The only other things that a gerbil can fight with are its teeth. Some gerbils are prone to seizing when suddenly frightened or exposed to prolonged stress. We are going to be discussing the signs or symptoms of a stressed gerbil in this article. To thrive and be happy, they must be kept in groups of at least two. The more gerbils there are in the clan, the more likely it is to happen. They form strong bonds, sleep together, and play together daily. Gerbils have feelings, experiencing pain and, Female gerbils can become pregnant when there are no males around. But in captivity, this isnt possible unless you intervene and put the loser in a separate cage. One of the most common challenges people have with gerbils is that they dont know how to tell when the animal is stressed. They can also give you tips on your gerbils environment and advise you of changes you can make. So, exercise is an easy fix. There are many reasons why your gerbil might be stressed. It cant get out of the cage, so another burrow isnt an option. They would still see each other, and while they couldnt fight, this could still cause stress. One kind of noise a gerbil can make is a loud, high-pitched squeak. You can use chicken wire or a glass divider. Blood of the gerbil on themselves or in their cage. However, in captivity, these patterns can change. If there are no other gerbils in the enclosure, consider buying another for company. The two gerbils that are about to fight will try to intimidate each other with loud noises to win the fight before it starts. Gerbils become unhappy when other gerbils die if their enclosure is small or theyre stressed. Whereas, before, your pet was excited to get out, now it seems it cant wait to escape. Take this gerbil and put it in another cage. Drumming every once in a while is not a cause for concern. Anger. Gerbils communicate their mood through body language and noise. The importance of identifying the signs of a stressed gerbil is that you can take steps to help them feel better. Scientists say that it can also occur because of boredom, frustration, social isolation, and other negative stressors. But if one becomes depressed, its sleep pattern might change. inhibit insulin production. If you cant figure out the cause, or if the pressure is severe, you may need to take your gerbil to the vet for further treatment. Again, the idea is to keep the babies healthy and free of parasites. A seizure can be identified based on the following symptoms: Seizures are usually not harmful, but in rare cases, they can be fatal. It is responding positively to your petting and scratching. How do you tell if a gerbil is stressed? This raises a serious problem. One of the most common reasons why gerbils become depressed is when their friends die. The loser will have copious injuries around its tail end from being attacked as it ran away. Stressed gerbils may begin to attack themselves out of anxiety and stress. In the wild, the loser would long since have gone off on its own, or perhaps with one or two other gerbils, to form its own clan. One of the most obvious signs of stressed axolotl is their gills. Sometimes, though, gerbils fight for real. Chronic stress can affect your immune system, heart, metabolism, and overall well-being. Studies show that gerbils communicate much more than owners realize because people can hear only some of the noises they make. It means something has startled your gerbil. Gerbils are meant to be kept in pairs and need a buddy to be happy. They may bite their own tail or any other part of their body, sometimes to the point where they draw blood. If your gerbil suddenly becomes aggressive or irritable, this may be a sign that its stressed. If youre thinking of adopting new gerbils, you may wonder how many gerbils can be kept in the same cage (gerbilarium). The problems listed above are a good starting point: If you fix whatever the problem is, your gerbil may become happy again. Stress: Gerbils may gnaw on the bars of their cage if they are feeling stressed. We are passionate about having them as friends and pets. So, make sure youre topping up your gerbils bowl and water bottle every day. It wont eat anything at all and is likely to be lethargic. Wounds on the back or tail of a gerbil. If you take good care of your gerbil, it should be happy and stress-free. Depression. proliferative ileitis. The subordinate gerbil will avoid the aggressor as much as possible. Reasons for Stressed Gerbils. You can help a depressed gerbil to recover by spending time with your pet and showing them affection. This is where the gerbil grooms too frequently or for extended periods. Your gerbil rubbing its face against the glass of its enclosure. To recognize when your gerbils are play fighting, look for the following signs: Gerbils chasing each other. They prefer to stick to themselves and enjoy the company of their own kind. For example, does your gerbil have a big enough cage or space for digging? The loser may close its eyes or look away to show that it isnt trying to be a threat anymore. What are the 10 signs of a stressed gerbil? Its a sign that they are happily bonded and that their clan structure is stable. A gerbil cowering away from the rest of the group. Play fighting in gerbils is a completely harmless behavior. This is a symptom of keeping your gerbils in captivity. They all relate to changes in the existing social structure. This applies both in the wild and in captivity. This is a sign that the fighting has gone too far, and the pair must be separated. Your gerbil may also be stressed because of your behavior. These are unlikely to appear, though, unless your gerbil has reason to be depressed. This is especially the case for gerbils which are part of a breeding pair. