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Post by akasha on May 20, 2006 2:08:29 GMT -8
I was just wondering if any of you could give me some advice. I have two Gerbils. One is rather, skinny and the other is a fat little mare. Osiris who is the fat one, has more energy than, well, me! Yet still manages to be fat. Isis is skinny, yet is less energetic. They both live together and I feed them every three days to cut down on selective feeding but because they both live together I cant really cut down on food or anything. They get occasional sunflower seeds but not in their food, just as a little treat now and then when they are out playing etc. Is there anything I can do to trim Osiris down a little? She isnt huge but there is a considerable difference between her and Isis or maybe its Isis that is the problem? Can I bulk her up a bit? Any advice would be much appreciated  |
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caz
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Post by caz on May 20, 2006 2:20:37 GMT -8
What exercise do they get?
Caroline
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Post by ashgerbil on May 20, 2006 2:28:34 GMT -8
i think that gerbils are like humans, they have difference metabolism rates  some gerbils can excercise all day and still be rather chubby, while some gerbils hardly do any excercise (like my Dusty) and don't seem to put on any weight! but i wouldn't worry about it too much  i've seen pics of your gerbs and they look about the right shape and size you can weigh them if you want (females should ideally weigh between 60-100g i think it was), and if she's a little over that, then you can feed her less treats and give her more excercise (ie running around time) but as i say, it doesn't really matter females generally put on a little weight as they get older anyway |
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Post by akasha on May 20, 2006 2:46:19 GMT -8
What exercise do they get? Caroline Like I say, Osiris is a mad cowbagage and runs around everywhere. They do have a ball that they are put in, but not with any particular regularity. Osiris loves it in there and zooms off where as Isis generally tends to sit there and look at me like Im mad! Thank you for your help ashgerbil - I may try weighing them, just for a laugh really and cos I am glutten for punishment! I was wondering if it was just a case of Osiris being a fat bird, bit like her owner really.. |
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Post by pepandmax on May 20, 2006 10:45:27 GMT -8
Some gerbils are just chubby. If she's active and healthy, don't sweat it Here's my fat gerbil:  Ok, so actually he doesn't look like that. This is what he looks like:  Happy, healthy, and over 2.5 yrs old. What a handsome guy, eh? |
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caz
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Post by caz on May 20, 2006 11:25:25 GMT -8
Lol Awww! He's so cuddly!!! Caroline |
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Post by whitmoregirl on May 20, 2006 12:16:48 GMT -8
lol Move over Pep - Pepper's big butt is comin' in!   (where she usually sleeps - j/k )  In her throne of fattiness ;D  How she is now She has lost weight since those first three photos (they were from last year) so she isn't *as* fat (was around 100lb!) but I can give you a few tips on how to slim Osiris a little. Basically, as everyone has already said, gerbils are like people. People hate to exercise if it isn't fun. So make it fun! ^_^ With Pepper, I let her run around my bedroom (it's pretty big) with her sister for half an hour to an hour. I like to sit in the middle of the room and chase them around my legs with my fingers (sounds pathetic but they LOVE it!) I also let them climb over me and explore my jumper (always wearing a scraggy old one  ) buuut with an entire room to explore there are times when I'm just sitting alone! To call them back, I shake the food container and wait for them. They have to hop onto my legs for some food (a pumpkin seed which I don't think has much fat.. not too sure o.0 Anyway its their fave food) and they get put back home to recharge. Sometimes I put them in just to drink and relieve themselves, then they can go off around the room again |
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Post by ashgerbil on May 20, 2006 13:25:07 GMT -8
is there room for one more fatty?? it's unbelievable, he's got a quadruple chin!   full fat (he still weighs 120g )...  when he was 3 months old (and even then, amazingly large  ) hey, look how much he's darkened in colour  ....  lol@ throne of fattiness hehe ;D yes, i agree with whit, letting your gerbils run around your room is a great idea you can also make a sand playground for them ;D haha |
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caz
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Post by caz on May 20, 2006 13:30:43 GMT -8
Hey! - they may be tubby - but they're happy!!! ;D Are they easier to catch?  lol! Caroline |
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Post by ashgerbil on May 20, 2006 13:38:31 GMT -8
Hey! - they may be tubby - but they're happy!!! ;D Are they easier to catch? lol! Caroline yes, because they can only waddle lol J/Ks Ash can be surprisingly fast when he wants to be, faster than Leo infact! but if you've tamed them enough, then you'll be able to scoop em up pretty quick(ish) lol ;D |
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caz
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Post by caz on May 20, 2006 13:44:58 GMT -8
OK, I have to admit, they are ALL pretty (large ) but fabulous gerbils!!!! ;D ;D and their cute'ness is toooooo much lol Caroline |
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Post by whitmoregirl on May 20, 2006 13:59:19 GMT -8
yes, because they can only waddle lol J/Ks Ash can be surprisingly fast when he wants to be, faster than Leo infact! but if you've tamed them enough, then you'll be able to scoop em up pretty quick(ish) lol ;D That's true If Pepper wasn't as tame as she is ... well it'd make life a lot harder She even hops straight out onto my hand  *squishes her* Plus she tries to give me kisses (little nibbles on the hand and face - don't know why she just doesn't try to groom me! - and always wants to come out and be with me |
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Post by akasha on May 21, 2006 1:13:57 GMT -8
Aww thank you guys for all your replies!
You have got some absolutly gorgeous gerbils there! If I didnt have work to do Id spend all day every day just taking pictures of my babies!
Seeing all yours though just makes me want to add to my numbers! Which isnt even possible atm!
Anyway! Thank you for your tips! I shall have to work at making my room a bit more Gerbil proof and Im not convinced they would come to me shaking the food dish! although I suppose if one did make a run for it, I could just leave the food out and at least Osiris would bloody come running! lol
They do get full reign of my bed as well as Osiris gets the ball - I shall just have to put her in that a bit more often when im working and things and see what happens! Maybe she is just destined to be a fatty like her mother...me! lol
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Post by pepandmax on May 21, 2006 17:17:35 GMT -8
Glad to hear that you find the tips helpful (I wish they worked for me, ah alas! Well, at least my other gerbils are normal-to-slim sized). It seems that the fatter gerbils tend to be tamer and calmer, perhaps because they can't move as fast But seriously, there seems to be a correlation. Didn't we have another fat gerbil thread a while back? I seem to remember some serious porkers. Whitmoregirl- Regarding Pepper sleeping in the food bowl... yeah I've caught Pep dozing next to the bowl. Every time he is awake, he is eating. He is the snack king. Seriously. He eats more than I do. Strangely, as his brother Max has gotten older, he is eating less and is quite trim these days. Ash- That's Ash, right? Is he a slate? |
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Post by ashgerbil on May 22, 2006 8:38:40 GMT -8
Ash- That's Ash, right? Is he a slate? yup, he's a slate methinks, although he could also be a black carrying chm, but i think that he is slate (just been going through a dark moult recently) lol yeah, Ash seems to think that every second not spent eating, is a waste of time ;D hehe! sometimes when i clean out the tank, i find a little food store buried in his bed - it's his preciousssss - and of course Leo isn't allowed any of it glad to hear you found the tips helpful |
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i've seen pics of your gerbs and they look about the right shape and size 
) buuut with an entire room to explore there are times when I'm just sitting alone!
) hey, look how much he's darkened in colour 
....
lol!
*squishes her*