Hamster Talk Is Moving!

It is with great regret and excitement that I announce that I'm moving! My blog will now be Tumblr as I can customize it more. Please continue to follow myself as well as Isaac, Espurr, and Pudding. Sorry for any inconvenience.

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Tanks VS. Cages

DING DING GO!There is a HUGE debate about rather glass tanks or wire cages are better for hamsters. Below I will list some pro’s and con’s and let you decide for yourself!

GLASS TANK 

Pro’s                                     
-Simple to clean
-No assembly required
-Affordable
-Harder to escape from
-Chew proof
-No bedding/mess can fall out
-Many sizes available
-Easy to fit things in
CON’S
-Heavy/hard to move
-Hard to expand
-Will break if dropped
-Not visually appealing by itself
-Some hamsters fear hands above them
-Have to buy parts to attach things to glass walls
-Free standing wheel may tilt/fall over

WIRED CAGEPRO’S
-Fun and colorful design
-Many options to chose from
-Easy to expand
-Tubes to satisfy borrowing needs
-Some come with accessories
-Climbing opportunities
-Easy access to your hamster
-Can attach things to wire walls
Con’s-Heavy/hard to move
-Hard to expand
-Will break if dropped
-Not visually appealing by itself
-Some hamsters fear hands above them
-Have to buy parts to attach things to glass walls
-Free standing wheel may tilt/fall over
-Complicated assembly/cleaning
-Expensive
-Hamster may be able to escape
-Hamster can chew/get stuck on bars/plastic parts
-Bedding/mess can fall through wires
-Replacement parts may not be available
-Hamster may reach/chew things outside cage

I did a lot of digging and asking. I must of visited over 50 internet sites talking about this debate. These are the pro’s and cons of the hamster community, not just me.

The “ Tanks Have Poor Ventilation” mythThere was, however, one reoccurring concern that I did not add to mu Pro/Con list, as it is not true! The “Tanks Have Poor Ventilation” myth. For some reason, many people think that since a glass aquarium is solid on five of it’s six sides, air can not flow through and a hamster kept in this tank will die. This is untrue! I’m sorry if this offends anyone but it is a myth. GLASS TANKS DO NOT KILL HAMSTERS. As long as you don’t cover the top with something that is solid, plenty of air can flow in to the tank. A glass tank should have a wire top on it. That is the only acceptable cover. In my experience, of everyone I personally know, and through all of my research, I never found a single person say they actually had a hamster die from suffocation due to a glass tank. If you prefer wired cages that’s great! (No sarcasm. No offense. Seriously)

Still can’t decide on tank or wired? WHY NOT BOTH?!

Glass Tank With Wire High RiseIf you think both are a good option (Or your still that afraid of suffocation) why not combine the options? A glass tank can easily have a wire high rise added to it. With that, you get to have a environment where bedding won’t be as likely to fall out, and your hamster still gets plenty of tubes to run through! (BTDubbs, this is the perfect option for a gerbil)

My Personal ChoicePersonally, my favorite choice is the tank option. It’s a close race. VERY CLOSE. But I like to put a lot of toys and houses in the cage and I find a tank works best for this. And I don’t loose the tubing accessories that I have a LOT of money invested into because I connect them to the puzzle playground accessories and put them in the tank. But everyone is different and to each their own! :))

SNAP Needs Help!

Hello everyone! I wanted to spread the word about a worthy cause in need of help! 

SNAP: Spay-Neuter Assistance Program

No birth is the first step to no kill!

SNAP is a low cost pet clinic with the goal of providing pet care to low income families and reducing animal overpopulation. SNAP offers spay and neuter services along with wellness check ups and pet medications. All of this is at no or a severely lowered cost so even families that may be struggling financially can give their pets proper health care. (I'm in San Antonio, Texas, but I know there are other clinics elsewhere.)

SNAP tries to spay and neuter as many animals as possible. Pet overpopulation is a big problem as you can see by these statistics.

