Mochi
Member
Snickerdoodle and S’more: Adopted on April 9th, 2021
Posts: 199
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Post by Mochi on Jul 16, 2021 12:52:37 GMT -8
Quick question!!! I have read on this forum the majority of peoples gerbils like to be pet behind the ears most! Is there anyway to find out if my gerbils will like this or to be pet other places? Or would it really freak them out?
When people say pet, they mean gently stroke will a finger not scratch correct?
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Jul 16, 2021 13:18:08 GMT -8
Ok, mine do that too but until now didn't know what it meant exactly. BTW! Just wanted to share my major breakthrough with Snickerdoodle last night! I was feeding them out of my hand like every night. Doodle crawled into my hand and ate her entire carrot there. She was SO calm, it took all my will power not to pick her up! No one ever told me how soft gerbils are!!! Speaking of food! I cleaned out their tank the other day, they hoard quite a bit of what I feed them? Is this bad? Am I doing something wrong?? That's great! Gerbils do calm down in time but it can take a while and it often seems like the taming process isn't working, but it is. Many gerbils hoard, and it isn't a problem at all. It's a natural behaviour. My gerbil Lily is a big hoarder and I always find masses of food when I clean out the tank. Make sure you're not feeding them excessive amounts such that they can afford to hoard huge amounts, though I've found that food restriction tends to motivate Lily to hoard more, I suppose because she thinks a food shortage is coming.
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Jul 16, 2021 13:23:08 GMT -8
Quick question!!! I have read on this forum the majority of peoples gerbils like to be pet behind the ears most! Is there anyway to find out if my gerbils will like this or to be pet other places? Or would it really freak them out? When people say pet, they mean gently stroke will a finger not scratch correct? People mean gently stroke, but I don't think most gerbils really enjoy being stroked anywhere. I think they can learn to tolerate it so that it doesn't scare them though. I can stroke mine on the back or the top of the head.
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Mochi
Member
Snickerdoodle and S’more: Adopted on April 9th, 2021
Posts: 199
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Post by Mochi on Jul 19, 2021 6:22:50 GMT -8
I haven't been finding LOADS of food, but they do seem to a storeroom! Combined, they get about 2 tablespoons a day of Gerri Gerbil. Hopefully this is a good amount? They look healthy, sleek coat, bright eyes! But they corner dig A LOT either in their jar or in the corner. I think they have been scratching their noses, doing it so much…. Their noses seem a little red and worn down…..
But about the food, I know you're supposed to weigh your gerbils quite regularly but I have only weighed them once since I adopted them.They won't sit still (which is understandable) in the jar. Any tips for weighing them?
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Post by Markpd on Jul 21, 2021 11:39:06 GMT -8
Re weighing them, try putting a treat on the scales and be quick on reading the, err reading . One of my goes with Blake .
Aww that's lovely she ate out of your hand Yea they can hoard if they have surplus, perhaps feed them a little less? I think it's only bad if they store fresh food and it goes mouldy! Stored seeds or dried food would mean you're spending more on food than you need too I suppose.
As for digging in the corner, what is your cages setup again? I can't remember. Btw, I've noticed since I had to separate my boys, that whoever doesn't have the wheel, does a lot more digging and digs in the corners much more.
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Mochi
Member
Snickerdoodle and S’more: Adopted on April 9th, 2021
Posts: 199
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Post by Mochi on Jul 26, 2021 16:24:37 GMT -8
Unfortunately they only have bedding. Quite a bit though!
Been looking for a good topper and some sort of flooring for the bottom of the topper.
They did have a plastic Nitengal wheel, but bedding would get in it and it would be worthless, pretty much. So they started chewing it and I had to take it away.
They get playtime in the tub 3 times a week, with their sand, wheel, treats, and LOTS of cardboard. They also get to do tub time with me once a week.
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Post by PipSqueak on Jul 27, 2021 9:27:10 GMT -8
They might be bored in their enclosure with no wheel and just bedding. I reccomend getting a platform for the wheel. I know Niteangel sells one that’s not super expensive. Coconut hides for birds and bendable bridges with moss stuffed in the cracks so their feet or tails don’t get stuck is also a good hide. I have a large one and have it pressed up against the side of the tank at the bottom and I see them all the time in it. If you have a large enough sand bath and just have a small bendable bridge and a wheel that should be enough to cover the bottom of the topper.
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Mochi
Member
Snickerdoodle and S’more: Adopted on April 9th, 2021
Posts: 199
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Post by Mochi on Jul 27, 2021 11:37:05 GMT -8
I will look for a coconut! XD
Hopefully it won't be much longer till I can get their topper!
Random Question!: Are gerbils able to be kept in the closet? Or would it be too dark and without enough interaction…. They are currently on a large folding table in my room. *eye roll* Not exactly the nicest look, but I do like watching them before bed! I will be redecorating soon and was wondering if the closet is a good space….. Just curious! They might end up staying right where they are!
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Post by Markpd on Jul 27, 2021 11:43:52 GMT -8
No a closet would be no good, I would think the constant dark would mess them up, and their would be no real air circulation.
And yea I find that whichever of my boys is on the side (cage is split atm) without the wheel, they chew the mesh of the divider quite frequently, even though they have 9"+ of bedding (and some chew things, which don't last long!).
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Post by PipSqueak on Jul 27, 2021 11:45:36 GMT -8
Mochi I would think that keeping them in the closet would be too dark. I suppose you can but personally I wouldn’t.
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Mochi
Member
Snickerdoodle and S’more: Adopted on April 9th, 2021
Posts: 199
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Post by Mochi on Jul 27, 2021 11:48:22 GMT -8
Yep! Just making sure I have everything well thought out ( I may or may not think things through very well) It would break my heart if I messed up on something and hurt my gerbils! Not sure exactly how much bedding they have in there, they build HUGE tunnels so it is a little difficult to tell…
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Mochi
Member
Snickerdoodle and S’more: Adopted on April 9th, 2021
Posts: 199
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Post by Mochi on Jul 27, 2021 11:49:43 GMT -8
WOW! Thank you for such a fast response!
I'll keep them out of the closet for now!
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Post by Markpd on Jul 27, 2021 11:50:32 GMT -8
Ah well if they'e making huge tunnels they must have a decent amount One of my boys tunnels is a huge void beneath the wooden hut! lol
Re closet, unless you take the door off?
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Mochi
Member
Snickerdoodle and S’more: Adopted on April 9th, 2021
Posts: 199
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Post by Mochi on Jul 27, 2021 11:53:44 GMT -8
Hmmmmmmm
Taking the doors off………….
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Post by Markpd on Jul 27, 2021 11:58:19 GMT -8
Another thought about the closet, if it's on an outside wall it could get quite cold in there in the winter, and hot in the summer?? (even with no doors).
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