GERBIL WEEK: Shout Outs!

Today is the seventh day of the WEEK OF THE GERBIL! ++The last day++

Is everyone ready for some SHOUT OUTS?! I know I am!

Millie and Merille
These two little gerbils belong to my friend Kody. He's had them for around a year and they are quite a handful. They've chewed through many food bowls and water bottles and even the platform and ramp in their old cage....Let's just say now he uses chew proof things. I'm actually gerbil sitting these little girls while Kody is out of town. One of them actually chewed through my boyfriend's shirt pocket in a matter of seconds!

Nutmeg

This is Nutmeg! He is Catherine's 5 month old male gerbil. His favorite food is Cheerios and corn! He loves to roll around in dust baths and chew on toilet paper tubes.

I didn't receive any other shout outs.

Today is the last day of GERBIL WEEK! If anyone wants to suggest animals for the next animal week I will be happy to listen! I will post soon with some hamster related posts! :)) We can't forget about the ham hams!

-Tracy

GERBIL WEEK: Just The Facts....

Today is the sixth day of the WEEK OF THE GERBIL!

It's day six! Let's just get down to the facts........

Gerbils Facts:

1. Gerbils are native to Asia.
2. The gerbil sitting in your room is most likely a Mongolian Gerbil.
3. Gerbils thump their hind legs when concerned to warn other gerbils.
4. There are more than 100 species of gerbils.
5. In his/her life, a gerbil's teeth never stop growing.
6. A male gerbil is called a Hob, a female a Jibb.
7. Baby gerbils are called Kits.
8. Gerbils have scent glands on their stomachs.
9. Gerbils can identify each other through the taste of saliva
10. They are rather social animals.
11. Gerbils are very active.
12. They are extensive burrowers.
13. There are gerbil shows and pageants.
14. Gerbils can be trained to do tricks and run obstacle courses.
15. A gerbil's entire body is covered in fur-even it's tail.
16. They will run, hop, and chase each other around a cage.
17. Gerbils are very curious.
18. in the wild they roll in the dirt to make their fur softer.
19. Gerbils were first brought to the US in 1949 as lab animals.
20. Male gerbils, unlike many other rodents, help the mother raise the young.

Tomorrow is the last day of the WEEK OF THE GERBIL! I will be doing a GERBIL SHOUT OUT! If you want your gerbil shown, please send me a picture of him/her with their name, sex, and their hobbies and I will feature it! :)) Pictures can be sent to my facebook page or e-mail. winryyuzu@yahoo.com.

-Tracy

GERBIL WEEK: Accessories!

Today is the fifth day of the WEEK OF THE GERBIL!

For a gerbil to be healthy he/she needs many things. Food, water, bedding. But for a gerbil to be happy, they need other things. These are things for your gerbil that are fun, but not completely necessary.

Gerbil Accessories:

• Running Ball: Gerbils love to run, so consider getting them an exercise ball. Some gerbils will even follow you around! (I recommend putting a small piece of tape on the lid to hold it on better. Just to be safe.) Make sure to supervise your gerbil while there out in their ball and block off any stairs! Also keep other animals away from them.
• House: Who doesn't like a place to hide sometimes? I would recommend a ceramic or wooden home because they are harder for your gerbil to chew up.
• Hay Boxes: Gerbils love hay. Gerbils love boxes. Pet stores sell timothy hay in small boxes that gerbils can chew up and eat. They love these. You can also make them yourself.
• Chew Things: You can buy many chew treats for gerbils such as chew sticks, edible houses, handing toys, etc. But you can also give them toilet paper and paper towel rolls, empty cereal boxes and mac and cheese boxes. They love chewing and tearing these up!
• Treats: You can buy many treats for your gerbils. You can also give them some fresh fruits and vegetables. Treats should not consist of more than 10% of their diet.
• Baths: Gerbils enjoy sand baths once in a while! Not only do sand baths make your furry pet super soft, they are also fun to watch! You will need bath sand and a bath house or small bowl. Simply place the sand in the house/bowl and let your gerbil dig and roll around! It's actually really cute. Just remember you should never bathe a gerbil with water.

