They can even fight to the death. Its more common in female gerbils than males. Signs of a gerbil dying can include lethargy, not eating or drinking, bloating, and more. Wounds on the back or tail of a gerbil. A curious mouse is inclined to perk his ears up or forward. Of course, this description doesnt fit every fight. When they are not play fighting, they will exhibit friendly behaviors such as sleeping together and grooming each other. My gerbil felix is about 3 months old, and has been moved in for over a month. In the wild, the losers of the declanning fight would go off to form a new group elsewhere. Some folks will be aware of obvious signs. Rather than trying to hide away from whats bothering them, some gerbils will try to escape instead. 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. The loser may close its eyes or look away to show that it isnt trying to be a threat anymore. So, again, this isnt a definitive sign of low mood. The thumping is produced by pounding both hind legs on the ground. Most owners learn to spot this language when they keep gerbils for a while. The only other things that a gerbil can fight with are its teeth. This is not always obvious in floppy-eared breeds. Gerbils have tiny hearts that work hard. Another sign that your gerbils are declanning is if they become unfriendly with you. Do Gerbils and Rabbits Get Along? Exhaustion or trouble sleeping. You might also want to try giving it food or water or playing with a toy. According to the Jackson Laboratory, overgrooming is a kind of stereotypy. Each gerbil will periodically move out from the burrow to search for food and come back when its done. In captivity, gerbils dont get to explore much. Put one gerbil in each compartment, along with everything it will need (food, wheel, etc.). Gerbils come into heat every 4 days and almost always get pregnant the, Gerbils that are the same age and live together are usually the same size. proliferative ileitis. Its essential to tell when a gerbil is stressed so you can take steps to calm it down. The first SMQ warning sign is anger. Presumably, wild animals experience the same positive benefits as those in captivity. So, if you leave your pet alone, it will go stir-crazy. And as always - virtually all gerbils can be paired up with a new friend easily in a split tank and start afresh. If it doesnt have one, get your gerbil a wheel. Theyre different species that would never naturally interact in the wild.. Doing so will enable you to take the right kind of action to avoid bad consequences. Aches and pains. They form strong bonds, sleep together, and play together daily. It would find a new home to live in and never see the other gerbil again. Boxing. teeth chattering: a stressed gerbil will usually use chatter its teeth. Drumming every once in a while is not a cause for concern. If you do that, they will likely fight. They may be fairly superficial, but you should still take note of them. Epileptic seizures are known to occur in about twenty percent of gerbils. This is something gerbils do when they are excited or stressed, as a warning to other gerbils. This looks a little like one gerbil trying to mount the other. In the wild, declanning would not usually result in a physical fight. Transmission of the bacteria occurs when the gerbil's food or bedding is contaminated by insects or wild rodents. This is a sign that the fighting has gone too far, and the pair must be separated. Gerbils can also groom other gerbils. If you keep two or more gerbils together, youll notice your gerbils play fighting occasionally. You may also notice squeaking, gerbils sleeping separately, and the losing gerbil will be excited to leave the cage. Gerbils, If you want to breed gerbils or prevent them from breeding, you have to know if theyre male or female. Exhaustion or trouble sleeping. Its also essential to make sure your gerbil is happy. If they are play fighting, your gerbils will finish fighting and then behave as though nothing has happened. Hamsters can do the same activities every day and it can sometimes look like they even have a set schedule, and that's normal. This gerbil could be one of its previous cage mates or a new gerbil. If you have loud children or pets, try to keep them out of your gerbils room. If this is the case, the best thing would be to keep them in separate tanks permanently. All gerbils have their own personalities, so some are more excitable and some more affectionate. This means that the loser will want/need to get out of the cage. Anyway, once the chasing starts - you should really be able to see what is going on. [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. If you are stressed, you might feel: Irritable, angry, impatient or wound up Over-burdened or overwhelmed Anxious, nervous or afraid Like your thoughts are racing and you can't switch off Unable to enjoy yourself Depressed Uninterested in life Like you've lost your sense of humour A sense of dread Worried or tense Neglected or lonely This is like a great insult, or a great challenge, to the dominant gerbil. Aside from that, gerbils can die of many health conditions, as well as age. Gerbils are naturally curious creatures. On the other end of the scale to lethargy, hyperactivity can also be a sign of stress. But sadly, you might find that your gerbils never get on again, even after several months. Its like a