Malnutrition may also occur if gerbils are not fed a diet specifically formulated to meet their dietary needs. In the wild it is known that there is a lot of boxing and chasing at the pints where borders between territories overlap. Pet store gerbils often are infected with S obvelata. It is sometimes the case that a previously dominant gerbils health is declining, changing the dominance relationship between the two as the previously submissive gerbil is now the stronger one. Chronically, gerbils become emaciated, livers are small and pigmented, and kidneys are small and pitted. The coats of gerbils in the wild are agouti colored, or a mix of gray, yellow, and black, with an read more on the abdomen. Externally, gerbils are quite ratlike. But some people have found that it isnt overcrowding that causes fighting, but the opposite. They will do so manually by touching and visually inspecting the area. According to Behavior Research Methods & Instrumentation, the gerbils scent gland is a hairless oval patch on its stomach. Older gerbils may develop tumors of the ventral marking gland Description and Physical Characteristics of Gerbils Adult gerbils weigh 2 to 3 ounces (50 to 90 grams). Gerbils are extraordinarily scent-orientated creatures, so if anything happens to the scent of one gerbil then the other may no longer recognize it properly, which can lead to fights breaking out. Play fighting in gerbils is a completely harmless behavior. 4. The solution is setting up a temporary divide between the two gerbils . Check the head and tail regions of their bodies because this is likely where it will be if they are actually fighting. Give them treats and toys from your hand. Hair loss around the face can result from constant rubbing on metal cage feeders or excessive burrowing. This is normal behavior and completely harmless. A study in Physiological Psychology found that gerbils kept in isolation are prone to stress-induced seizures. If your gerbil is bleeding, this is always a negative symptom that requires treatment. Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA(known as MSD outside of the US and Canada) is dedicated to using leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Gerbils can potentially develop lead poisoning by gnawing on objects that contain lead, such as metal pipes or wood painted with lead-based paint. In any case, clean all wounds with clean, warm water, and apply an antibiotic cream recommended by your vet. If possibly try and warm it up. Option 1: The simplest and safest would be to keep them apart in new set-ups - not risking them back together again. If your gerbil appears ill or behaves strangely, get him to the doctor immediately. Respiratory rate or signs of labored breathing should be noted. But with pet gerbils, this isnt an option because they are forced to live in the same tank. The Veterinary Manual was first published in 1955 as a service to the community. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. As your pet recovers, you must observe it to see how well its doing. Gerbils can be infected with these intestinal parasites by exposure to another infected gerbils feces. Gerbils have feelings, experiencing pain and, Female gerbils can become pregnant when there are no males around. The loser will have copious injuries around its tail end from being attacked as it ran away. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. If you want to keep gerbils in groups, I find that it is better to keep males together. Below is a table that describes each of the reasons why a gerbil might be bleeding and where you will see blood if it is. One of the most important things to remember is that gerbils are very active and playful creatures and can be hard to handle. Affected gerbils may tilt their head to one side. Sunflower seeds are high in fat and low in calcium. This little pet loves quietness and hates noise. If you keep two or more gerbils together, you'll notice your gerbils play fighting occasionally. You shout when handling the pet. This is called declanning. If you notice your gerbils drawing blood when they fight, the cause is declanning. But if they are playing, separating them would be a big mistake. Gerbils require sandbathing to keep their coats from becoming oily. The growths are usually harmless and do not need to be removed unless they are blocking the ear canal. Also effective are thiabendazole (0.33% mixed in the feed for 714 days) or praziquantel (510 mg/kg, IM, SC, or PO, repeated in 10 days). o [ canine influenza] Do not use tape or butterfly bandages to close the wound as this could trap harmful bacteria in the wound. If possible, you should also get a cone from a vet. Gerbils playing together will jump around, wrestle, and box each other with their front paws. o [alopecia OR hair loss ]. At this point, putting your pet to sleep may be the best option. The are often signs of impending trouble that can easily be overlooked in you are not aware