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Post by icecontroller2529 on Jul 29, 2023 0:10:42 GMT -8
This is so interesting! I have indeed noticed those measuring spoons Americans use when watching American videos, and I think those spoons are awesome. However, I've not been aware of the absence of scales. In Europe, information about weight is important in many contexts. The idea of you cooking your gerbil into a pulp for measuring purposes aimed to save his life might be a bit counterproductive indeed. You don't have to use the Dutch amazon. I think this is the American version: www.amazon.com/s?k=kitchen+scale&crid=14EO2PDZH1A2H&sprefix=kitchen+scale%2Caps%2C168&ref=nb_sb_noss_1Lots of great kitchen scales there  Edit: I'm curious. Do Americans not use Amazon? It is SO common in Europe! Concerning your chubby little guy, I think it sounds like everything is fine and you shouldn't change things. You even mentioned he's quite old, so I think you should just leave everything the way it is. Of course, you could always take him to the vet if you want to be sure he is not ill, but apart from that, what you described sounds like a good situation to me. |
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Post by TJ's Rodent Ranch on Jul 29, 2023 11:39:08 GMT -8
Hi there. Yes, I know it's very interesting. I never really noticed the absence of measuring spoons and cups in outer country cooking shows, but I suppose I wasn't really looking for them either. But yes, a scale is a strange tool to be in the kitchen, for us. What odd divides our countries have! Yes, very counterproductive indeed. I don't think it would be an accurate representation of his weight, either. Perhaps our measuring spoons and cups are lacking after all. Yes! This one works for me, thank you for the link! I will look for a good one. You're correct, that's the American version. I'm very curious about what the Dutch version looks like, besides a switch-up in language. And yeah, Amazon is very popular here. Extremely. It's pretty much the first website you go to if you're shopping online for something random. I mean, if you're shopping a specific brand, then obviously you'd go to their website, but if you didn't have a certain place in mind, going to Amazon is kind of default. So I guess that is not ones of our differences. Yes, thank you for the advice again, I do believe I'll leave him as he is. He's happy, healthy, and hungry, so after all you guys have said I don't see a reason to change it. You're right, especially due to his age there's not much point in changing anything. Thank you again. |
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Post by icecontroller2529 on Jul 30, 2023 1:38:13 GMT -8
All the best for your hungry little gerbil and his friend!
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Post by Markpd on Jul 30, 2023 6:20:27 GMT -8
I see the dilema here, and I see what icecontroller is getting at, but if indeed your gerbil is significantly overweight then he'll likely have a shorter lifespan. A couple of thoughts here, how big is the wheel? Maybe the wheel is big enough for him to run in, but perhaps not big enough to comfortably run in it for longer periods? (depending how big it is of course). To a much lesser degree I had a similar problem with my boys Avon and Blake as they hit about 1yr old, at one point Blake was putting on weight fast whilst Avon much less so, what I did was cut their feed slightly whilst giving Avon more treats (by hand). It seemed to work, perhaps that could for your boys? Only tricky thing is giving the extra treats without the other gerbil noticing! lol ..... Either way, he's still very happy. Is there anything you'd recommend I do, or do you think I should take action as icecontroller2529 suggested, and not take action? Err, she suggested not to take action  |
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Post by TJ's Rodent Ranch on Jul 30, 2023 11:18:03 GMT -8
That's the reason I was worried, because I know it will most definitely shorten his lifespan like this.
Yes, he's got a pretty large wheel. I've tried several different wheels with them, and he's turned them all into his favorite nap/snack spot.
He's just so happy as he is, so I figured as long as he's happy there's no need to make a change, but I don't know if that is true, as you've said.
Yes, sorry for the confusion. I meant, take action in the way that she suggested. The way she suggested to take action, was to not. So to take action the way she suggested, and not.
Sorry I'm kind of going in circles, I hope that makes some sense.