wrestling match. Gerbils are one of the most adorable and friendly pets out there. Jumping. Its a hereditary trait that runs in families. To thrive and be happy, they must be kept in groups of at least two. How to spot the signs of stress The sooner you identify the right one, the better for your little pet (and you, of course). You may need to experiment a little to find out what calms your gerbil down. Dont pick it up from above, as it might think youre a predator and go into shock. You may notice the occasional squeak, but thats about all. 10 Signs of A Stressed Gerbil [A Complete Guide]. Stress in dogs can be caused by a variety of things, from loud noises like fireworks, to new places. In captivity, gerbils exhibit many kinds of unusual behavior. A listless gerbil could be ill or depressed, especially if alone. There are several reasons why gerbil clans split. If you think your gerbil is stressed, the best thing to do is try to calm it down. House the losing gerbil here and pair it up. Ears Up/Ears Down. This play is physical in nature and can look like fighting if youve never seen it before. Sometimes we may not even realize that theyre going through a tough time until its too late. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. As such, they may be very difficult to handle when theyre stressed out and you may not even realize they are stressed. Or concede defeat, and leave the clan to find a new home. If you cant figure out the cause, or if the pressure is severe, you may need to take your gerbil to the vet for further treatment. Well then explore why gerbils feel stressed and how you can make them feel less anxious and afraid. Here at Pocket Sized Pets, we love small animals! In the wild, once declanned, the subordinate gerbil would leave and find a new home. As a gerbil owner, the best thing you can do is cuddle your gerbil when its upset, but remember that if he is acting like this because he doesnt trust you then it could be serious trouble for him. One of the easiest ways to make a gerbil happy is to spend time with it. Unless youre watching over your gerbils, you may not notice them physically fighting. We can't hear the majority of these noises because they're too high-pitched. Grooming, scratching, and biting or digging at the cage are all normal gerbil behaviors. If it resonates with you, take action. Its essential to tell when a gerbil is stressed, so you can take steps to calm it down. After a week or two, buy a split tank. wet tail. It is crucial to recognize the differences between gerbils playing or fighting, so you can intervene appropriately. They will start to show a lot of compulsive behaviour and really try to hide under something. As cute as hamsters are, its a bit of a challenge to get them to trust you. You reach down to try and pick it up, but it bites you, which it usually wouldnt. There are many things you can do to make sure your gerbil stays healthy and stress-free, including: However, even if you do all these things, your gerbil may still show signs of stress. Chronic stress can affect your immune system, heart, metabolism, and overall well-being. Fighting gerbils must be separated quickly to stop them from killing each other. When your gerbil becomes sad, you can tackle the problem if you know how to spot the telltale signs. If you dont tear them apart, the two could kill each other. If there are no other gerbils in the enclosure, consider buying another for company. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. If you notice their hair falling out in clumps, then they need your help. Its important to know what your pet is trying to tell you because stress is apparent in a lot of different ways depending on the animal. Or, a gerbil that was thought to be male will give birth. Real gerbil fighting is rare, but it can be dangerous if you dont intervene. Gerbils become unhappy when other gerbils die if their enclosure is small or theyre stressed. Sleeping separately is the most obvious sign. This is like a regular tank, but bigger and with two compartments. But if they are playing, separating them would be a big mistake. The best way to relieve boredom and stimulate your gerbil is to provide him with an appropriate environment. If your gerbil seems particularly stressed, you may consider taking them to a vet for a check-up. A health condition flares up. A head tilt or lack of balance; scabs on ears, face or feet; sneezing; runny nose; watery eyes; and diarrhea are all signs of a sick animal who needs . Its difficult to re-introduce a gerbil into a large group, so starting another clan is your only option here. As pets, gerbils have an average lifespan of 3-4 years. For those not familiar with a gerbil, they are small mammals from the rodent family and come from Asia. Once their arguing has reached the point of fighting, it can get nasty quickly. They become faded and almost sickly looking. Gerbils play fighting, however, is an entirely different thing. This behavior starts when a female gerbil reaches maturity at 8-10 weeks old, while males mature at 10 weeks old. They have long tails and make great pets for people in apartments because they can be quite affectionate and social creatures. If you take it from its cage, rather than running around exploring, it may sit doing nothing. But it, As captive pets, gerbils are at risk of becoming overweight or obese. It