There are other things you can get for your gerbil, you just gotta be smart and keep an eye out! Later guys.

-Tracy

GERBIL WEEK: Must Haves!

Today is the fourth day of the WEEK OF THE GERBIL!

We love our furry little friends and we all want them to be healthy. But what do they need to be healthy? This blog has all of the things that are completely necessary to your gerbils' health.

Gerbil Must Haves!
To properly care for your gerbils you will need these things!

• Cage/Habitat: Gerbils seems similar to hamsters right? Can't I put a gerbil in a hamster cage? NO. Hamster and mouse cages are not gerbil friendly. Gerbils chew much more than hamsters and mice and are more likely to completely destroy a cage designed with hamsters and mice in mind. They also need to create their own tunnels instead of playing in human made plastic tunnels that they will chew to pieces. Your best bet for a gerbil cage is to get a tank (around 10 gallons) and put a wire high rise on top of it. You can fill the bottom of the cage with bedding for burrowing and place food, water and a wheel at the top on the high rise. There are also specially designed gerbil cages you can buy. Just make sure the cage is roomy and chew proof. You will need to put a large amount of bedding in your cage. (If using a tank with a high rise, it is a good idea to fill the tank at least half way with bedding for them to burrow and make tunnels in.) Aspen wood and paper bedding work best.
• Food: Gerbils gotta eat! Feed them gerbil food! You can purchase gerbil food at almost any pet store. The best is a mixture of seeds and pellets. They should get fresh gerbil food every day. You can also feed them Timothy Hay, Millet Snips, Wood Chews, certain fresh fruits, certain fresh vegetables, and a variety of treats.
• Food Bowl and Water Bottle:  I would recommend a small ceramic bowl for your gerbil's food. Ceramic bowls are chew proof and are heavy so they won't be turned over easily. Gerbils should be given fresh water daily and it should be offered from a water bottle, never a bowl. Gerbils should never get wet or be allowed to drink dirty water and a bowl of water will make both of these possible. Glass, chew proof bottles work best.
• Running Wheel/flying saucer: Since gerbils have a lot of energy to burn they need a wheel to run on. The wheel should not have openings as the gerbil can get his/her tail and feet caught in it. Chew proof wheels are available, though a bit harder to find and often more pricey, but they are worth it.
• House: Chew proof houses can be purchased for little hide outs. They are often made of ceramic. Wooden houses work well too, though not entirely chew proof. The house should be big enough to allow each gerbil (if keeping more than one) to fit in comfortably together.

This is everything your gerbil absolutely needs in order to be happy and healthy! Next post will be about things your gerbils wants!

-Tracy

GERBIL WEEK: Gerbilarium

Today is the third day of the WEEK OF THE GERBIL!

Gerbilarium:
A gerbilarium is a cage where a gerbil lives. A simple meaning for a big word!

So what kind of gerbilarium is best? That's a hard thing to say. It depends on your's and your gerbils' preferences. There are many types to choose from, but keep in mind, you should never use a hamster or mouse cage.

What Should My Gerbilarium Have?
Your gerbilarium will need the following:

• To be escape proof and chew proof.
• High walls to hold a lot of bedding.
• Multiple levels
• A water bottle
• A food bowl
• A running wheel
• Bedding
• Food and chew treats

You can add little houses and other things, but they are not necessary as you should have a lot of bedding in the cage for your gerbils to nest in.