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Post by tanzanyte on Aug 3, 2023 14:24:47 GMT -8
I have this exact issue with my boys. Max is a little chunky potato and Pepsi looks and is so much skinnier. They have 20g difference currently which is far from ideal, but I haven't ever seen Max blocking Pepsi from the food. They are scatter fed so it shouldn't happen anyway.
I do exactly as Mark did with Avon and Blake. Unless Pepsi is up whilst Max is asleep I take Pepsi out of the enclosure to give him treats. I also try and give him the quieter treats such as pumpkin seeds, yogurt drops and malt paste, although I'm sure Max must smell it when I put Pepsi back in the enclosure.
I have slightly reduced the feed but not too much as Pepsi has felt very much smaller since his op. However he's still showing as a reasonable weight, he just feels like skin and bone.
We have also been allowing them the run of the room a lot more. I close the door and section parts off so that it's safe. Max has lost 6g this past 2 weeks as he is more active this way. When they are out they are often out for hours. I thought they'd get bored and go home but they usually run home and run back out again about 5-10 minutes later. I know I'm lucky because they have access to their enclosure so feel safe enough to come and go. However you can still let them out in another room and put their toys and hides out for them. If you do it often enough they get used to it. We used to let our original girls out on my daughters bed. We'd just put a big blanket on for them and then bring their toys up and things to chew.
It's more about doing it very slowly and steadily, and then trying not to let the bad treat giving habits back in (I am rubbish with the latter as our chunky potato is a pick me gerbil and always stands and begs).
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Post by TJ's Rodent Ranch on Aug 5, 2023 15:46:25 GMT -8
Thank you for the advice. As it is, I actually do give him run of the room he's in, along with his playmate. I notice they really seem to enjoy that, and I'll watch them out of the corner of my eye while I read, write, or post on the forum I do this for all of my gerbils, actually. I have six different sets of gerbils and I'll alternate them in and out of their enclosures, in which case they'll all take turns exploring the bedroom floor, and sometimes even the bed if they find tricks to climb up. I've never had any problems with this, but it doesn't help him lose weight, either. Recently, while he was playing, however, I noticed he lost a significant amount of weight. Not so much to alarm me, and not so fast to scare me. It was like when you get a kitten and a puppy, and they're growing up just like any young animal would, but one day you step back and think, what happened? Yesterday they were tiny and today they're all grown up! This was how it was when I saw him. He's certainly not boney, or off his food, and he's very happy but he's losing just a little weight bit by bit. I'll make sure it doesn't keep up to a worrying point, but I'm happy where he is and he seems to have become stable now anyways. I wonder if he heard me thinking about decreasing the food, and coming with fatty treats for his tank mate. |
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Post by Markpd on Aug 5, 2023 17:59:26 GMT -8
Maybe Sounds like they have plenty of exercise , how long are they out for? And how big is the wheel? Are you weighing them regularly? (so that you know how much weight he's losing?). |
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Post by TJ's Rodent Ranch on Aug 5, 2023 19:24:51 GMT -8
Yes, they do have plenty of exercise, I usually keep them out for as long as they like. After a little while they grow tired of their explorations and rompings, and then once they settle down I put them back in their tank. Because it is all based on when they choose, and not a timer it's hard to say. I would guess maybe an hour or so on average? it's about seventeen cm. I just checked. They both seem to run fine on it, they do quite often. No, sadly I haven't been able to get a scale... I'll try to do so right away to make sure he's not losing too much. Thank you for reminding me |
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Aug 6, 2023 13:53:42 GMT -8
17cm is quite small for a gerbil wheel. I'd recommend a minimum of 10 inches/26cm but ideally 11 inches/28cm or bigger, especially for a large gerbil. On a bigger wheel they can run much more freely and comfortably so tend to run more and for longer.
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Post by TJ's Rodent Ranch on Aug 6, 2023 18:48:11 GMT -8
Okay, thank you I'll do that. He seemed to run on it okay so I wasn't worried about it, but if it sounds small then I'll definitely change it out as fast as I can, then he may run freely! I saw the Niteangel wheel on another post, with high recommendations from everybody. Perhaps I'll go with that one. |
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