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Aug 18, 2020 6:20:56 GMT -8
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Post by nuggetnmacho1 on Aug 18, 2020 6:20:56 GMT -8
Hi there, I'm new to this forum.
I've had my Gerbils since June,
Everything seems fine for the most part, however recently I hear them squeak from time to time, I honestly can't figure it out,
I replace there bedding every other day fill their water bottle every 2-3 days to keep it fresh, I always make sure they have plenty of food for eating, I clean their cage at least 1-2 times a week, they have toys I interact with them most days.
When I seem to approach the cage they look at me sit there and then as soon as I go to unhook the door they scatter away to one of the 2 hiding places I make for them. They are 2 boys Nugget and Macho.
I'll make them away I'm there I also stick my finger in and they'll usually stiff and put their paws on it but do nothing more.
I do feel like I have their trust cust they don't nibble or bite.
I am working from home just cust I'm a CSA so I am talking most of the day.
I would think they are used to my voice.
I give them sun flower seeds when I want to hold them so they feel comfortable.
They occasionally box each other and chase each other, then go back to normal, I always check incase there is any sign of fighting but both always look and seem fine so. I have assumed that this is normal behavior.
I give them a toliet roll tube maybe once or twice a week.
I just don't understand what's causing them to squeak, they have everything they need and I try to interact as much as possible.
I appreciate your efforts and help in advance.
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Aug 19, 2020 13:51:42 GMT -8
Post by Markpd on Aug 19, 2020 13:51:42 GMT -8
Hi, welcome to the forum I can only help you to a limited extent because I'm fairly new to it myself, that said, their are a couple of things I wonder. When you say you replace their bedding every other day, do you mean just from their nest or from the whole cage? If you're replacing the whole lot, then really that's far too often, if it's just the nest I don't see why it would cause any problems, although it's probably unnecessary to do it that much. Whenever you do change the whole bedding/substrate, do you keep a little bit of the old stuff (cleanest part) back? This needs to be done so that they (better) recognise the cage as their home after a clean out (to keep their scent there), if you don't theirs a possibility the disruption could cause them to fall out with each other (to varying degrees). Cleaning their cage 1-2 a week seems quite a bit too, but that depends on the size of your cage, how big is it? I'll make them away I'm there I also stick my finger in and they'll usually stiff and put their paws on it but do nothing more.I'm sorry but I don't understand that sentence, too many typos , could you re-word that? What's 'cust' and CSA mean btw? Is cust because?? (here in the UK CSA = Child Support Agency). Unless your Gerbils are chewing other things too, then a roll once or twice a week is no where near enough, if they've got other stuff to chew (other card, safe wood etc) then it's probably ok, personally I put card rolls/boxes in every day or other, depending how 'chewy' they're feeling! I think beyond that we need the more experienced owners to drop in and help .
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Pim
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Posts: 346
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Aug 19, 2020 13:56:08 GMT -8
Post by Pim on Aug 19, 2020 13:56:08 GMT -8
Don't see any reason to replace nest and cust was probably meant to be cause to clear it up markpd
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Aug 19, 2020 14:02:00 GMT -8
Post by Markpd on Aug 19, 2020 14:02:00 GMT -8
Do you mean cos for because? So much confusion over 1 little word! lol
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Aug 19, 2020 22:38:04 GMT -8
Markpd likes this
Post by gerbilord on Aug 19, 2020 22:38:04 GMT -8
Hi, mine squeak for various reasons:
- 1: grooming - sometimes gerbils can be a bit over-the-top with their grooming and it upsets/annoys the other, so they squeak - 2: squabbling - if your gerbils squabble and box then they might sometimes squeak - 3: one gerbil moves and gets in the way of its sibling which causes discomfort and annoyance.
Another reason could be that they are in pain, for example when you touch them in a certain place they might give a loud "wheeeee" (or at least, that's my take on it) and you need to figure out what's causing them to be uncomfortable.
And with the bedding, you definitely shouldn't be changing it so often. Depending on the size of your cage, you can clean it out, maybe, every month? Gerbils get really stressed while you cage-clean so you should limit the amount of times you do it. (I'm sorry if I misunderstood)
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Pim
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Aug 20, 2020 5:57:36 GMT -8
Post by Pim on Aug 20, 2020 5:57:36 GMT -8
Do you mean cos for because? So much confusion over 1 little word! lol yep i'm pretty sure that that is what they meant!
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