Post by Steveyboyo on Sept 15, 2022 12:49:13 GMT -8
Hello everyone!
I'm new here obviously, but I used the forums and information previously to research into gerbil care and gerbils themselves. After finally adopting two brothers from a woman near me who was downsizing, I checked in on them frequently to make sure they were settling okay. They were mostly alone in the room for a few days, but today, the third day, is the first day I've been here with them keeping an eye so closely.
I've enjoyed watching their personalities come out and determining what they each like to do, what their routine and favorites are, and I've noticed that one of the boys appears to be making a fist constantly. They aren't overtly hand-tamed yet, though they are comfortable being near me and my hands, and have taken treats before, but I was pretty concerned after watching him move around and clean himself with it.
He seems to hold it up to his chest more when he stands, but uses it normally while running, digging, eating, so I don't think it hurts at all. I did manage to catch him, regrettably not with full consent, but I felt it was necessary to get a better look at that hand. After looking, and releasing him back into the enclosure, he again didn't seem too pained, and *does* seem to have all of his toes! For whatever reason, two of them, the ones that would be our pinky and ring finger, are just curled towards his fist, and he doesn't seem to, or doesn't want to, stretch it out like his other hand.
There was no blood, no squirming while I touched it, nothing like that.
He seems to be fine, so I'm wondering if it was a genetic birth defect or a past injury that went unnoticed? They were only born in December of 2021, so they aren't too too old yet, though full-grown.
For the record, his brother has no such defect, and funny enough, is also the only one of the two that doesn't care for the wheel, Mr.Fisticuffs *loves* running on it, so that also makes me think it does hurt.
Anyway, sorry for the wall of text, thanks in advance!
I'm new here obviously, but I used the forums and information previously to research into gerbil care and gerbils themselves. After finally adopting two brothers from a woman near me who was downsizing, I checked in on them frequently to make sure they were settling okay. They were mostly alone in the room for a few days, but today, the third day, is the first day I've been here with them keeping an eye so closely.
I've enjoyed watching their personalities come out and determining what they each like to do, what their routine and favorites are, and I've noticed that one of the boys appears to be making a fist constantly. They aren't overtly hand-tamed yet, though they are comfortable being near me and my hands, and have taken treats before, but I was pretty concerned after watching him move around and clean himself with it.
He seems to hold it up to his chest more when he stands, but uses it normally while running, digging, eating, so I don't think it hurts at all. I did manage to catch him, regrettably not with full consent, but I felt it was necessary to get a better look at that hand. After looking, and releasing him back into the enclosure, he again didn't seem too pained, and *does* seem to have all of his toes! For whatever reason, two of them, the ones that would be our pinky and ring finger, are just curled towards his fist, and he doesn't seem to, or doesn't want to, stretch it out like his other hand.
There was no blood, no squirming while I touched it, nothing like that.
He seems to be fine, so I'm wondering if it was a genetic birth defect or a past injury that went unnoticed? They were only born in December of 2021, so they aren't too too old yet, though full-grown.
For the record, his brother has no such defect, and funny enough, is also the only one of the two that doesn't care for the wheel, Mr.Fisticuffs *loves* running on it, so that also makes me think it does hurt.
Anyway, sorry for the wall of text, thanks in advance!