A gerbil cowering away from the rest of the group. What are the Signs Your Gerbil is Scared? Barry is constructing a hutch for his Himalayan Rabbits. This forces the fighting pair to fight harder. All of these things will make your gerbil feel less alone. If you cant identify any environmental problems, the stress may be illness-related. Signs of Depression Here are some signs that your gerbil may be depressed or verging on depression: Lack of appetite Constantly laying down/doesn't move often Not drinking at least once a day Will not care if picked up and held Is limp and doesn't start getting excited/move a lot when held. To tell the difference, you need to look closely at how your gerbils are behaving. Here are positive indicators to look for: Energy to roam around the cage Grooming Excitement to see you by jumping in the air Sitting on her/his hind legs Gerbils are intelligent animals who will communicate a majority of their needs through non- verbal communication. Its a compound called porphyrin, secreted by a gland situated behind your gerbils eyes. As a first action, change the type of bedding you are using in the enclosure. Some common symptoms of a stressed gerbil include: If you notice any of these signs, taking action quickly is essential. Stress generally refers to two things: the psychological perception of pressure, on the one hand, and the body's response to it, on the other, which involves multiple systems, from metabolism to . It turns out that when pets are stressed or not feeling well, they will show or express themselves in certain ways. This looks a little like one gerbil trying to mount the other. Well also discuss how to separate fighting gerbils and how to reintroduce gerbils after a fight. It may even attempt to bite you or another gerbil if it feels that its territory is being threatened in any way! The dominate gerbil aggressively chasing the other. As soon as you notice that your gerbils have been fighting, remove one of them from the gerbilarium. When talking to your parents, try: Presenting your research about gerbils. Whereas normally, your pet would be happy to see you, now its defensive and nippy. being withdrawn. When a gerbil lives alone, it gets lonely. Hamsters can do the same activities every day and it can sometimes look like they even have a set schedule, and that's normal. Gerbils do not want to come out of their house every time they wake up and feel stressed trying to go get their food and water. Gerbils bodies can become quite stressed when theyre sick or in pain. Some gerbils will have seizures when stressed. There may be various reasons why your gerbil is stressed. He chooses to use a wire floor because it is easier to clean and the wire floor: keep the animal from damaging the bottle. Not all gerbils will have the same signs some will have problems with appetite or get constipated, some may have seizures and become hyperactive whilst some may want to hide all the time. Its more common in female gerbils than males. In the wild, gerbils spend all of their days walking or running around, fighting or playing with other gerbils, digging burrows, and escaping from predators. The winner of the fights gets to stay at the existing burrow, while the losers go off to form their new group elsewhere. The importance of identifying the signs of a stressed gerbil is that you can take steps to help them feel better. When gerbils are frequently thumping their feet on the ground, it could be a sign of stress. This is why you might notice your gerbil pooping on you when you first handle it. There could be an underlying medical issue causing their stress, and treating the problem could help them feel better overall. Gerbils live in groups, also known as clans. Gerbils are tiny, adorable creatures that many like to keep as pets. Some common reasons for boredom include: If your gerbil spends a lot of time chewing or digging at the wall, boredom could be its problem. You can then decide whether to keep your gerbils apart or try to reintroduce them. [Gerbil Tail Slip Prevention Guide], You reach into your pets cage, and one gerbil jumps up for you to reach in and take it out, The losing gerbil spends its time around the edge of the cage, far away from the other gerbils, The losing gerbil eats separately to the rest, The losing gerbil doesnt interact with the others positively. Gerbil mating rituals involve chasing and mounting, and carefully checking their undersides. On the other end of the scale to lethargy, hyperactivity can also be a sign of stress. Theyll be able to identify the illness and take steps to heal your gerbil. They form strong bonds, sleep together, and play together daily. If your pet is in or next to its burrow or is in a corner, it may bite. When your gerbil is stressed out, it will likely develop more anxiety than usual. Your gerbil may also be stressed because of your behavior. It would find a new home to live in and never see the other gerbil again. Real gerbil fighting indicates your gerbils have declanned. If your gerbil is behaving strangely, it might be stressed. If your gerbil suddenly stops eating or starts losing weight, its a sign