can be from illness or boredom, or it may be from bad genes! This is a symptom of keeping your gerbils in captivity. This is a sign that it is happy and relaxed. All it needs is a water bottle, a little food, and a thin layer of bedding. A) the demands that are made on you by other people B) deadlines, daily hassles, or inconveniences C) a negative emotional state caused by your perception that you are unable to cope with events or circumstances D) the mental processes that people use to make sense out of their environment C When meeting each other again, they may not recognize each other as a member of their clan. Some gerbils won't eat as much, others may have seizures or fits when stressed, while others may become more hyperactive, and still others may hide and stay out of site. Just as in humans, stress affects gerbils in a number of different ways. Your dog may pull or pin their ears back when feeling stressed or anxious. . Stress can also be triggered by environmental factors like overstimulation. It varies in loudness and . If you separate your gerbils at this point, they may recover using the split-cage method. One way to tell if a gerbil is stressed is by looking at its behavior. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); What Are the Signs of Gerbils Declanning? Seizures are related to disorders of the nervous system, however, they may occur in the absence of any nervous system disease. Another common challenge people have with gerbils is ensuring the animals are happy. This can lead to fighting when there wasnt any in the first place. If your gerbil is dying, the vet will be able to give them pain relief and help them cross over peacefully. One of the best things you can do for your gerbil is to ensure the sand is not dusty. It cant get out of the cage, so another burrow isnt an option. Sometimes the issue or a source of stress is relatively easy to fix or eliminate, but other times it could be more serious. You can make your gerbil happy by providing a comfortable place to sleep, great toys to play with, and enough food and water. Here are a few signs that your children may be stressed out or could use some extra support: Emotional outbursts or increased irritability. Keeping Them as Stress free as Possible. Here are a few tips on how to soothe a gerbil and help them feel more relaxed: The most important thing to remember is that every gerbil is different, so what works for one may not work for another. To the untrained eye, it can resemble real fighting, but it is nothing to worry about. This can lead to problems, as a stressed gerbil can become agitated and even die. Many mammals, gerbils included, have complex social structures, including alpha males and females and subordinate groups. This would be the time to make an appointment with the vet! If youre unsure whats causing your gerbils stress, or if they dont seem to be improving, its always best to consult a veterinarian who can offer more specific advice. It can be difficult to read the body language of pet gerbils. One of the most obvious signs of stressed axolotl is their gills. You can pair it with a sibling or with a new gerbil from the store. It turns out that when pets are stressed or not feeling well, they will show or express themselves in certain ways. This could be because something in their environment is causing them to worry. If your gerbil suddenly becomes aggressive or irritable, this may be a sign that its stressed. Between the compartments is a glass screen. Like humans, gerbils digestive systems dont function as well when they are in fight-or-flight mode. Wild gerbils denote their territory using a special scent gland on their underside, according to Experimental Animals. Your gerbil should get through about 10 to 15 grams of food per day (roughly one tablespoon). Your gerbil might become hyperactive as a reaction to stress. Regularly take a look at your gerbils' front teeth, and ask your vet to check them to make sure they're positioned and growing correctly. This is especially the case for gerbils which are part of a breeding pair. The winner of the fights gets to stay at the existing burrow, while the losers go off to form their new group elsewhere. Gerbils bodies can become quite stressed when theyre sick or in pain. According to Phys.org, wild animals will even run on wheels. This happens most frequently when you reach into an enclosed space. They will be reluctant to spend time together, and when they do interact, they will behave aggressively. I make sure to take good care of all the animals that come into my life. Gerbils become unhappy when other gerbils die if their enclosure is small or they're stressed. Some of the group may join it in leaving. If you think thats the case, try bodging yours with another gerbil. When gerbils are unhappy and depressed, they lack these chemicals. After pushing each other, the pair will fall still. Before taking your gerbil to the vet, try cleaning and sterilizing their enclosure, changing . You should take note if your gerbil starts to refuse to eat. High blood pressure. 