Aquarium With High Rise: In my opinion, this is probably the best gerbil set up you can have. This is a 10 gallon aquarium with a high rise. The tank is inexpensive and the high rises can range in price from $30 and up. For this set up, I would recommend filling the tank about 2/3 the way with bedding. Their food bowl, water bottle and running wheel can go in the high rise at the top. In this particular model, the platforms can be moved, so if you wanted, you could make one large platform and take out the smaller ramp. This set up is also very easy to clean, and because all of the bedding in held in the bottom tank, they won't be able to kick a lot of it out and get your floor all messy. Since gerbils love to both burrow and climb, this is an ideal gerbilarium. I highly recommend it, as my friend has one and his gerbils seem happy and healthy.

Gerbilarium High Rise: Gerbilariums such as these are becoming more popular lately. They are still a bit hard to find, but you can order them online.These habitats are designed with gerbils in mind. They are actually very similar to the tank/high rise set up previously mentioned. As you can see, these cages are fairly large and lave a bottom for holding large amounts of bedding. the ramp leads to the top area where there are platforms and a bridge. Their food, water bottle, and running wheel can be placed up here. The ramp and platforms are made of wire so they are chew proof. This set up is easy to clean, though they may be a bit on the expensive side. Multiple same sex gerbils can be house together and this set up is highly recommended.

Home Made Gerbilarium: People make home made gerbils cages all the time! They are often very cheap to make and can be built however the owner wants. People often add shelves to aquariums or add high rises to them using parts from other small animal cages, bird cages, chicken wire and untreated wood. These cages are great for the builder on a budget as they are typically inexpensive, but ease of cleaning is up to the builder and how he/she builds it.  If you build your own gerbilarium make sure it is escape proof and chew proof and no harm can come to the gerbil from living in it.

Aquarium With High Rise: This gerbilarium is more or less the same thing as the very first one i talked about except for one, very important detail: It is plastic instead of all wire. Gerbils are chewing machines! They will chew anything and everything. This is a very nice set up, but I honestly think a pair of gerbils would chew through the plastic ramps, platforms, house, and water bottle in a matter of months if not weeks. I've seen some very rise high rises with tubes instead of ramps, but they too are plastic, and can be chewed very easily. I've witnessed first hand how fast a pair of gerbils can chew through a cage with plastic ramps and platforms. Honestly, I wouldn't recommend this set up, unless you have the money to replace it every few months.

There are so many choices! It can be hard to choose, but hopefully this helps! Until tomorrow guys!

-Tracy

GERBIL WEEK: Body Language

Today is the second day of the WEEK OF THE GERBIL!

Ever wonder what your gerbil is thinking? Ever wonder why he/she is doing that? Of course you have! And that's why I'm here!

Body Language

Most animal communicate with each other through body language. This means that instead of talking to each other, they move their bodies in a certain way to let others know what they want to say. This doesn't mean that some animals don't communicate through sounds, as many do, but body language seems to be the preferred choice of communication for many animals around the globe. People even use body language. Remember when your mom would cross her arms at you? You knew she wasn't happy. Ever see someone sitting in a chair tapping their foot? They look bored don't they. These are examples of body language in humans.

Gerbil Body Language
Gerbils are no exception to this animal kingdom phenomenon called "body language.