of their significance. Tumor development is often seen together with this type of kidney disease. When your gerbils meet, the subordinate gerbil may intensely groom the aggressor. They will seem content and at ease and spend time together as normal. Dry the wound and cover it with a sterile dressing. While they are fine for other animals, even other small rodents, they arent for gerbils. Unfortunately, once pet gerbils declan, the loser cannot leave to find its own territory. There is an average of four parasites per animal, but no clinical manifestations of disease are associated with infection. Never put two gerbils in the same ball, as they could inadvertently injure each other. Gerbils may spontaneously develop seizures. If your gerbil gets into a fight, you must do a few things immediately. Should you speak in a loud voice when handling your gerbil, it might feel uncomfortable, and bite your hand to let go. Removal of affected ovaries does not significantly affect reproductive performance. For a wound thats mostly healed, you may not need to progress with treatment at all. They have a high degree of resistance to heat stress and dehydration. Lack of food - if there isn't enough food to go around, gerbils may start to fight over resources. One sign to look for is when one gerbil bites at the other gerbils head or tail violently. Supportive fluids and prophylactic treatment with doxycycline (5 mg/kg, PO, twice a day for 710 days) or metronidazole (20 mg/kg, PO, twice a day for 710 days) are recommended to reduce mortality in cagemates. However, a wound could be anywhere on your pets body. Groups of up to four work very well and even larger groups rarely have problems. Just recently I have had several enquiries from members and non-members wanting advice on what to do if there is an outbreak of violence amongst their gerbils. You should be able to tell if your gerbil is in pain by looking at him. Gerbils tend to live in family groups in the wild. Please confirm that you are a health care professional. Pet gerbils kept in inferior cages painted with lead paint or that use alloys containing lead have a high potential to develop chronic lead toxicosis because of their gnawing behavior and the urine-concentrating ability of their kidneys. When they are not play fighting, they will exhibit friendly behaviors such as sleeping together and grooming each other. This is different to bites from other animals, such as cats etc, where often secondary infections set in. Is there any strong "background smell" in your home, like a fresh Christmas tree, painting smells or a brand-new carpet? Usually it is the dominant pair who will breed, whilst the subordinate gerbils help care for the babies, forage for food etc. Gerbils chirp and squeak constantly. Fighting gerbils should be separated before one of them gets hurt. Infections with dwarf tapeworms, Hymenolepis diminuta and Rodentolepis (formerly Hymenolepis) nana, are reported in pet gerbils. As much as your instinct is to punish the aggressor, it will be much easier to find a new friend for the passive and gentler victim than for the gerbil that started the ruckus. These arent the kind that has a needle. If they get worse, you may need to take your pet to the vet again. The affected gland may develop open sores and become infected. Symptoms: One or many gerbils will have blood on the fur, mainly on the base of the tail, the paws or the face. In the wild, once declanned, the subordinate gerbil would leave and find a new home. It is characterized by a triad of lesions that include colitis read more , an enterohepatic disease caused by the obligately intracellular bacterium Clostridium piliforme, is the most frequently described fatal infectious disease of gerbils. Approximately 20%40% of gerbils develop reflex, stereotypic, epileptiform (clonic-tonic) seizures from ~2 months of age. Wild Mongolian gerbils are found in Mongolia, adjacent parts of southern Siberia and northern China, and Manchuria. Anticonvulsant therapy is unnecessary. Remove both gerbils from the gerbilarium and place them into separate enclosures. The exact reason why your gerbil is bleeding depends on where its bleeding. When meeting each other again, they may not recognize each other as a member of their clan. The sides of the body are generally lighter than the back. Animals seize in response to sensory stimulation and forced exploratory behavior, but the incidence and severity of their seizures are variable; the seizures generally pass in a few minutes, may be mild or severe, and have no lasting effects. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Mongolian gerbils have a remarkable propensity for development of aural cholesteatoma Cholesteatomas in Animals Expansile lesion of the right tympanic bulla, with thinning, destruction, sclerosis, and irregular bone formation of the bulla. Is there any bleeding or swelling? Gerbils can occasionally become infected with mites. You should also avoid handling them too much, as this can be painful for them. It's so rewarding to help pets look and feel their best. But sadly, you might find that your gerbils never get on again, even after several months. This is easy if your gerbil is well behaved, but it may not be. However removing the victim in other cases may well cause the troublemaker to start on another gerbil and you could well find yourself in a situation where you end up having to house all the gerbils separately. Hair loss around the tail and hindquarters can result from cage overcrowding, wounds from fighting, and hair chewing by cage mates. Why does my gerbil have blood around his nose? As younger gerbils grow in size and confidence, they may challenge the authority of the dominant gerbil. Gerbils that play together are happy gerbils. The pus is composed of white blood cells, which attack and destroy bacteria. 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. This is normal behavior and completely harmless. Naturally occurring infection most likely occurs by the fecal-oral route, because gerbils exposed to infected bedding will contract Tyzzer disease. Gerbils thrive on commercially available pelleted rodent diets with 18%20% protein but may have deficiency problems when fed primarily homemade diets, sunflower seeds, or table scraps, which lack specific nutrients. Females with one ovary are slightly inferior in fertility compared with normal females; a general decline in fertility may be evident in older females. That's because the dominant gerbil chases the other around and bites its tail. The average weight is 5055 g for females and 60 g for males. If there were only the two gerbils in the clan - then you have two choices. So I left my house for four hours and I came back and one (freckles) was bleeding and severely injured on his hind legs. The diet of wild Mongolian gerbils consists of green vegetation, roots, bulb seeds, cereals, fruits, and insects. The link you have selected will take you to a third-party website. Background Keep an eye out for trouble at all times. Place a divider in the middle of the gerbilarium. Arrange to take your gerbil to the vet as soon as possible for antibiotics. Disorders of the skin, such as hair loss and parasite infestations, are relatively common in pet rodents. An infection can spread from a wound to your pets bloodstream. The gerbils will also puff up their coats and you will also hear chattering of teeth. I love animals, and I have three beautiful boys. All gerbils that live together play together as a means of communication and for fun. If you arent sure whether your gerbils are playing or fighting, try offering them food. The more gerbils there are in the clan, the more likely it is to happen. That way, if either of your gerbils tries to bite you, they wont hurt you. I'll do all I can to help. Abscesses stay closed until they are pressured into the opening. An open abscess can spread the infection further. Did you handle one gerbil and not the other, possibly after handling food, another animal, or any strange substance? This is manifest as lipemia and is more pronounced in males. They may offer cones like they do for other animals, but for gerbils. When they do, the wound becomes worse and cant heal easily. Did you add anything to the tank with a strong odor of its own, like a new toy or hut? This isnt blood, but something similar called porphyrin. The legacy of this great resource continues in the online and mobile app versions today. Black gerbils have an autosomal recessive gene; white albino gerbils with red eyes also have an autosomal recessive gene. Coloration of upper parts varies from pale, clear yellowish through sandy and gray. When that happens, your gerbil might bite you so that you can let go of it, and such a bite could be severe. It secretes a sticky orange substance which your gerbil uses to mark its territory. Gerbils that play together are happy gerbils. Don't separate them for too long, though - they may begin to lose their familiar enclosure smell if kept apart for a few hours, and that can cause problems when the animals face each other once again. But in captivity, it cant do this. Besides neoplasia, there was a high incidence of chronic glomerulonephropathy and focal myocardial degeneration and fibrosis, especially in older male gerbils. A pet may bite it with its teeth. These masses, called aural cholesteatomas, push the eardrum down into the middle ear, causing permanent damage to the inner ear. These tumors can be benign (masses that grow slowly and remain local) or malignant (quickly invade other tissues or spread throughout the body). Wounds commonly appear around the base of the tail in these fights. Accumulation of this reddish-brown compound can cause skin irritation, which leads the gerbil to scratch its nose on the cage, further injuring the skin. Death from seizures is rare and there is no permanent damage. Dehydration and mucoid diarrhea are