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Post by catandgerbillover on Apr 23, 2022 21:01:08 GMT -8
I just started split caging 2 young males and my older male. The day I started the split after I had already put them together, I noticed my older male(Lambert) had very soft poops. After doing research I became very worried and didn’t switch them over for a few days. I read it could be stress or disease related. Stress would make sense because I’ve cleaned his cage twice in the past two weeks so I started to do the switching over. Now the young ones seem to be “clicking” on and off. They’re all acting normal I think and Lambert is doing all his normal stuff. His eyes are bright and he’s not puffed up. The babies sleep a lot but that was my experience with the last ones too. Should I be worried? My parents don’t want me to take them to the vet because it costs $50 each for only a check up and I can’t really afford it.
Additional question about split cage, it’s only been three days but the babies are sleeping in the bed Lambert keeps making and he keeps chewing and digging at the bars of the split. What could this mean? They haven’t really interacted much through the bars and I only switch them once a day because of Lambert’s stress. He slept in the bed they made yesterday. I also uses some duct tape to to hold the bars in place and it’s chewed up on both sides. Should I be worried about that? I can’t find it in the bedding.
I'm just so worried because before these young ones, almost three weeks ago I had Lambert’s partner pass suddenly and I didn’t get him to the vet fast enough($68 for him to die after 15 mins of being there). I don’t think I can deal with that loss again so soon especially after buying young ones so Lambert could be happier. If you guys think the vet is my best bet I’ll try and convince my parents.
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Post by betty on Apr 24, 2022 12:05:38 GMT -8
Split introductions can be stressful for some gerbils - which is why the younger the pups the better as the introduction is usually faster - you don't say the age of your pups, but if they are 6 weeks ish - then usually the split should be complete in just a few days.
It is always best to avoid any stick tapes in the enclosures as it can be very difficult for animals to get unstuck from (as they don't have opposible thumbs) - much better to wedge things in place with (daily checked/replaced) folded cardboard sheets.
Sleepy baby gerbils is usually normal - and shows great potential for a very quick split intro as the older gerbil will have the upper hand over them which is what you want/need.
Let us know how things are going since you last wrote and we can speed this up for a quick result and to reduce his stress.
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Post by catandgerbillover on Apr 24, 2022 13:27:25 GMT -8
I’m guessing the babies are around 7 weeks. They are very small but the store didn’t say. Lambert seems better-ish but they all are hiding right now after switching them over.
A new concern has arisen. One of the babies seems to be sneezing and clicking a lot but otherwise acting fairly normally. He wasn’t like this two or three days ago. Should I separate him? I’m worried they all may have something already if he does but I have no clue where he would have gotten it. I’m using Aspen shavings and shredded toilet paper for bedding and nest material.
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Post by Markpd on Apr 24, 2022 13:45:58 GMT -8
It could be he's allergic to something, is the toilet paper a very dusty one? Some are, some aren't. If it is, use a different brand, or try kitchen roll. If that makes no difference, it could be that he's allergic to the Aspen, although that's rare, it does happen (which is why I decided not to use it).
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Post by catandgerbillover on Apr 24, 2022 13:49:51 GMT -8
Will the sneezing go away on its own if I find what he’s allergic to if it is that?
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Post by Markpd on Apr 24, 2022 14:02:59 GMT -8
Yes if you completely clean the cage out too, though that's not good for the split intro! Hmm, you've got a bit of a dilemma here, if he isn't suffering too badly I'd be inclined to carry on the split intro though and leave the old bedding in. Although, once their together you're not supposed to clean out their cage shortly after either (2-3 weeks I think?), or give it a complete clean out and 'reset' the clock for the split intro.
Let's see what betty et al reckon.
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Post by catandgerbillover on Apr 24, 2022 17:52:13 GMT -8
Ok. I don’t want to start over… he sneezes more after I pick him up and put him back. I’d just feel terrible if I got these guys so Lambert wouldn’t have to be lonely and then one passes. Or Lambert catches something. How do gerbils catch respiratory things?
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Post by catandgerbillover on Apr 24, 2022 18:21:08 GMT -8
I think it’s both of them now. I might call the vet tomorrow just to see. I’d really like to know what everyone thinks in the meantime though. I kind of feel like a terrible owner right now.
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Post by Markpd on Apr 25, 2022 11:03:19 GMT -8
Broadly speaking, same way we catch RIs e.g sneezing, close contact, or allergies to certain products.
Do they only sneeze during and immediately after you've handled them? If so, perhaps it's from perfume? Or strongly scented handcream? (just guessing here tbh).
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Post by catandgerbillover on Apr 25, 2022 19:26:32 GMT -8
It’s on and off. I notice it after I’ve held them and when I’m holding them the most but I’ll hear it when they’re just in their cage. I don’t wear perfume or hand cream. They’re acting perfectly normal otherwise. Do you think I’d be okay introducing them to Lambert this week? They don’t seem to have a ton of interest in each other other than the aforementioned signs.
I have a theory about the sneezing. One of Lambert’s favorite things is to take dust baths. Before I switched them over for a while I’d let Lambert run around and play and he’d take a few dust baths. I stopped doing it a few days ago. Could this be caused by the dust he’s pulling in on his fur?
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Post by betty on Apr 26, 2022 9:43:22 GMT -8
It could well be your substrate or something in their environment that is causing the sneezzing/clicking sound - just because they are relatively new to you and your existing gerbil hasn't/doesn't have any issues. Depending on where you got them from, I would imagine that if they were a breeder (as opposed to someone who has/had the odd litter of pups) that they were healthy when you got them (otherwise their own animals would be unwell and they wouldn't have homed the pups out).
I would assume to carry on with the split and bond them as soon as is safe to do so, taking one or both pups out of the split would mean the end of your trio. And if they get ill - you would be best to treat all three the same anyway - even if they aren't bonded.
If you want to try the allergy route first then perhaps aim over a few days to switch out the bedding in what I call the left-to-right shuffle. Basically divide the enclosure up visually into 4 or 5 sections in your mind, then on the first day take out with your hands most of Section 1 and replace with an equal amount of fresh new substrate (a new one not you existing aspen).
Then day 2 - regardless of how much digging they have done - hand-pick Section 2 out and replace with new, etc etc each day from one side to the other. This way, you are not changing too much scent out AND you are not taking out all the new again day on day, leaving the scent at quite high volumes while moving along the enclosure. Obviously it won't be a full aspen-to-whatever switch, but it will greatly reduce the aspen and you should start to see an improvement if it is just an allergy. Once the first run is complete - you can leave for a day and then start over with Sectionh 1 again - so in the first two weeks of the split you should have done a full tank change but without taking away the much needed scents throughout.
The dust bath itself shouldn't be an issue - but during a split intro it is best not to have anyone out for play time as this can unbalance the scents from the split AND reduce the boredom level - something quite important to help the bonding process in many pairs at least.
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Post by catandgerbillover on Apr 26, 2022 14:08:43 GMT -8
I just introduced them all and no fights broke out. Lambert has interacted with the other two a bit, grooming one of them who was laying in the corner and still is. There has been no hostility and very little squeaking. I’m going to watch them tonight and see how things go. I called the vet and I’m going to try and get them all in because Lambert also just started sneezing so I think I can probably rule out allergies at this point. I’ve decided it’s worth the cost since they’re getting along so well.
Thank you for the advice about the bedding change. If it does turn out to be allergy related in the end I’ll do that method.
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