• The Kiss: If you have two gerbils living together you've most likely noticed them "kissing"! You know, one gerbil will run up to the other and touch her mouth to hers. It's a kiss right?! No, not quite. Gerbils are able to recognize each other by the taste of their saliva. So, when your gerbils "kiss" they are just saying "Hello! It's me. What's going on?"
• Tense Meerkating: Meerkating isn't an actual term. You know when a gerbil (or hamster, rat, any small animal really) stands up on their back legs, holding his/her front paws together and looks around? I call that "Meerkating". If you see your gerbil stand up tall like this he or she is on alert! A noise, movement, smell, or something has caused concern and they are looking out for danger. Their little body will be tense and ready to run and hide under cover, as well as alert other gerbils.
• Curious Meerkating: Meerkatting is not always a sign of worry. If your gerbil stands up tall on it's hind legs with it's front paws hanging loosely in front of his/her chest, then they are simply being curious! Small animals are, by nature, very curious little creatures. A curious gerbil will stand up and look around, while a frightened gerbil will stand completely still. Curious meerkating just means your gerbil wants to know what's going on!
• Bath Time: Many small animals bathe themselves when they are nervous. This is not so much the case with a gerbil. When your gerbil stops to wash it's face, tail, sides, and stomach, he/she is most likely in a good mood! He/she is relaxed, content and feeling safe.
• Thumping: Your gerbils may thump his/her hind legs rhythmically. This means he/she is scared. Something has started him/her and he/she is letting other gerbils know there is danger. What could scare a gerbil into thumping? A sudden movement by a human, a loud noise, a shadow on the wall, another animal getting too close. There are many reasons, including desire to mate, though the rhythm to this thumping is different.
• See My Tummy?: When your gerbil rolls on it's back in front of the other one to expose his/her tummy, it is a submissive posture. In gerbil language it's kind of like saying "Hey I trust you, lead the way." It's also an odd way of asking the other gerbil to groom him/her. Grooming is also asked for by pushing the nose under the other gerbil's mouth.
• The Black Cat: On Halloween we've all seen pictures of black cats standing with their backs arched and their fur puffed up, but why is my gerbil doing it? And why are the two of them pushing their faces into one another's? This means your gerbils are very irritated and ready to fight. You may need to separate them if fighting does occur, so have another cage ready.
• Endless Digging: There's no doubt that you've seen your gerbils digging in the corner of the tank or cage. Captive gerbils often do this. They claw and scratch furiously at the corner of the tank due to a natural instinct. In the wild, if a gerbil who is burrowing hits a dead end they just keep digging! This is because their dead end may be a rock or hard dirt that may shift of soften. Many people worry that their furry little friend is trying to escape, but don't worry. If you look closely, your gerbil probably doesn't look unhappy or frustrated, so there is nothing to worry about!
• Purring: Some gerbils can purr! It's not your loud purring, like from a cat. You actually can't hear it. But if your gerbil is sitting in your hand and starts vibrating, then he/she is purring! For a gerbil to purr in your hands is a big deal. This means he/she trusts you and is very happy.
• Lick! Lick!: If your gerbil starts licking the glass wall of the tank or other smooth surfaces he/she is thirsty! Check their bottle for fresh water and clogs. Gerbils lick smooth surfaces to try and find moisture.

Well everyone! Now that you all think like a gerbil, I will catch you tomorrow with my next Gerbil Week post!

-Tracy

HAPPY GERBIL WEEK!

Today is the first day of the WEEK OF THE GERBIL!

Anyone who has ever cared for or watched a gerbil knows how cute they are! They borrow, they chew, they chase each other around. Adorable. But what is a gerbil?

The Mighty Gerbil!
Gerbils are mammals from the rodent family. Many people say if a mouse and a hamster could mate and produce a living young, the gerbil would be the hybrid! This is no doubt due to their hamster-like cuteness and body structure and mouse-like tail and feet. Many years ago, gerbils were known as "Desert Rats." Gerbils today, are a gentle yet hardy animal that is very popular as a pet.

A gerbil is usually around 12 inches long-The tail counting for at least half of it's boys length. The average adult gerbil weighs in at about 2.5 ounces (70 grams). The furry little creatures are diurnal, meaning they are most active during the day. (A big difference when you think about hamsters who are crepuscular: active in mornings and evenings) Gerbils live around 4-5 years.

Gerbils prefer to live in same sex pairs, and due to their social nature can grow to love their human caregivers very much. This, coupled with the fact that they rarely bite (unless threatened) makes them excellent pets for children. Gerbils have also adapted to captivity over the decades. Their bodies actually require less water-meaning they have to urinate less-meaning their cage won't get dirty very fast! Also, they have adapted their urine to be almost odorless (to people anyway) so their cage won't stink! They do have scent glands on their stomachs, though we humans would be hard pressed to smell those too. But gerbils can sometimes be seen rubbing their tummies on things and each other!

