|
|
Post by gerbilsarecute on Jan 15, 2022 19:23:37 GMT -8
My gerbil cheese has been jumping to the ceiling of her cage recently and I don’t know what to do, it looks like it hurts because she is hitting the ceiling. She has a 70 gallon tank, 9 inch of bedding, a 8 inch wheel, lots of hides, hay for burring, homemade boredom breakers, and her food is scattered so I don’t know what’s wrong.
|
|
Thea
Member
Posts: 1,012 
|
Post by Thea on Jan 16, 2022 5:02:50 GMT -8
She could be popcorning - something gerbils do when they're happy or excited. It's pretty common in gerbils, and is basically short bursts of quick jumping. It can look pretty alarming when you haven't seen it before. One of my girls is always popcorning in my gerbil's sand area!
I can't really think of any other reason why she'd be jumping - apart from perhaps being scared by something.
|
|
|
|
Post by Markpd on Jan 16, 2022 15:38:50 GMT -8
Got a video of that Thea?  gerbilsarecute She isn't being chased by another gerbil is she? |
|
|
|
Post by Thelodar on Jan 16, 2022 19:23:57 GMT -8
I have had gerbils leap at the tank lid before, but it's typically a sign of significant boredom, so I'm surprised given the enclosure you described. I've also seen it shortly after returning gerbils to their tank following time in a playpen because they're wound up and wanting to get back out.
If it's persistent I'd consider other things you can do for enrichment.
|
|
Thea
Member
Posts: 1,012
|
Post by Thea on Jan 16, 2022 22:59:37 GMT -8
Got a video of that Thea? I don't think so as each time she does it only lasts three seconds or so, so I never have any time to get one! She does do it most days though, so I'll try to get one, it's super cute  |
|
|
|
Post by betty on Jan 17, 2022 7:02:31 GMT -8
Yes, but remember that - just like people - individual gerbils can find different things rewarding (or annoying). Boredom is a mobile level of distraction - not a set figure or marker point. Boredom doesn't mean there is NOTHING to do - it means there is nothing they WANT to do.
Just by offering plenty of enrichment - it doesn't mean that is the stimulation that that individual needs - for example leave me alone in a library with a stack of jigsaw puzzles too and I'm on it. Days (or ideally weeks) of silent fun.
Shut my brother in the same room and he would be banging on the door to get out by lunchtime Day 1 - ripping up the books to make giant castles - or starting a fire by nightfall!!!!
As touched on above - this gerbil needs to be watched and experimented with to find out what enrichment actually works for them (often with a hyper need-something-to-do gerbil would be literally filling the enclosure with shredded paper/tubes/boxes/hay/straw etc) or to try to identify any nuerological issues that could cause this repetative and seemingly dangerous behaviour.
Good luck...
|
|
), late 70s