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); What Are the Signs of Gerbils Declanning? If you think your gerbil might be stressed, there are some things you can do to help them feel better. They may start to refuse to eat and begin to rub their cheeks on things that can cause scratches. Gerbils may be more aggressive, irritable, or hide excessively. Occasionally, you may notice that your gerbil has red liquid around its eyes or under its nose. The same applies to exercise. This is due to the difficulties they face in the wild, such as predators, a shortage of food or water, and infections. If you take it from its cage, rather than running around exploring, it may sit doing nothing. Headaches, dizziness, or shaking. Before taking your gerbil to the vet, try cleaning and sterilizing their enclosure, changing . It will also be excited to leave the cage, more so than usual. Your pet should still recognize you and want to spend time with you if you let it see you first. Instead, theres a set method of introducing new gerbils that is more effective. A breeding pair will groom one another, for example, to strengthen their bond. Gerbils all have different characters. Gerbils can be quite quiet when they fight. The winner will then stand over it. This should get rid of the smell of the old gerbil, which will hang around and make your living gerbil sad. You may notice the occasional squeak, but thats about all. Living in social groups, they need a way to communicate with each other. So, its time for you to step in. Watch for signs like agitation, inactivity, and refusal to eat or drink. 11. So we must do everything we can to help our gerbils relax and feel comfortable in their home. Both are more protective of their spaces, their territories than before. Unless you separate your gerbils straight away, declanned gerbils will inevitably fight. But if they are playing, separating them would be a big mistake. But stressed-out gerbils may spend hours at a time hiding away in their nest or tunnel. You may notice them running around in circles, but when you look closer youll see that their tails are stuck on the ground or something right behind their backs, hence why they think the room is spinning! contract blood vessels so blood is directed to the muscles. If you notice these changes, you should consult a vet. They may bite their own tail or any other part of their body, sometimes to the point where they draw blood. This is a normal outcome of a fight over territory. Its called the split-cage method. Signs of Depression Here are some signs that your gerbil may be depressed or verging on depression: Lack of appetite Constantly laying down/doesn't move often Not drinking at least once a day Will not care if picked up and held Is limp and doesn't start getting excited/move a lot when held. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. Depression. So, before placing your hands into the gerbilarium, put on a pair of protective gloves. Most humans do this too when we feel anxious! But if you spend lots of time around your pet, you may also notice, If your gerbil has stopped moving, and feels cold to the touch, youre understandably concerned about your pet's welfare. Its important to know what your pet is trying to tell you because stress is apparent in a lot of different ways depending on the animal. They may be fairly superficial, but you should still take note of them. Stress leads to stronger feelings of anger and irritability. Once declanning has happened, keeping the gerbils apart is usually the best option. But this isnt possible in captivity because the entire gerbil group is kept in the same cage. Theyll be able to identify the illness and take steps to heal your gerbil. Scars and blood, in the worst-case scenario. Some of the group may join it in leaving. There are several reasons why gerbil clans split. Gastrointestinal symptoms, including acid reflux, stomachache, constipation . Gerbils are communicative animals. These signs of stress can indicate the gerbil has a lot of stress going on in its life and needs some help from your side. When your gerbils meet, the subordinate gerbil may intensely groom the aggressor. Grooming, scratching, and biting or digging at the cage are all normal gerbil behaviors. But if you only have two gerbils, it can help teach them how to get along again. wet tail. 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