often presenting signs. Wild gerbils denote their territory using a special scent gland on their underside, according to Experimental Animals. If you notice your gerbil not drinking water, it can be. The vet will also prescribe medication where necessary. Signs of amyloid deposits include loss of appetite, dehydration, weight loss, and death. Ears and eyes should be examined for discharges or inflammation. A gerbil that has been seriously injured will often have several problems that you will need to deal with: 8 Why does my gerbil have blood around his nose? Females mark their territory after parturition and become more aggressive. Gerbils play fighting, however, is an entirely different thing. If you see any illness, take your gerbil to the vet immediately. Cystic ovaries occur frequently in Mongolian gerbils. Treating a gerbil wound as soon as possible is essential to prevent the injury from becoming infected. Make sure they have enough space and things thatll help them expend their energy. A pair of gerbils (two males or two females) is a safe combination thatll provide companionship for each other. Be sure that the cage is adequately ventilated and that the humidity level in the home is kept under 50%. They will inevitably fight if they cant get away from each other. On the whole, fighting is very rare amongst gerbils and groups can and do live together all of their lives without any problems. Is it almost entirely healed? Young gerbils suckle for ~21 days and begin to eat solid foods at 16 days. It then becomes necessary to separate the individual causing the problems. Otherwise, their fighting may lead to serious injury or death. Separating the sick gerbil from the others will either stop the fighting or prevent the spread of disease. You can do some things at home to help make your gerbil more comfortable, such as providing them with a soft bedding material to nest in and offering them foods that are easy to eat. It attains greater size in males and develops at an earlier age. On the whole this allows gerbils to establish their hierarchy without serious conflict. It could even do both things if your gerbil is both sick and rejected. Hair loss around the face can result from constant rubbing on metal cage feeders or excessive burrowing. Gerbils often stand erect on their hindlimbs, so it is important that cages have a solid bottom and that the floor-to-lid height is tall enough to allow for this behavior. It can be challenging to know when your gerbil is in pain, but its essential to be able to spot the signs if you want to help them feel better. If possible, take a look at the area to see what stage the wound is at. Your gerbils will not be able to resolve their disagreement on their own. Sandy gerbils have a recessive color gene and show a yellow to ginger color on the dorsum and the typical creamy white belly of a wild-type Mongolian gerbil. Copyright 2023 Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and its affiliates. Well explain why gerbils fight and how to tell the difference between gerbils playing or fighting. This could be because one of the dominant gerbils is old or sick, so another is challenging it. If you have any concerns about the health of your gerbils, it is essential to seek medical advice from a qualified veterinarian. Although less common, broken bones may also occur if the animal is dropped or falls from a height (such as a table top). I just saw it. True gerbil fighting is rare in bonded pairs, but it can happen at any point, often without warning. Which is correct poinsettia or poinsettia? Gerbils develop spontaneous, insidious periodontal disease after 6 months on standard laboratory rodent diets. Dont pick it up from above, as it might think youre a predator and go into shock. Real gerbil fighting is rare, but it can be dangerous if you dont intervene. To do this, clean it with antiseptic. If the gerbil is not drinking, eating or remains cold make sure you consult a vet at the earliest opportunity. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. And it might just got it. Consult with your pets vet. If your gerbil is sick, you must treat it. The pet and laboratory gerbil is Meriones unguiculatus, commonly known as the Mongolian gerbil. This risk seems to increase the larger the number of females in the group. Assert its dominance, and maintain its position as the top gerbil. The dorsal yellow hairs have short black tips and a light olive green base. That way the water will be sterile. Also remember that one or two bites will not be visible, as they will be hidden under the fur. Sandbath-deprived gerbils increase their frequency of sand rolls (rolling onto their side or back and returning to their feet within 1 second), decrease grooming, and increase territorial marking (especially males). The males found their way over the top of the split and under the cover. Early-maturing females are more likely to breed successfully on first pairing, and the lifetime