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Post by hoodedfurball on Jul 26, 2005 9:42:33 GMT -8
alright.. I joined this board before because I was interested in getting some gerbils, but decided against it for now, because their so illegal in my area (not that that really makes a difference, so many people still have them...) and that I have many other rodents at the moment. Well, someone abandoned a pair at the store where I work, and our policy is to hand over illegal animals, but the manager on duty didnt want to see them put down... so she took them. We could all get in HUGE trouble for this, but we would both hate to see them put to sleep because someone got them and doesnt want to take care of them! She doesnt know if she can keep them permenently, so I may take them for her (she has more rodents then I do, she's a big softy for abuse cases, which we unfortunently end up the aftermath with in our line of work...)
So first off, whats a good sized tank for 2 gerbils? I dont have much room at the moment (will have to move everyone around). they were left in an itty bitty cage i wouldnt leave my hamster in.. so thats not gunna work. Then secondly, one has a head tilt. We dont know if he's sick, for dropped, if its from a past thing, or what! We're gunna try to find a vet in our area who will work with us, (many vets around here work with ferrets,w hich are also illegal) if not, I may drive to Reno and have him seen. Does anyone have any suggestions for any GOOD vets in Reno? preferably affordable.... heh....
and whats a good food/brand/mix whatever for gerbs? how often should they be dusted? and how do you tell the gender?
Sorry for all the questions, and any help is appreciated.
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Post by RyanF on Jul 26, 2005 9:58:17 GMT -8
Tank size: 15 gallons is a very nice space but 10 gallons is ok if you are really crammed. Tilted head: Either he has an ear infection or had one in the past. As Doomgerbiluk, she would know. Food: Any gerbil/hamster food you find in the store is good, it can be "8 in 1", "Kaytee" or other brands. Gender: petermaas.nl/gerbils/english.htm << in the contents, click on the link "Sexing Gerbils".  |
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Post by doomgerbiluk on Jul 26, 2005 10:39:42 GMT -8
Head tilts are nearly always due to infection in the ear affecting the balance organs. Gerbils get polyps in their ears which cause no problem but if an infection forms behind the polyps it can be very serious. A course of antibiotics such as baytril or marbocyl (in my area baytril is losing its effectiveness and vets are turning to marbocyl as an alternative).
It is vital this get treated as untreated it will kill a gerbil. Problem is you have no way of knowing if this animal has been treated (but my bet is hes been abandoned because he is ill). The head tilt remains permanently but gerbils adapt quickly and he will be fine like that.
Gerbils are illegal in some areas for good reason, in these areas gerbils, if released into the wild, could cause devastation to local animal populations that occupy the niche gerbils would fit into. Are banned animals automatically pts? Could they be shipped to an area where they are legal? Think very carefully before doing anything illegal.
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Post by hoodedfurball on Jul 26, 2005 10:40:26 GMT -8
thank you so much! I knwo everyone has their preferences in food, Id hate to buy something and everyone freak out liek they did on the hamster forum.. (you feed WHAT?!?! XP)
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Post by doomgerbiluk on Jul 26, 2005 10:43:43 GMT -8
lol
I will always make recommendations and tell you what I prefer but I also accept that what you feed depends on your budget, what is available where you are, whether you have transport etc etc.
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Post by hoodedfurball on Jul 26, 2005 10:54:09 GMT -8
Thats awsome of you... I work in a petshop, So I have acsess to many foods, and I do have transportation... and I make my hamster and rat food from scratch!  |
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Post by doomgerbiluk on Jul 26, 2005 14:00:09 GMT -8
lol@awsome well at least where you work you should be able to get a discount One thing, gerbils need less protein and fat than hammies. The easiest way to compensate is mix some oats into the feed. Also don't overfeed (aroudn 10g a day is good) If you overfeed they will pick out their faves and leave the rest, which means they no longer get a blanced diet. Bit like us aren't they? Sexing is usually easy, gerbils are 'well endowed' so amle gerbils have two large 'bulges' under their tail, not as obvious as rats but pretty noticeable. Of course some develop at slower rates than others so mistakes can be made with pups!!! Sand baths (not dust please) can be given as frequently as you wish, gerbils love sand. so daily, weekly, it's all fine Although dust is not suitable stains can be partially removed by rubbing talc in the fur and brushing out. I always let mine sand bath afterwards and only do this for showing. |
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Post by hoodedfurball on Jul 27, 2005 10:32:29 GMT -8
thank you so much! have been telling my boss, who still has them, all the info. |
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Post by kansascitykennel on Aug 11, 2005 11:32:06 GMT -8
Newbie question, why not use the dust? Is it toxic to them? Or is it a preference of the breeders?
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Post by sorchajude on Aug 12, 2005 3:29:16 GMT -8
i dient know they could be illegal . why is that ?  |
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Post by kansascitykennel on Aug 12, 2005 9:01:29 GMT -8
i dient know they could be illegal . why is that ? In California they are illegal because if let loose they could devistate the current ecological environment by endangering the natural rodent wildlife by taking their food sourse and their place as a food source for preditors. Kathy |
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Post by sandy on Aug 12, 2005 21:45:01 GMT -8
I use chinchilla dust but not all the time, not even every day, for very short periods. Just long enough for a bath and then the gerbils go back into their regular tank. I have a seperate tank set up with chinchilla dust, just for bathing and as a holding tank for when I am cleaning bedding out.
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Post by kansascitykennel on Aug 15, 2005 11:04:05 GMT -8
I use chinchilla dust but not all the time, not even every day, for very short periods. Just long enough for a bath and then the gerbils go back into their regular tank. I have a seperate tank set up with chinchilla dust, just for bathing and as a holding tank for when I am cleaning bedding out. Now that is the Dust and not sand?  Everyone tells me I am doing bad using dust and not sand but have no clue as to why. So you are saying I am fine with the dust? Mine get baths every other day. Their coats have improved nicely from how they were when I got them ;D |
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Post by sandy on Aug 15, 2005 22:25:38 GMT -8
Yes, the dust. I can't seem to find the sand here, and it hasn't seemed to harm them in any way. But I don't leave them in it for extended periods of time, either.
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Post by crazycritter on Aug 22, 2005 11:03:39 GMT -8
I live in a Province where rats are illegal, and nobody has cared enough to tell on me. That said, my friend had her rats pried out of her arms and put to sleep in her friends apartment, in front of her. She was living on the streets though, and pulled them around in a big kennel on a wagon, so all of the cops around the area new about them. Then one day, one of them cared enough to file a report  It was so sad, those were the happiest, nicest rats I knew. Just be careful, and don't let em go, and you should be fine. haha. You sound like you appreciate the "danger" and will be careful, so good luck! |
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Everyone tells me I am doing bad using dust and not sand but have no clue as to why. So you are saying I am fine with the dust? Mine get baths every other day. Their coats have improved nicely from how they were when I got them ;D
It was so sad, those were the happiest, nicest rats I knew.