• 56% of dogs and puppies entering US animal shelters are euthanized.
• 71% of cats and kittens entering US animal shelters are euthanized.
• 4,900,000 cats and dogs are destroyed in US shelters each year.
• 55% of dogs surrendered to US shelters are not spayed or neutered.
• 47% of cats surrendered to US shelters are not spayed or neutered.
• $125 the cost of tax dollars to shelter an animal in one US city.
• 508 puppies can be born from one female dog and her offspring in 7 years.
• 4,948 kittens can be born from one female cat and her offspring in 7 years.

Spaying and neutering your pets also have wonderful benefits such as but not limited to:

-Your female dog or cat will live longer and be healthier.

Spaying your female pets can help prevent uterine infections and breast cancer. These diseases are fatal in about 50 percent of dogs and 90 percent of cats, and spaying your pets before their first heat is the best prevention for these.

-Your male dog or cat will have health benefits as well.

Neutering your males can prevent testicular cancer if it is done before six months of age.

-A spayed female won't go into heat.

During breeding season, female cats normally go into heat four to five days every three weeks. They will advertise for mates by yowling and urinating more frequently. They will even mark their territory all over the house!

-A neutered male won't want to roam away from home.

Males will do just about anything to find a mate, including digging under and climbing over fences. Once free, he's at risk for injuries from cars, people, and other dogs.

-Neutered males will be better behaved.

Neutered dogs and cats will focus their attention on their human families, where as un-neutered males will mark their territory, be prone to aggression problems, and focus more attention on female dogs.

-Fixing your pets will NOT make them fat.

Lack of exercise and overfeeding will cause your pet to gain weight, not sterilization.

-It's cost effective!

The cost of surgery is a lot less than the cost of having to care for a litter.

-Spaying and neutering helps fight animal overpopulation.

Every year, millions of cats and dogs of all ages and breeds are euthanized or suffer as strays. These high numbers are the result of unplanned litters that could have been prevented by spaying or neutering.

I'm not only posting about this because it's important to have your pets fixed, but because SNAP needs help! Every animal that SNAP fixes gets two towels during surgery, and a blanket for recovery. Recently their washing machine broke down beyond repair and they desperately need a new one. The staff has been taking loads of towels and blankets home to do in their own washers! The new washing machine will cost $1,200, because they need a high volume one. SNAP is asking for donations. So far they have raised around $500! There almost halfway there!

I really believe in what the people at SNAP are doing! I think they are all wonderful people, especially for going above and beyond and doing the laundry at their own homes! If you would like to help out you can make a donation today! Any amount helps! $50, $20, $5, even 50 cents will help them reach their goal. SNAP also accepts donations of new and used towels and blankets to keep the animals comfortable both during and after surgery.

You can visit the links below to learn more or donate. Not saying you have to donate. Just spreading the word!

SNAP's website:

http://www.snapus.org

SNAP'S FACEBOOK:

https://www.facebook.com/SNAPUS

Donations for the new washer can be made here: 

http://www.snapus.org/washer

OR you can mail it here:

SNAP, PO Box 70286, Houston, TX 77270.

(I just wanted to add that I am not doing this because SNAP asked me to, I just really believe in the cause and want to spread the word and help in any way I can!)

Until next time guys! Later! :))

Rest In Peace Sasha

Hello everyone. I have some sad news. Yesterday evening our little Sasha passed away. She was a little over a year and a half old which means she lived a long, full life for her species. I found her in part of the puzzle high rise I had made for her. She looked very peaceful, so it doesn't seem like she was in pain.

She was a Sapphire colored Djungarian Hamster, also known as a Russian Winter White, or a Siberian Hamster. They have a dark stripe that runs down their back from the top of their head to their tail. In the wild their fur turns white during the winter to help them hide from predators. They are a relatively friendly species of hamster.

Sasha's favorite's!
Food: Corn
Treat: Papaya
Fresh Food: Cucumber
Activity: Exploring tubes and running on her wheel
Sleeping Spot: A wooden box my dad and I made
Place: Anywhere high up

Sasha loved to be handled and was so sweet. She loved high places and picked through her food to eat the corn first. Our baby girl was brave and amazing.

Rest in peace baby girl.

Sasha

July 20, 2012-January 20, 2014

-Tracy

Update! :3

Hello everyone!

Update time! I know you all missed me, and I'm sorry for not posting in a while, but I have big news! We've had a new addition to the family! In my previous post I mentioned that we had a new kitten named Isaac! We also brought home his litter mate. Her name is Espurr!

