Question about Blacks.

[j]

I know you can't really tell a gerbil's age by looking at him...

But what about Blacks. If all of a sudden for some reason they seem to be getting some white patches on their BACK, could that mean old age?

As far as I know, he should only be around a year old and lately I'm finding more and more white through his back. He's always had the white on the paws, but everywhere else was black. His 8 month old son doesn't have any white going through his back.

Unless it's an age and molt thing..

[queenofthenile]

My black female just started getting white on her face a few weeks ago. She'll be a year old in December. I think she and her mate are giving each other grey hair (they're the ones that are always pushing each other around).

[sandy2]

In the wild a year IS old age for gerbils. My year-old lilac male is getting some white spots too. Actually, come to think of it, he's 14 months now. Definitely getting middle aged.