We all know that good times don’t last long with gerbils. With an average lifespan of anywhere between 2 and 5 – it is really a bit of pot luck sometimes. Actual ‘age’ though, isn’t a sign that they aren’t ‘getting older’ as ‘older’ is more a state of physical wellbeing for a gerbil rather … Read more
So, you noticed your gerbil had their eyes closed while they were out of their burrow – and you have never seen that before. Should you be worried? Well, it depends on a number of factors including their age, their current weight, who they are with, their environment, the weather and whether this was the … Read more
How heavy is your gerbil? Or are you at the other end – wondering if your gerbil is too light? Well, generally an adult female gerbils should be between 50g and 100g; and an adult male usually between 70g – 120g. There are always those odd few who eat too many sunflower seeds and can … Read more
We have all heard the stories about gerbils killing their tank mate and eating them – but this really is just a complete misunderstanding – and a bit of an unwelcome slight to our wonderful gerbil friends. Gerbils really do not kill other gerbils – they can be very territorial – and woe betide any … Read more
This can be a really scary experience if you were there when it happened – or maybe you just came home to a bleeding gerbil and aren’t sure what to do? 1: Call your vets, if possible, to book an appointment – (they will be in pain) 2: Coat your gerbils tail with a fine … Read more
Another Yes/No answer here – as it depends on the context. Yes – gerbils can shed their tail if the tail is pulled, trapped or damaged in some way – but no – they can’t choose to shed their tail. Gerbil keepers are always told not to pick up a gerbil by the tail for … Read more
Unfortunately yes – but not in a nasty way – they aren’t evil (although the outcome can need veterinary appointments). They are just acting out a predictable and essential pattern of behavior. Gerbils usually fight due to what is called a de-clan. Gerbils live in clans – where one gerbil needs to be the overall … Read more
Gerbils are very sociable creatures and generally they live in peace and harmony. Groups or pairs or gerbils living together are called ‘clans’ and they can be anything from 2 gerbils up to many more depending on the circumstances. Gerbils do well in a clan and form strong bonds based on power and respect. However, … Read more
This isn’t the news anyone wants. A gerbil with a scent gland tumour (or SGT) is unfortunately a common sight in gerbil circles; they are annoyingly common in the fancy. A scent gland tumour though, at least, isn’t like other ‘tumours’ and won’t end up spreading and causing health issues elsewhere in the body. That … Read more