Like other rodents, a gerbil's teeth never stop growing. Give him/her chew sticks so he/she can wear them down. Gerbils, though they keep themselves clean, love a dust bath once in a while. It will make their fur soft and it's fun to watch them dig and roll in the sand!

These little creatures are also very active. Multi-level habitats are ideal. Make sure to give them an exercise wheel. If you want, you can also put them in an exercise ball and let them roll around the house!

So after reading this, don't you understand why I've dedicated a week to these adorable little creatures?! There a handful of fun! I'll post tomorrow guys!

-Tracy

Week Of The Gerbil Announcement!

So I decided it would be pretty fun and neat to dedicate a week to different small animals. I would like to do this every year. Like in January I will have a Chinchilla week, May a Rabbit week, September a hamster week, and so on for all small animals kept as pets. Then the next year I will do it all again just at different times! Does it sound cool? In each week I will post at various times about the lovely little creatures that are being featured in that particular week. Care, housing options, food choices, activities, characteristics, photos and shout outs! Right now Hamster Talk! is small, so I won't have many shout outs but I will do the best with what I have! :))

With that said, I am proud to announce that next week is GERBIL WEEK!
I decided to start with gerbils since I am watching my friend's two gerbils while he is out of town. Next week will be dedicated to the furry little chewing monsters!

If you have a gerbil or suggestions:
If you have a gerbil send me a picture of them with their name, sex, and a description of their favorite food or activity and I will feature them on Hamster Talk! you can send these to me on my Facebook page in a message or to my email. (winryyuzu@yahoo.com) If you have any suggestions of things you would like to see in GERBIL WEEK please let me know!

I kook forward to hearing from everyone and celebrating gerbils with you all! And remember: WEEK OF THE GERBIL starts Sunday the 16th and ends Saturday the 22nd!

-Tracy

Gerbil: Mindless-Chewing-Machine? Or Awesome Pet?

In my previous post I introduced you to my friend's gerbils who I am taking care of for a couple weeks while he goes out of state. I also promised a post about gerbil care. Here it is! :))

What Is A Gerbil?
A gerbil is a hamster with a tail! Just kidding. Gerbils are rodents. They have relatively short fur that varies in colors and patterns. Gerbils can be either crepuscular or nocturnal. Their body is usually 5-6 inches, 12, including the tail. They typically live around 4-5 years and are a rather hardy pet. The average adult gerbil weighs around 2.5 ounces. The thing that most sets them apart from hamsters is their tails! Gerbils have long, fur covered tails which most people either adore, or are disgusted by.

Gerbils are curious little creatures that will chew anything and everything they can get their teeth on! They are very active and love to run on a wheel and dig through bedding. They are also rather smart little creatures. Gerbils can be trained to do tricks and run obstacle courses. They are best kept in same sex pairs. (Never keep a male and female gerbil together as they are ridiculously fast breeders)

Many people think gerbils are dirty creatures. But there actually very clean! They do not have an odor and their urine does not smell. They are very good at keeping their fur cleaned as well. If kept in same sex pairs, you will probably notice them grooming each other!

There are even Gerbil Shows! You know....Like Dog Shows? People raise and enter gerbils in these shows to show the world just how amazing their furry little friends are! Sounds awesome right?

Is a Gerbil the right pet for me?
There are many questions to answer before you decide to adopt a Gerbil!
*Do you live in a rent house or an apartment where you have a landlord? If so, check with them first to make sure small animals are allowed in your home. There may be a security deposit and/or additional rent required. Make sure your budget will allow for this.
*Do you have time in your schedule to properly care for this little bundle of joy? Do you have room in your budget for all of it's expenses?*Do you have a safe area in your home for a roomy cage?*Do you have any other pets or small children that may harm or scare the gerbil?
*It is illegal to own gerbils in some states and countries due to their quick reproducing rate. Make sure you do not live where it is illegal to own a gerbil before getting one!