Sasha is doing well too. In her old age she is sleeping more, but she's still up and moving around. She has gotten a bit more territorial and prefers to be picked up in something instead of by hand, but other than that, she is still happy and healthy!

See you soon!

-Tracy

The BiggER Move!

Hello again! How is everyone liking the new Tumblr?

Anyways my boyfriend and I moved….Again. This time we moved to a house. Yay! *excitement* We moved last January to an apartment with a friend but it was too small and my boyfriend and I wanted to go on our own so we moved.

Sasha came with us of course! With all the extra space we have in the house were making some new additions to the family! Right now we have an orange kitten named Isaac and later we will be picking up another kitty. Oh and did I forget to mention that our neighbors’ two black cats often come over to visit. They think they live here too. 

So if anyone is moving with a small pet and wanted some tips you can check out my blog from January when we moved to the apartment. (The link will be below) It also talks about Sasha some. I’ll post updates and pictures of little Isaac soon.

http://winryyuzu49.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-big-move.html

-Tracy

Is My Hamster Sick?

We all love our hamster and want to take care of them, but how do we know if there healthy? Our furry little friends cannot talk to us so they can't tell us if they don't feel well. Therefore it's out responsibility to be able to recognize when a hamster is sick! And know what to do!

Hamsters can fall victim to  may illnesses and injuries such as broken bones, colds, pneumonia, tumors, reproductive failure, mange, parasites, infections, abscesses, diseases, cancer, diabetes, wet tail, tooth problems, and more.

**NOTE: If you suspect your pet is ill or hurt you should contact a vet or proper small animal care giver. I am here to give advice and help but I cannot diagnose, give treatment, or cure an animal over the internet. While I will respond to any questions or comments you have as fast as I can, you should not only rely on me when it comes to the safety and well being of your pet.**

Signs Of A Sick Hamster and Illnesses:
Fur Loss

Hamsters should have soft fur that covers their entire body (with the exception of their feet and tail). While a hamster's coat will lose some of it's luster and thickness due to aging, it should not thin out very quickly or have patches of fur missing. Rapid fur loss is known as alopecia, and is a serious problem. Rapid fur loss can be due to mites, lice, mange, infections, abscesses, tumors, scratching, and adrenal disease. If fur does not grow back or continues to thin over the next few days contact a vet.

Loss of Appetite/Weight

Healthy hamsters will continuously munch on food and treats throughout the day. If you notice your hamster's food bowl is untouched and he/she ignores his/her favorite treats something may be wrong. Pay close attention though! Hamsters are hoarders and store food in their cheek pouches and habitat, so even though their food bowl is empty, doesn't mean they are eating. If you notice your hamster has lost weight he/she may have an infection, pneumonia, cancer, or another serious illness needing medical attention.

Wet Tail

Wet Tail is a serious health problem that many small animals are at risk for. Regularly check the fur around your hamster's tail. If it is matted or wet your furry friend probably has the common disease. Though ovulating hamsters often have a discharge around the tail it will be very temporary. Diarrhea is also a sign of wet tail. Hamsters who have had too many greens will probably have diarrhea. Reduce their greens intake. Wet Tail can kill within a week, so if you suspect your hamster of it, take them to a vet immediately

Cold

If your hamster has a runny nose, or is breathing irregularly, he/she probably has a cold. Keep her environment between 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. If his/her condition worsens or does not get better within a couple of days contact a vet. Human germs can transfer to animals so avoid your hamster if you are sick. Have someone else care for him/her.

Breaks

Hamsters are fragile little creatures and broken bones are not uncommon. If he/she is limping, or not moving, they may have a fractured bone. Try not to move them. Remove the wheel, any tubes, and anything he/she can climb on or fall off. Place food and water close to the injured hamster and consult a vet immediately.

Lumps

If you feel a lump on your hamster's body, he/she may have a tumor. there is not much you can do for this besides see a vet immediately.

Puffy Pouches

Though it sounds cute, puffy pouches isn't always something to "aww" over. Hamsters can unintentionally cut the insides of his/her pouches bu hoarding food and things in them. If your ham ham's pouches are constantly full, look overly stuffed, of you notice blood around the mouth he/she may have injured their pouches. A  vet should look over a hamster if you think they injured their pouches. If unattended an infection could occur.