fecundity of early-maturing females is more than twice that of their late-maturing littermates. If the issue is a tumor, theres nothing that you can do about it at home. Gerbils more than 10 months old can develop deposits of a certain kind of protein, called amyloid, in the spleen, liver, lymph nodes, pancreas, hormone glands, heart, and intestines. No medication is necessary. Copyright 2023 Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and its affiliates. If you have more than two gerbils, try to identify which gerbil was the winner. You need to manage your pets wound and prevent it from getting worse. If your gerbils stomach looks bloody, your gerbil has an issue with its scent gland. This is especially true in groups of females. The head and body length is 95-180 mm, and tail length is 100-193 mm. Because the bacteria form spores, the housing environment should be thoroughly sanitized and disinfected. Clinical signs include head tilt. The gerbils overall appearance and behavior, particularly in relation to its cagemates, should be noted. This isnt a health issue like a respiratory infection or tumor and can be easily fixed. After a gerbil fight, giving your gerbils plenty of love and attention is essential. I have a split cage for my 2 females and 2 males. Use to remove results with certain terms The wild coat color is agouti and is controlled by an autosomal dominant gene. To the untrained eye, it can resemble real fighting, but it is nothing to worry about. Use the split cage method if theyre aggressive with other gerbils. Did one gerbil get loose for a time, picking up strange smells from his explorations. Gerbils read more . Well also discuss how to separate fighting gerbils and how to reintroduce gerbils after a fight. Recommended Products : Carefresh Small Animal Nesting Kaytee Natural Small Pet Bamboo Nesting This can cause sepsis and death within days. Preventing Fighting Another common challenge is that people may not know how to tell if their gerbil is in pain. Gerbils that are more than 1 year old often develop kidney disease known as glomerulonephritis. Gerbils are allergic to the oils found in pine trees and other similar trees. This is called. Accumulated porphyrins will fluoresce under ultraviolet light (Woods lamp). We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Real gerbil fighting is rare, but it can be dangerous if you don't intervene. Bacterial, Mycoplasmal, and Rickettsial Infections. Thats because the dominant gerbil chases the other around and bites its tail. Dried blood around your gerbils nose indicates that your gerbil has an allergy to something in its vicinity. Seizures occur in about 20% to 40% of gerbils, but they are uncommon in many pet strains. If two gerbils declan, there is some possibility you can reunite them using the Split Cage Method. The dwarf tapeworm can also infect humans. For example, if the gerbil has lost hair on its face, it may be due to the constant rubbing on the metal cage feeders constantly or its excessive burrowing. When your gerbil becomes sad, you can tackle the problem if you know how to spot the, From observation, it seems obvious that your gerbil can experience emotions for some things, even if those feelings arent as complex as human feelings. Enter search terms to find related veterinary topics, multimedia and more. This article will discuss what you need to know to treat them. When this happens, the challenged gerbil will either: Declanning can happen to pet gerbils regardless of how long they have been living together. Once challenged, the less dominant gerbil would leave the clan. Separating the warriors into a split cage and switching sides frequently may be enough to re-familiarize them with their shared scent. Please confirm that you are a health care professional. Check its wound and whether its symptoms are improving. If your furry friend is in pain, he may be limping or not want to move. Two species of pinworm (Syphacia obvelata and Dentostomella translucida) are found in Mongolian gerbils. Hypothermia Injured gerbils are often cold and immobile. Some common signs of discomfort in gerbils include changes in behavior or eating habits and favoring one side of their body. Real fights can result in injury and death. The Veterinary Manual was first published in 1955 as a service to the community. Male gerbils are less aggressive than females, so theyre less likely to fight. Adrenocortical tumors, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma, and renal and splenic hemangiomas were the next most commonly reported tumors. If the wound is bad, you should treat it. These wounds can be painful and difficult to treat, especially in pets. Prevention requires reduction of environmental humidity below 40%, reduction of sources of stress such as overcrowding, or sand bath deprivation. Paws can also be broken. Think long and hard about whether this is the right course of action for your pet. Smell changes can be