that something is wrong. If you see any of these signs, try to calm the gerbil down by speaking softly to it and providing a calm environment. It can also be from boredom and being neglected for long periods. If this happens to you, you may. In extreme cases, they may even lick their fur off! Why Do Gerbils Tails Fall Off? These fights will progress into a boxing match. They do so to keep their coat healthy and shiny, stop any wounds from becoming infected, and get rid of parasites. Fortunately, gerbils usually get along well, especially if they were from the same litter or introduced as babies. Gerbils become unhappy when other gerbils die if their enclosure is small or theyre stressed. Other common signs of stress in gerbils include: If you notice any of these signs in your gerbil, its essential to take action to help them relax and feel more comfortable. Your gerbil rubbing its face against the glass of its enclosure. It is forced to stay in the same gerbilarium as the winner. You can help a depressed gerbil to recover by spending time with your pet and showing them affection. Unless you separate your gerbils straight away, declanned gerbils will inevitably fight. 10 Signs of A Stressed Gerbil [A Complete Guide]. It needs bedding, a running wheel, and drinking water like any other enclosure. Nose And Lip Licking, Yawning, Drooling. In the wild, declanning would not usually result in a physical fight. Sweating. You may notice: Disturbed sleep indicates that your gerbils mood or health has changed. If you notice that your gerbils are bullying each other, this could be declanning. Your gerbil digging in the corner of its cage, where there may be no substrate. Declanning causes fights between gerbils. Establishing the reason behind your gerbil being . You must separate your gerbil group. They are good-natured towards humans and appreciate being held and played with. They can also give you tips on your gerbils environment and advise you of changes you can make. When gerbils are stressed, anxious, or scared, they exhibit a behavior called drumming. Its essential to tell when a gerbil is stressed, so you can take steps to calm it down. The only other things that a gerbil can fight with are its teeth. Once your gerbil reaches adulthood, it wont make as many noises anymore. Teeth, nails and coat Gerbils' teeth are always growing, and they'll cause health problems and pain if they grow too long. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. When we arent feeling well we get headaches, body aches, and sometimes even the flu. You can help a depressed gerbil to recover by spending time with your pet and showing them affection. You may notice them running around in circles, but when you look closer youll see that their tails are stuck on the ground or something right behind their backs, hence why they think the room is spinning! This is where they rapidly stomp the ground with their back feet. Your gerbil should get through about 10 to 15 grams of food per day (roughly one tablespoon). But with pet gerbils, this isnt an option because they are forced to live in the same tank. They will seem content and at ease and spend time together as normal. They may constantly try to escape from their gerbilarium or run around in circles. Thats why a gerbil gets so excited when you take it from its cage. Its normal to see some red tears from time to time. Try to provide them with a calm and quiet environment, and avoid handling them too much. This applies both in the wild and in captivity. Aches and pains. If the fighting seems to have subsided, its only a matter of time before it starts again. Strong stress reactions sometimes can be traced to traumatic events. House the losing gerbil here and pair it up. Every gerbil is different. Signs that a gerbil is nearing death include: Loss of appetite Loss of weight Lethargy or decreased activity Difficulty breathing Seizures Abnormal behavior or disposition These signs can indicate that your gerbil is not well and may be suffering, so you have to be aware of them and seek veterinary care as soon as possible. So, its time for you to step in. So, keep your gerbils enclosure away from any items in the home which generate ultrasound. My gerbil felix is about 3 months old, and has been moved in for over a month. Check for the signs of declanning. If youre thinking of adopting new gerbils, you may wonder how many gerbils can be kept in the same cage (gerbilarium). The first SMQ warning sign is anger. It has to stay near the other gerbils it has fought with. When a gerbil is stressed out, it might start to get constipated. Most owners learn to spot this language when they keep gerbils for a while. Its worth trying if you dont have the space or resources to keep a second gerbilarium: After removing the divider, keep a close watch on your gerbils for the first 24 to 48 hours. Put one gerbil in each compartment, along with everything it will need (food, wheel, etc.). It can be difficult to read the body language of pet gerbils. Chest Pain or Discomfort. This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. 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