Tooth Problems

If your hamster doesn't want to eat, drools, has a foul smell or blood coming from the mouth, or has visible loose, missing, or overgrown teeth they need to see a vet. Teeth problems are serious and can lead to death if unattended to.

Constipation

If you don't see any droppings in your hamster's habitat then something is wrong. He/ she should be given plenty of water. Talk to a vet if no droppings are found after a couple days.

Consuming Too Much Water

If you notice your hamster is going though water like it's the best thing since sliced bread something could be wrong. Assuming the water bottle is not leaking and the room is not too hot your hamster may have fallen victim to an adrenal disease, tumor, infection, or other problem. Assuming it is not just dehydration, a vet should be contacted.

Suddenly Becomes Fat

If your hamster suddenly gains a lot of weight something could be wrong. (When I say suddenly I mean withing a day or two) An adrenal disease, tumor, diabetes, or other illness could be the culprit. 

Take Action

If your hamster appears sick or injured take action! Separate him/her from any other hamsters and contact a vet if their condition does not get better withing a couple days or worsens.

The Vet

Is the vet really necessary? I mean, this is a little animal I spent $15 on that's only going to live a few years anyways.The vet is too expensive. If it dies I can always buy another one. WRONG. If this is the way you feel, then you should not adopt a hamster. While it is true that vets are expensive, when you adopt a hamster (or any living creature for that matter) you are responsible for his/her life. If they become ill or injured it is your responsibility to properly care for them, and if a visit to the vet is what it takes, then a visit to the vet it should be. There is pet insurance and other ways to help pay for a vet's visit or any medication.

Prevention

There are many ways to prevent your happy hammy from getting sick or injured. 

• Clean their habitat at least once a week
• Give fresh food and water daily
• Avoid contact if you are sick; Have someone else care for them until you are well
• Pay close attention to your hamster's eating, drinking and sleeping habits
• Know your hamster's body; Know when something does not look or feel right
• Do not choose a hamster if it appears sick, has sick litter mates, or has poor living conditions
• Handle them gently; Teach kids to handle them gently
• Provide a running wheel for exercxise
• Do not use ceader, pine, or sawdust; Only aspen wood or paper products for bedding
• Do not feed them old food, food that has been contaminated, or food with bugs
• Do not provide anything unsafe such as sharp objects, high places to fall from, or things to get stuck in
• Always have the number for a proper vet (Not all clinics see small animals so talk to your vet about your hamster)

Knowing when your hamster is ill can mean the difference between life and death. Make sure you know what a healthy hamster looks like and know when to consult a vet about your furry little fiend. I hope this helps!

-Tracy

Let's Learn Ham Chat!

Anyone start really liking hamsters because of the cartoon Hamtaro?

I think Hamtaro was where my immense undying love with the furry little critters originated from. I remember watching the cartoon all the time. I had a bunch of VHS tapes of it. I also had many of the toys (which are still at my parents). I had many of the stuffed animals, a Hamtaro back back, video games, and the complete play set! Yeah, I was obsessed....Anyways. The show had an adorable made-up language called Ham Chat! When I was younger I had all of these words memorized and I would often use them in conversation. I was a weird child....

LEARN HAM CHAT!

Words A-H Ham-Chat       Meaning Bestest           Fantastic Bizzaroo         Strange Blahh              Tired Blanko            Forget Blash-T           Angry Blissie            Happy Bloat-T            Bloated Bluhoo             Sad Blushie            Embarrass Bye-Q              Good-bye Chuckchuck     Give up Clapclap          Encore Clingie             Hang Cramcram        Study Dazzlie            Beautiful Delichu            Delicious Delin-Q            Bad Digdig              Dig Dingbang         Noisy Dingding          Realize Dundeal           Sell Fend-D            Defend Flipflop            Switch Frost-T            Freezing Fussfuss          Worry Gasp-P            Oh no! Giftee              Give Givehoo           Ask for Gofor               Goal Gogo               Ride Goodgo           Good luck Go-P               Bathroom Gorush            Hurry Gossip-p         Small talk Grab-B            Get Greatchu         Great Grit-T              Courage Hamchu          Kind Hambond         Bond Hamboree        Party Hamcheer        Congrats Hamha             Greeting Hamigos          Best Pals Hamlift             Piggyback Hammo            Friend Hampact          Promise

