Too much heat maybe?

[j]

Last few summers I had gerbils, I kept fans on but they wern't in a drafty area. Can't really change the location of their tanks now.. So is it ok if they get a 'draft' from the fan?

And if they're desert animals, why would heat bother them? It sure as heck didn't in the winter and in the winter I keep it like 90 degrees. But lately I've been noticing that ALL my gerbils are acting more lazy and their fur is all puffed out. I'm positive they're not sick.. (a couple pups with a respitory infection, but other than that.. Nothing).. I thought it was just something with my females..but the boys in the other tank are the same way..

So if I were to start using the fans or air conditioning (although I thought I should at least wait untill the pups are better..) do you think they would start acting more like themselves? They're just not doing as much as they used to. Some of them are kind of bored (can't make the tanks as fun as I was right now) but still.. if they had enough bedding to burrow in, they probably would just sleep in it. Heat maybe?

[Ritzie/Admin]

Although Mongolian gerbils are desert animals, they can't handle extreme heat, beside in the wild they stay under the ground in their burrows while the hottest period of the day and not without a good reason. Your gerbils feel themselves most comfortable with a temperature of 20-24°C (68°F - 74°F). With more than enough nesting material the absolute minimal temperature is 15°C (59°F). 90°F (32°C) is warm, but not too warm! (I see you don't like the cold ;D, me neither ) Just make sure that the sun will not shine directly in their tank.

And when you fan won't blow directy toward the gerbil that will be not problem either. Especially not when it is warm. Draft gives usually most problems in combination with cold and moist!

[j]

haha I do hate the cold and I hate it really hot.

Eh I don't know what to do then. A few pups have respritory infection which I've been giving them medicine for. I think the heat might have something to do with it even though it's not that bad here cause we're downstairs. If I give them enough bedding to make a deep burrow in .. I won't know if the pups are getting better or worse.

I think the respiratory infection is my fault for letting the pups in sand. I didn' t think the sand would bother them.. never heard of that causing problems. But someone told me today pups aren't supposed to be near it. because it's 'dusty' (the kind I use isn't..) and it's so small it can get up their noses

[queenofthenile]

90 degrees isn't hot ? My house is usually 59 F (15 C), but a few degrees warmer in the gerbil room. But I live in Canada ;D.

I'm not sure about the sand, but if you have a problem next litter, I would switch back to your previous bedding material.

[j]

Yeah it was definatley the sand causing it. I haven't had the pups near it in 2 days now and they're 99% better! Some slight faint clicking in a couple of them but nothing like it was before. I haven't given any medicine in 2 days either. Gonna give some today just to be on the safe side and then I'm done.

I'm an idiot. I was using the sand box to seperate the pups after I gave them the medicine.
Gerbils-Desert Animals born in sand-Dust Free Sand-should be fine!

I really thought the sand would be alright. And after they rolled around in it their coats looked better.

I also gave them more bedding and some thick cardboard boxes. That seemed to help a lot with both tanks. So guess maybe the heat had something to do with it.

[ecoa]

WHERE DID YOU GET THAT SMILEY?