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Post by ericunderwood on Jan 1, 2008 12:34:18 GMT -8
I just got two female gerbils about two weeks ago, and I'm worried about one of them. Normally they both play about the same amount but I noticed that today (and yesterday when I was watching them too) all Paris does is sleep. Britney was just awake for a while digging in the cage all over the place and Paris has barely done anything! When Britney was digging in the area where they sleep, Paris went through the tube to the "outhouse" (Critter Trail). ...Which by the way does not seem to be working as they keep going to the bathroom in a different compartment of their cage where I don't want them to! Paris was just sitting in there with her eyes closed – sleeping again, I guess. When I checked back, she was in the normal area where they sleep. Britney is sleeping now too. It is normal for them to sleep pretty much any time of day whenever they feel like it, but I find it odd that Paris is so inactive. Britney seems to be the dominant one of the pair. Is it possible that even though they sleep together and get along that Britney could have done something to Paris to hurt her? I just got an aquarium from my aunt that used to have a gerbil in it (actually several different ones over the years and fish before that!) Her gerbil died, I'm not sure how long ago, but she thought it was because my cousins forgot to give him water. It think it has been at least a few months since he died, and the cage just sat there empty since whenever it was. Before I added the aquarium to their habitat, I washed it with dish soap, hot water and a wash cloth. Then I rinsed it a lot and dried it before I put the bedding it. Is it still possible there could have been some sort of disease in it? If anyone has any suggestions, please help!... It is New Year's Day so I can not take them to the vet today, it’s closed!
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Post by me on Jan 1, 2008 13:06:27 GMT -8
One of my pairs of gerbils are much like yours.
One is extremely active and very social, and the other who's the less dominent sleeps a lot ;D
Mine are kept in a tank and the majority of the time they sleep together, but I guess sometimes they get hot or just want time to themselves as I have seen them sleep apart.
Be careful of having too many separate areas though as some people on here say it can lead to them having their own space and causing disagreements.
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Post by ericunderwood on Jan 1, 2008 13:25:57 GMT -8
I was worried about that too... The only time they ever appeared to "fight" was when I first added the aquarium. It is a normal 10 gallon size and their other cage is smaller. The smaller cage has a hole to get to a wheel on both sides. There is the "outhouse" compartment on the back of the cage, and there is another little compartment at the top of the tubes that lead to the aquarium. There is also a tube that goes up to a circular tube... It just goes around in a circle, doesn't really lead anywhere! Anyhow, when I first added that aquarium this weekend, the first time when they both went in there together they looked like they were fighting. According to something I read online, this was probably "play" fighting, but it worried me. I kept an eye on them for a long time until finally they both went to sleep together. When they did that I knew that things must be ok! :-) It is odd, but they actually seem to prefer the smaller cage that they were originally in, I hardly ever see them in the aquarium! Also, they seem to like to go to the bathroom in thier enclosed plastic wheels! I keep having to take the wheels apart and washing them. I find this odd because they run in the wheels and you would think they wouldn't want to be running around in that!
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Post by ohmylokix on Jan 1, 2008 13:31:43 GMT -8
They should be put solely in the aquarium. Plastic cages are dangerous, easy to chew up and escape from, and will STINK to high heaven after a few weeks of the plastic being peed on{And pee never come out of plastic}. Those cages do not provide for digging, which is bad for their mental health, as studies say. That kind of cage can also lead to territories-- meaning that if one tries to get too close to eat/drink, the other may start a fight to the death.
Put them in the aquarium with about 6 inches of safe bedding(Yes, it's possible!) and some toys under the bedding. This will have them playing a lot more, and they should perk up.
A ten gallon is a little too small, though. I'd get a 15 or a 20 ASAP.
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Post by ericunderwood on Jan 1, 2008 13:43:59 GMT -8
Acctually, the bottom of the plastic cage is just like a normal cage with bedding, and they have been digging in it and seem to prefer to sleep in that cage. It has another floor that is a couple inches above that layer, and that is where they sleep, under the other floor. It's kind of like a little house in the bedding under there where they can hide. Won't they be happier with two cages because there is more space?
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Post by ohmylokix on Jan 1, 2008 13:48:14 GMT -8
If you cannot put in six inches, then it's best to keep them in the tank. You gerbils can and will chew their way right out of that cage. They can destroy the tubes, chew through the base.. those CritterTrails are nothing but a waste of money, the way I see it.
In this situation, more space is NOT better, as they seem to already be having tension. Though a 20 gallon tank would be much appreciated by your gerbils, as it's harder to make territories!
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Post by ericunderwood on Jan 1, 2008 17:04:57 GMT -8
Paris seems to be doing ok... It is dark in the room they are in right now, and both gerbils are up playing. Acctually they are both eating right now. Paris was just running in the wheels. Maybe she is just not as active as Britney. Omylokix, you really put six inches of bedding in your aquarium!?... I would deffinitly need a bigger one to do that, this current one would be half filled if I put that much in. I bet they love that though, they would really be able to hide when they're sleeping!
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Post by ohmylokix on Jan 1, 2008 17:32:24 GMT -8
Yes, actually. I had a loner in a ten gallon, and she got about 6 inches. She made tunnels, and was very, very busy. She chewed, dug, and slept all day.   |
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Post by ericunderwood on Jan 1, 2008 17:53:08 GMT -8
I'm guessing you normally have a lid on there... Just off for the pics, right?... Otherwise I would think she could jump right out!
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Post by ohmylokix on Jan 1, 2008 18:00:20 GMT -8
Of course. The lid locks into place on that tank. In fact, I was about to take her out of the tank.
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janis
Member
Vee, Queen of The Gerbils
Posts: 401
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Post by janis on Jan 2, 2008 10:33:53 GMT -8
I but your little Paris is a night owl. We have one of those. As soon as it is really late she is already to play!!!
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Post by ericunderwood on Jan 2, 2008 15:39:46 GMT -8
I think you are right... They are not very loud at night, but I do hear the wheel going from time to time at night. Also, I don't think she is sick or anything because she's still eating normally and looks totally normal. They both like to nip when I put my hand in the cage, hopefully I can get them over that! At first it didn't hurt, but they seem to be getting stronger or biting harder now! Otherwise, all is well!
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