Words H-P Ham-Chat        Meaning Hamscope        Aim Hamsolo          Lonely Hamspar          Rival Hamtast           Perfect Hamteam         Cooperate Hardihar           Laugh Herk-Q             Powerful Heyhoo            Call out Hif-Hif               Sniff Hotchu             Hot Huffpuff             Carry Hulahula           Lollygag Hushgo            Reveal Hushie             Secret Jamout            Play music Koochi-Q         Pretty Krmpkrmp        Eat Lalalala            Sing Libert-T            Freedom Lookie             See Lost-T              Lose Lotsa               Many Lovedove          Cherished Luck-E             Lucky Meep-P            Regret Mega-Q            Big Might-T            Strong Minglie             Play Nogo                No can do Nok-Nok           Knock Nokrmp-P         Hungary No-P                No Nopibloo           Don't fret Nopookie          Dislike Noworrie           Relax Offdoff              Remove Oopsie             Sorry Ouchichi           Ouch Pakapaka         Bite Panic-Q            Scary Passchat          Tell Perksie            Listen Pooie               Uncool Pookie             Like Pushie             Shove Putput              Put

Words R-Z Ham-Chat        Meaning Rubrub             Polish Scoochie         Climb Scrit-T             Scratch Scrub-E           Clean See-tru            Invisable Sesam-E         Open Shashaa          Hide Shockie           Surprise Smidgie           Almost Smoochie        Love Snorklie           Deep Soak-Q            Wet Sparklie           Delight Spiffie              Stylish Stead-E           Solid Stickie             Poke Swellie            It's OK Tack-Q            Roll Ta-dah             Show Teenie             Small Thank-Q          Thank You Thump-P         Startle Tinglie             Tingle Tiptop              Exellent Tootru              Really Tran-Q             Peace Trust-T             Reliable Tuggie             Tug Twintoo            Identical Twirlie              Twirl Vast-T             Wide Wait-Q            Wait Wake-Q           Wake up Whawha          Frantic Wishie             Beg Wit-T               Funny Wondachu       Wonderful Yep-P              Yes Zuzuzu            Sleep

See ya' next time!

Bye-Q!

-Tracy

Yummy Yummy For Their Tummies!

Hello everyone! Ever wonder what type of food and treats I feed Sasha? Well now you can know!
There are so many options of food treats available for small animals  Ever walk down the food and treat isle in PetCo? Yeah, it can be overwhelming! Especially to someone who is new to small animal care! Luckily, all the food and treats are pretty much self explanatory. They all say what kind of food or treat they are, and they all say what kind of animals are ok to feed the food or treat to. So as long as you pay attention to what your getting, you should be ok. (I'm sorry if that last sentence sounded mean, but it's very easy to buy rat and mouse food when you need hamster food. Trust me, I've done it before. Luckily I noticed it before I opened the bag and was able to exchange it.)

Photo taken at my local PETCO. Small Animal food/treat isle.

Food: Food is a necessary part of every living creature's life! So, shouldn't it be good?
          I use Kaytee Fiesta MAX Hamster and Gerbil Food. Sasha loves it and it is keeping her healthy.

Treats: Treats are a great way to reward, tame, and train your hamster!
          I give Sasha many different treats! Her favorites are Papaya treats, Blueberry Yogurt treats, and Millet Snips. She does enjoy the occasional Kaytee Timothy Biscuits as well. I tried to give her Roasted Corn treats, but she doesn't even touch them. I've also tried to give her banana and raisin mixed treats, but she hates raisins. Silly girl only ate the bananas.

Chews: Hamsters teeth never stop growing, so they need things to chew on!
          I usually give Sasha either Apple Chew Sticks or the little colorful ones that PetCo sells. Ocasionally I give her those sponge looking things, but she plays with them instead of chewing them.

Hays: Hays are not necessary for hamsters, though some appreciate it from time to time.
          I don't give Sasha hay often, but when I do, it's Timmothy Hay.