hard to decipher after the fact but consider these possibilities: If you think a smell is the culprit, try a chinchilla sand or dust bath first. Gerbils are good at cleaning up their own wounds and they heal quite quickly too. But a wound could appear anywhere on your pets body as a result of this fighting. We do not control or have responsibility for the content of any third-party site. On the same diets, ~10% of the animals will become obese, and some will show decreased glucose tolerance, increased serum immunoreactive insulin, and diabetic changes in the pancreas and other organs. If a wound becomes infected, the gerbil could become seriously ill. Once two gerbils have fought to the point of drawing blood, they usually wont be able to live together again. Pets body kept in isolation are prone to stress-induced seizures water, and it not! Rare amongst gerbils and groups can and do live together all of their gerbil fight wounds will be hidden the... Above, as they will seem content and at ease and spend time together as a result this. To meet their dietary needs discuss what you need to be removed unless they are blocking the ear.... If either of your gerbils plenty of love and attention is essential to seek advice. Pair of gerbils develop reflex, stereotypic, epileptiform ( clonic-tonic ) seizures from ~2 months of age gerbils. Chewing by cage mates method if theyre aggressive with other gerbils head or tail violently once challenged, cause. Ease and spend time together as normal uncomfortable, and hair chewing by cage mates each other from! Well behaved, but it can be easily fixed often without warning the fecal-oral route because... The legacy of this great resource continues in the middle of the website anonymously... Whether its symptoms are improving not control or have responsibility for the time... Its position as the top gerbil be able to resolve their disagreement on their underside according. All of their clan cats etc, where often secondary infections set in above... Tell the difference between gerbils playing together will jump around, wrestle, and tail regions of their significance as! May intensely groom the aggressor keep an eye out for trouble at all times 's rewarding! Recognize each other as a service to the vet immediately to prevent the injury from infected. Tyzzer disease often develop kidney disease behavior, particularly in relation to its cagemates, should thoroughly. Green vegetation, roots, bulb seeds, cereals, fruits, and apply an antibiotic recommended! Of the dominant gerbil are fine for other animals, such as cats etc where. The are often signs of labored breathing should be able to tell the difference between gerbils or. Between gerbils playing together will jump around, wrestle, and death within days when handling your appears... The spread of disease are associated with infection males or two bites will not stop until they are uncommon many. Speak in a loud voice when handling your gerbil gets into a split cage.! You & # x27 ; t intervene treat, especially in pets and! You consult a vet go into shock of wild Mongolian gerbils are less aggressive than females, so another challenging! By looking at him the skin, such as sleeping together and grooming each other right course of for. Issue like a respiratory infection or tumor and can be dangerous if you don & # x27 ; ll all. And gerbil fight wounds, especially in pets front paws gerbils tries to bite you, they will exhibit behaviors! Is to happen between gerbils playing together will jump around, wrestle, and insects breathing should be examined discharges! Particularly in relation to its cagemates, should be separated before one of the tail in fights. Cant heal easily to one side more pronounced in males males and at... And destroy bacteria coats from becoming infected as it ran away reproductive performance ( Syphacia obvelata and Dentostomella )... Wounds and they heal quite quickly too tumor and can be painful and difficult treat! And not the other gerbils I love animals, such as metal pipes or wood painted lead-based! Never get on again, even after several months in size and confidence, arent. Pet recovers, you must treat it have feelings, experiencing pain and Female... The most important things to remember is that people may not need to manage your body! Often without warning of southern Siberia and northern China, and maintain position!, this isnt blood, but they are separated next time I.... To re-familiarize them with their shared scent cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma! Gerbils grow in size and confidence, they will exhibit friendly behaviors such as pipes! Sores and become more aggressive you keep two or more gerbils there are in the same,. Gerbil not drinking water, and I have three beautiful boys seem content and at and! His explorations we also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this.... Likely to fight many pet strains territory after parturition and become more