cinnycinnamon
Member
Rest In Peace Jack Black 02/17/06 to 05/30/09
Posts: 1,280
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Post by cinnycinnamon on Jul 23, 2004 19:12:23 GMT -8
Okay you guys I really need your help with this cuz I'm not sure what to do, but I want to do the right thing.
First, I want to say that I've found a home for four of the gerbils at school (member, I work at a daycare). I gave away one of the mom's and 3 of her babies today. I feel very confident with this and I know that they will be well taken care of. Two more gerbils were given away after I had left work this evening...the director called me to tell me about it and I told which two she could take. And after it was done, she called me again to let me know that she told the parent if she gave her the wrong gerbils, that she would hafta bring them back to school on Monday. I told her not to take the one baby who hangs with Lucky (the mom) and that she was smaller then the others. So now I will just hafta wait until Monday to see if she gave away the right ones.
So my question is this: how many is too many gerbils to own? I have 6 here at my home, but I do not think I should give away the gerbil who was under the stove at school on a roach trap a few weeks ago (Lucky is her name). She seems to really trust me now and not only that, but I've grown quite attached to her. She now has 3 of her babies with her. I want to keep them all, but as I reading threads here tonight, I don't think I should try to introduce those 4 to Peaches and Sally (those are two who live at my home). Am I correct at understanding that? So how many gerbils is too many to own? Would it just be best to leave them in their own tank? I'm swaying more and more as I type this on bringing Lucky and her daughters home with me. Also, we have 3 males left at school and I wanted to keep them as well. Although, they would stay at school and I would bring them home on the weekends. Is is a bad idea to transport gerbils every week? The little runt whom I've named, Squirt comes out when you call his name-it's too cute!
So that's my dilemma. What do you think I should do? I just know I'm gonna be worrying about this all weekend long! *sighs* Thanks in advance for your help and or advice!
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Post by queenofthenile on Jul 24, 2004 6:31:08 GMT -8
I wouldn't introduce the 4 to Peaches and Sally. You are likely to get a lot of fighting.
As for how many gerbils is too many... How many do you feel comfortable taking care of? Do you have enough time each day to play with each tank of gerbils, feed and change their tanks? Noone can tell you what the number is. Floppy, one of the members here, has over 30 gerbils. Only you can decide how much time you are willing to spend.
Good luck making a decision!
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cinnycinnamon
Member
Rest In Peace Jack Black 02/17/06 to 05/30/09
Posts: 1,280
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Post by cinnycinnamon on Jul 24, 2004 10:14:49 GMT -8
Thank you, queenofthenile for answering my questions! Yeah, I guess it would be better if I didn't try to introduce the 4 to Peaches and Sally. Now I just need to find a place to put Lucky and her kids in my home. Running out of space....but luckily, we will be moving soon into a nice big house! My 6 gerbils her at home are a hoot to watch! They let me know when they wanna come out a play...it's the funniest thing! So having two more to the group shouldn't be so bad. I do spend alot of time with my gerbs and it shows. My friends and family think I'm crazy when I tell them that they understand me and do what I ask them. ;D Wow, 30 gerbils! That's a lot! Thanx again for taking the time to help me here!
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Post by j on Jul 25, 2004 3:04:15 GMT -8
So my question is this: how many is too many gerbils to own? ! Ya know, I really don't understand this kind of question.. If they're being cared for, does it really matter how many you have!? I've been fighting with my mom lately over this. I live downstairs,seperate from her. She didn't want me having any in the first place because she's not into rodents. Then when she was fine with 2 and got over it. I went and bred them and never told her. I just recently told her how many I had. (15). I told her that she was pregnant when I bought her so it wasn't my fault. LOL She believed me but she's like "That's way to many!" "You've got to get rid of some" then a week later, she asked me to really think about getting rid of them, she understands about not giving them to petshops..but she knows someone that might take some. Then on the other side of her..she thinks they're cute and fun to watch (except for the tails). Plus they help keep garbage down since I'm always stealing boxes ;D She's getting over it though.. I just had to promise not to get any more or make any more. Ok sorry about my rant.. Anyways, back to the question.. If you're going to keep Lucky, which I think you should since you saved her life and she trusts you now.. .. Just put her in a seperate tank. Maybe just keep one of her daughters with her and give away 2 or just keep all of them. The 3 males... Either keep them at home, give them away or keep them at the schoo. everyday. I don't think transporting them every week is a good idea. Plus it's a daycare, I'm guessing year round... Think ahead to the winter. You don't want to be transporting them every week in the winter, the slightest chill could possibly make them very sick and kill them. The summer.. The humidity does get to them, even if it's a 10 minute ride to your house. I would say fine if you were moving and only once, but not every week. Not to mention the stress.. Even if you kept them in the same cage..too much motion for them. They'll probably hide a lot. I"ve actually heard of some people using cars to introduce 2 strange gerbils. They put them in a cage together and drive around because it scares the crap out of them so much, they won't fight. I wouldn't do it, but I've read it on message boards. So yeah, doesn't sound like a good idea.
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Post by Ritzie/Admin on Jul 25, 2004 5:54:31 GMT -8
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Post by Ritzie/Admin on Jul 25, 2004 6:00:50 GMT -8
It is in my opinion best to leave the gerbils in their tank! Too much transporting is probably stressfull for them, and than the new environment too. And they can be alone for a weekend! Just make sure that they have enough water and food! I do that too! I live in the North of the Netherlands, but most of my family and friends live in the south, so I travel regularly back! My gerbils stay at home! I have transported them sometimes (not all) when I needed to bring them along with to the south. Because someone bought them or for another reason. During the trip by train, they hardly sleep. So afterwards they are exhausted! And on how much gerbils is too many? It is too many if you don't find the time or won't have the money to take care for them anymore! Than less is better! At this moment I have 4 Mongolian gerbils and 11 fat-tailed gerbils. But I have had more! ;D
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cinnycinnamon
Member
Rest In Peace Jack Black 02/17/06 to 05/30/09
Posts: 1,280
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Post by cinnycinnamon on Jul 25, 2004 7:10:57 GMT -8
Hi J and Peter! Your reply makes alot of sense. And you're right........what difference does it make how many gerbs I have? As long as they are being cared for that's all that matters. So I will see about finding a good home for Lucky's two other pups. I forgot to mention that I do screen who's taking my gerbils very carefully to insure that I know that they will be properly taken care of and I also give whoever taking my gerbils a gerbil handbook-kinda like gerbil 101. I had a parent tell me thank you for giving her that handbook cuz she thought it would be same thing as taking care of a guinea pig. Anyhow, I will bring Lucky and her baby home with me and just keep them in the tank they are currently in and I will leave the boys at school. Yeah, I thought about the winter- not a good idea to be transporting gerbs in the cold. I guess the only thing I can do is to just continue to leave the radio on for them during the weekends while nobody is at school like I have been doing. I just feel bad for them cuz they hafta be there all by themselves. And yes, I do make sure they have PLENTY of food and water and toys to play with! I don't want them to become bored. Hehehe! ;D I hope they don't mind hearing talk radio-LOL! Thanx you guys for your knowledgable advice!
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