair was growing back and I was happy about that. ;D But as of today, I can see that Timmy has pulled even more of Timmy's hair out from the same place as before. I don't see anything that doesn't belong on the bald spot (mites, ringworm). And Buddy appears to be fine. I guess my question is how come Timmy is overly barbering Buddy and should I maybe seperate the two? Can I do do anything to prevent this any further?
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