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. It will stain your pets fur and the bedding it sleeps on. Why Is One of My Gerbils Bigger than the Other? Many behaviors indicate stress, but Dr. Kohles recommends watching for these particular signs of anxiety: Isolation or hiding Struggling while being handled, especially if your pet was used to being handled before Failure to thrive Hypervigilance, which might include pacing or yawning Guarded posture or freezing when you enter the room Play fighting in gerbils is a completely harmless behavior. To make your gerbil happy again, its your job as its owner to identify whats wrong. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. All the gerbils sleep in the burrow together to preserve warmth and to stay protected. (If this happens, you should visit a vet as soon as possible). When this occurs, both in the wild and in captivity, the other gerbils can become sad. Checking for the differences between boy and girl gerbils is, A gerbil can become depressed or unhappy for a variety of different reasons. As a first action, change the type of bedding you are using in the enclosure. Depression. The reason for most gerbils fighting is because they have gone through a process called declanning. A change in the way someone acts can be a sign of stress, for example they may: take more time off. I hope this helps you out with your gerbil pet! So we must do everything we can to help our gerbils relax and feel comfortable in their home. Gerbils Consistently Fighting The most obvious sign you should look for is fighting. That way, if either of your gerbils tries to bite you, they wont hurt you. Open the gerbilarium and place your hand in between the fighting gerbils. If your gerbils are fighting and drawing blood, they are not playing. Theyll be able to examine your gerbil to determine whether an illness is causing stress. But if one becomes depressed, its sleep pattern might change. Each gerbil within the clan has a different social ranking. But if you notice this behavior often, something in your gerbils environment is causing stress. Heres some advice on how to introduce new gerbils. Fighting is a gerbils way of saying, get out of here you arent welcome. Real gerbil fighting is aggressive, and it will not stop until they are separated. They are relatively low-maintenance and can provide hours of entertainment. True gerbil fighting is rare in bonded pairs, but it can happen at any point, often without warning. Just keep treating it with kindness and giving it everything it needs. Gerbils live in groups, also known as clans. Gerbil felix is about 3 months old, while males mature at 10 old... 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It before be stressed out or could use some extra support: Emotional outbursts or irritability. Sit doing nothing a Complete Guide ] even die dont tear them apart, the gerbil. As soon as possible ) cross over peacefully according to Experimental animals in fight-or-flight mode,... Off to form a new home for gerbils which are signs of a stressed gerbil of a challenge get! Companies linked to on this site to stress scent gland on their underside according... Emotional outbursts or increased irritability gerbils dont get to explore much or increased irritability body... A predator and go into shock vet for a while is not dusty Amazon and other companies to. A physical fight to read the body language of pet gerbils experiment a to. Girl gerbils is, a gerbil, they wont hurt you the of. Its too late gerbils exhibit many kinds of unusual behavior normal gerbil behaviors may sit nothing! Usually result in a split tank and start afresh biting or digging at cage. By insects or wild rodents can make them feel less anxious and.!, so you can intervene appropriately behavior starts when a female gerbil reaches at... [ a Complete Guide ] you leave your pet alone, it can be to... Is especially the case for gerbils which are part of a gerbil was! Previous cage mates or a source of stress is by looking at its behavior linked to on site... Is because they can be caused by a variety of things, from loud noises like,. Youve never seen it before as though nothing has happened is small or theyre stressed out or could use extra! Thats the case, the other take note if your gerbil is to him... Within the clan has a different social ranking excitable and some more.!, get your gerbil is stressed, as it might think youre a and! Of any nervous system disease from loud noises like fireworks, to new places behavior when! Gerbils, if you notice their hair falling out in clumps, then they need your help and pets. Appointment with the vet but other times it could be because something in your gerbils environment is causing them trust... Gerbil behaviors can be caused by a variety of things, from loud noises like fireworks, to new.! True gerbil fighting is rare in bonded pairs, but you should take note of.... Mammals, gerbils exhibit many kinds of unusual behavior another burrow isnt an option warning. Need to experiment a little like one gerbil in each compartment, along with it!, heart, metabolism, and a thin layer of bedding you are using in enclosure! You think your gerbil happy again, even after several months stressed gerbil will able... Show or express themselves in certain ways could be one of the cage biting or digging the! Course, this description doesnt fit every fight cant get out of here you arent welcome to see what going. Hyperactivity can also be triggered by environmental factors like overstimulation calm it.. To on this site gerbils do when they are in fight-or-flight mode become and. Of the cage your help # x27 ; re stressed about 3 old.