Gerbil Must Haves!
Gerbils are very popular little pets! To properly care for a Gerbil, you will need these things!

Cage/Habitat: Gerbils seems similar to hamsters right? Can't I put a gerbil in a hamster cage? NO. Hamster and mouse cages are not gerbil friendly. Gerbils chew much more than hamsters and mice and are more likely to completely destroy a cage designed with hamsters and mice in mind. They also need to create their own tunnels instead of playing in human made plastic tunnels that they will chew to pieces. Your best bet for a gerbil cage is to get a tank (around 10 gallons) and put a wire high rise on top of it. You can fill the bottom of the cage with bedding for burrowing and place food, water and a wheel at the top on the high rise. There are also specially designed gerbil cages you can buy. Just make sure the cage is roomy and chew proof. You will need to put a large amount of bedding in your cage. (If using a tank with a high rise, it is a good idea to fill the tank at least half way with bedding for them to burrow and make tunnels in.) Aspen wood and paper bedding work best.

Food: Gerbils gotta eat! Feed them gerbil food! You can purchase gerbil food at almost any pet store. The best is a mixture of seeds and pellets. They should get fresh gerbil food every day. You can also feed them Timothy Hay, Millet Snips, Wood Chews, certain fresh fruits, certain fresh vegetables, and a variety of treats.

Food Bowl and Water Bottle:  I would recommend a small ceramic bowl for your gerbil's food. Ceramic bowls are chew proof and are heavy so they won't be turned over easily. Gerbils should be given fresh water daily and it should be offered from a water bottle, never a bowl. Gerbils should never get wet or be allowed to drink dirty water and a bowl of water will make both of these possible. Glass, chew proof bottles work best.

Running Wheel/flying saucer: Since gerbils have a lot of energy to burn they need a wheel to run on. The wheel should not have openings as the gerbil can get his/her tail and feet caught in it. Chew proof wheels are available, though a bit harder to find and often more pricey, but they are worth it.

House: Chew proof houses can be purchased for little hide outs. They are often made of ceramic. Wooden houses work well too, though not entirely chew proof. The house should be big enough to allow each gerbil (if keeping more than one) to fit in comfortably together.

Baths: Gerbils enjoy sand baths once in a while! Not only do sand baths make your furry pet super soft, they are also fun to watch! You will need bath sand and a bath house or small bowl. Simply place the sand in the house/bowl and let your gerbil dig and roll around! It's actually really cute. Just remember you should never bathe a gerbil with water.

In a nutshell, gerbils are hardy pets that aren't that hard to take care of. They make wonderful companions and are smart to boot! So the next time your considering adding a new member to the family, think of the gerbils! Later guys!

-Tracy

A Gerbil Tail!

How is everyone doing? Fighting off the heat? Me too. Anyways! Guess what! I am gerbil-sitting for a friend of mine! He is going to be out of state for a bit and asked me to care for his little mindless-chewing-machines!

He brought them over last night. The two seemed a little nervous at first (as gerbils often do) but quickly settled in. Sasha has already smelled them and isn't too happy with us right now. But she will be ok. It's only for a couple weeks.

Meet The Gerbils!

These two female gerbils both have drastically different fur patterns. One is black with white spots, the other solid brown. Their names are Millie and Merrill. Their hobbies consist of chewing, eating, chasing each other, and....More chewing.

Anyone who has ever owned a gerbil or even spent some time watching one run around and play has probably noticed how jumpy they are. Almost every noise or movement they see that isn't their own they stand up on their hind legs, and stay very still while looking around. It's kind of hilarious to watch, but I mean, it is only instinct. Hey, if you were five inches tall wouldn't you be a bit paranoid?

The gerbils are a lot of fun though and soon I will post a blog on proper gerbil care for any readers who are looking into gerbil adoption! So until then guys! Later!

-Tracy