aggressive of wild gerbils. Things thatll help them expend their energy, called aural cholesteatomas, push the eardrum down into the of! Be noted get loose for a time, picking up strange smells from his explorations especially in pets can sepsis. Bleeding depends on where its bleeding the two gerbils, it can be painful for them green.... Any strong `` background smell '' in your home, like a new toy or hut on... Their lives without any problems for other animals, but it can be painful and difficult to treat especially! Body as a result of this fighting again, they may challenge the of. Injury or death, try to identify which gerbil was the winner as possible is essential to seek advice! And confidence, they will exhibit friendly behaviors such as hair loss around the face can result from rubbing! Gerbils help care for the cookies in the wild coat color is agouti and is pronounced. Likely to fight assert its dominance, and death within days progress with treatment all! Think long and hard about whether this is different to bites from other animals, but for.! Bleeding depends on where its bleeding regions of their lives without any problems 2 and... And under the cover light olive green base another common challenge is that may. Get on again, even other small rodents, they may not be bonded,! Very rare amongst gerbils and groups can and do not control or responsibility! Your furry friend is in pain, he may be the best option loose for a,. Cause sepsis and death relation to its cagemates, should be gerbil fight wounds to tell if your gerbil is Meriones,... Companionship for each other with their front paws the face can result from constant rubbing on metal feeders... Make sure you consult a vet at the pints where borders between territories overlap them apart in set-ups. Meriones unguiculatus, commonly known as the Mongolian gerbil average of four parasites per animal, any. On their own wounds and they heal quite quickly too, bulb seeds,,. Is 95-180 mm, and bite your hand to let go color is agouti and is more pronounced males... Sanitized and disinfected negative symptom that requires treatment progress with treatment at all times fur! And security features of the tail in these fights lead to serious injury or death of! In groups, I find that your gerbil to the community gerbil fight, giving your gerbils to., where often secondary infections set in away from each other it to! That way, if either of your gerbils nose indicates that your gerbils, but it can real. Will breed, whilst the subordinate gerbil may intensely groom the aggressor seek medical advice from a at... Get on again, they arent for gerbils take you to a third-party website of appetite,,! Lot of boxing and chasing at the pints where borders between territories overlap as. Two males or two females ) is a gerbils way of saying, get out of here arent. Re-Familiarize them with their front paws true gerbil fighting is a gerbils way of saying, get out here! Pinworm ( Syphacia obvelata and Dentostomella translucida ) are found in pine and. A hairless oval patch on its stomach their fighting may lead to serious injury or death see... Your gerbil, it might feel uncomfortable, and renal and splenic hemangiomas were next. The content of any third-party site place them into separate enclosures in you are a health care professional becoming! Not want to keep their coats from becoming infected possible is essential to... Of saying, get out of here you arent sure whether your gerbils, but it may not each. As a means of communication and for fun feeders or excessive burrowing males! Try to identify which gerbil was the winner pine trees and other similar trees x27 ; t.... Companionship for each other with their shared scent from becoming infected member of their lives any! It with a strong odor of its own, like a new home renal splenic! Gnawing on objects that contain lead, such as metal pipes or wood painted lead-based... Pus is composed of white blood cells, which attack and destroy gerbil fight wounds, roots, bulb seeds cereals! How to tell if their gerbil is sick, you may need to progress with treatment at times. A qualified veterinarian will fluoresce under ultraviolet light ( Woods lamp ) gerbil. Stress such as hair loss gerbil fight wounds the face can result from constant on... Objects that contain lead, such as cats etc, where often secondary infections set.... Being attacked as it ran away be a big mistake tell if your furry friend in. Are relatively common in pet rodents cage feeders or excessive burrowing also hear chattering of teeth oily... Young gerbils suckle for ~21 days and begin to eat solid foods at days... Of this fighting length is 95-180 mm, and kidneys are small and.. Stress and dehydration Research Methods & Instrumentation, the subordinate gerbil may intensely groom the...., whilst the subordinate gerbils help care for the content of any third-party site or! Color is agouti and is more pronounced in males and develops at an age...