Fresh Fruits:  Not only are fruits healthy, your hammy will love them!
          Sasha enjoys apples! I give her a bite once in a while and she usually eats it all right away.

Fresh Vegies: Fresh vegetables are also a great, healthy treat, that your Ham Ham will love!
          As far as vegies go, Sasha loves carrots and cucumbers.

Keep in mind though, Just because Sasha likes these foods and treats, doesn't mean every hamster will! Just like people, all animals are different and will have different favorite foods! Also remember to check expiration dates on food and treats. They don't stay good forever! And if any kind of bugs get into the food or treats throw them all away. If they are in a container that you reuse, make sure to thoroughly clean it, and check your ham ham's cage for any bugs.

For a list on foods, treats, fruits, vegetables, seeds, and hays that are safe for hamsters visit one of my previous blogs: http://winryyuzu49.blogspot.com/2012/08/food-glorious-food.html

-Tracy

Guinea Cat?!

A while back my cat Berlioz (who still lives with my parents) brought a girlfriend home. Her name is Camille. Well, the two had a littler of kittens. Two solid black males. One moved up the street and the other moved in the house. His name is JiJi (pronounced Gee-Gee). The two later had a second littler who are also in the house. It seems Camille and Burr have a knack for making twins. This time the two had a solid black kitten and a grey and tan kitten, both female. The black kitten is named Eeva (pronounced Eve-A), and the grey one is named Ellie. Ellie instantly stole my heart. I'm sure a big reason for this is she looks like a very feminine, long haired version of her daddy Berlioz. When I visit I often tell her she's a princess and looks like she's wearing make up.

My beautiful Ellie.

So what do cats have to do with small animals?
Not too much. But my little Ellie has a very unique little quirk: She Popcorns.

What is a Popcorn?
Popcorning is something that Guinea Pigs do that resembles popcorn bursting when cooked. Their little bodies will just pop up into the air as a way to show they are happy and communicate with other Guinea Pigs. If you've never seen this, imagine a tiny ball of fur, popping straight up in the air, maybe turning their little bodies to the side, and kicking their little legs out. They often make a happy little yipping noise as well. It's adorable.

I've noticed my little girl will suddenly pop up into the air. It's a little kitty popcorn! I thought it was completely adorable and wanted to share it with you guys. It just shows that just because something is common for a single animal, doesn't mean other animals don't do it too. Or maybe Ellie is actiually part Guinea Pig?! Naaaah....I know what Ellie is doing is not technically popcorning, but it is close enough in my book.

-Tracy

It's Been One Year!

On July 20th, 2012, my boyfriend and I drove across town to a PETCO to adopt a hamster. We chose a female Djungarian, or Winter White, dwarf hamster. She really stood apart from her sister and we took her home. We named her Sasha and soon realized that something so small can become a huge part of both of our lives.

Sasha is a silly little girl who loves to climb. She spends much of her time in tubes. She also enjoys burrowing under bedding and running on her wheel. When we feed her the first thing she goes for is the corn. This is a little hamster who loves her some corn!

I take Sasha out of her habitat often to let her run and get exercise. It also helps her from getting board. You wouldn't want to spend your whole life inside of a cage, would you? Thought not. Sasha gets to play in all kinds of boxes and run on the bed. Always supervised of course.

Sasha loves to climb, so I use tubes and puzzle playgrounds to make things for her to climb through and on. Often the little thing sleeps inside of the tubes. She also loves the half log (in the picture at left) Sometimes I will make it so that a tube lets out under the log. Sasha sleeps there sometimes too.

 

Sasha's Favorites:

Food: Corn

Treat: Papaya treats and blueberry yogurts

Accessory: Tubes and Puzzle Playground

Toy: Half log and wooden ladder

Sleeping spot: Tubes and wooden box

Wheel: Silent spinner and flying saucer

House: Upside down wooden box with puzzle playground leading into it.

Sasha is over a year old now, but we are hoping she will have a long happy life. She is still very healthy and active, though she has gained a little weight. She still seems to love attention and getting new toys. This little girl still loves to run in her ball and gets jealous when she smells another animal on my hands. Our baby girl is something else!

Ok guys, I will post again soon. Later!

-Tracy

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