Pim
Member
Posts: 346 
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Post by Pim on Sept 1, 2020 13:10:00 GMT -8
hello everyone!
a little bit of backstory before I get to the point. I got Cashew from some neighbors that are moving. They had two boys in a qute cage with not much bedding at all and a horrible food. The cage was filthy even though he changed the bedding every week and cleaned the plastic every day. A few weeks later his cage mate Walnut passed of a heart attack. This was the same way Walnuts Previous cage mate passed. They all came from the same petco. Cashew is now about 1 year 8 months old. I recently noticed that when he goes still his head drifts to the side. Could this be some sort of neurological problem that has to do with his genetic health? And if it is what can I do?
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Sept 1, 2020 13:19:46 GMT -8
Does he have red eyes? Red eyed gerbils sometimes sway to get a better view, particularly red-eyed whites though I've seen it in a sapphire too.
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Pim
Member
Posts: 346
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Post by Pim on Sept 1, 2020 15:03:06 GMT -8
Yep he's a PEW so that explains it. Is there a reason? I also have a red eyed dove and he doesn't do it.
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Sept 2, 2020 11:19:58 GMT -8
I think red eyed gerbils tend to have poorer eyesight, but it might vary even between individuals.
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Post by betty on Sept 3, 2020 6:05:40 GMT -8
Yes, that is something often spotted on these forums - pink and red eyed gerbs can have the stationary lean - or even fall?
The dark colour in eyes protects them from contact with light (and the chemicals that creates in the eye) and un-pigmented eyes can lose their 'power' over time just like with human eyes.
Shame really, but I read that many older gerbils will be partially or even totally blind - but I can't remember the source of this info. And having had a definitely blind gerbil - you wouldn't notice anyway.
She never rocked or leaned though (and had the dark-eyed gene for what it was worth) - so still doesn't prove that partial or full sight loss causes it?
Actually has anyone seen a medically reliable article to say it IS the partial sight that causes it? Just because it is in pink/red eyed gerbils who COULD be sight-affected, it doesn't have to be linked to sight?
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Pim
Member
Posts: 346
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Post by Pim on Sept 3, 2020 14:49:36 GMT -8
He does have much lighter eyes than my other boy as Clover has Ruby and Cashew has pink. I find that sometimes it seems if he is moving to get a better look and sometimes he just leens though. Not sure if anyone finds a paper I'd love to read it.
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Post by betty on Sept 3, 2020 15:11:31 GMT -8
I remember after reading about it ages back - I actively chose to stop breeding pink-eyed pups until I could find out more - but never actually could/did in the end.
They weren't in pain or anything if I remember - but seemed a shame to breed them for pretty colours if they were all destined to go blind?
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Sept 3, 2020 15:20:03 GMT -8
I remember after reading about it ages back - I actively chose to stop breeding pink-eyed pups until I could find out more - but never actually could/did in the end. They weren't in pain or anything if I remember - but seemed a shame to breed them for pretty colours if they were all destined to go blind? Do gerbils with black eyes that reflect red (like a colourpoint or a polar fox) also have impaired vision? |
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Post by betty on Sept 3, 2020 18:26:05 GMT -8
I don't remember reading about that in the articles at the time - but perhaps science has moved on from then and more experiments ahve been done and written about?
I am not actually sure what causes the ruby eye-shine to be honest - so not sure if it is like the tapetum in cats (that reflects the light) rather than any reduction in the protection at the front?
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