Gerbils are not the most demanding pet, but they do need certain requirements to be fulfilled. The signs of a depressed gerbil include lack of activity, too much sleep, bar chewing, and floor scratching. Gerbils have feelings, experiencing pain and, Like all animals, gerbils need to blink to keep their eyes moist and clean of debris. They are easy to spot and frequently display together. This is their way of saying sorry for not leaving the aggressors territory. Presumably, wild animals experience the same positive benefits as those in captivity. You can easily tell when a gerbil is happy, sad, or excited, for example. Headaches, dizziness or shaking. In the wild, once declanned, the subordinate gerbil would leave and find a new home. For example, they wont be able to eat, refuse to drink water, and so on. Unfortunately, many wild gerbils will die in the span of a few months of being born. The first SMQ warning sign is anger. After a week or two, buy a split tank. There may be various reasons why your gerbil is stressed. Its not blood. True gerbil fighting is rare in bonded pairs, but it can happen at any point, often without warning. The signs listed below are the most common ones that you should look out for: This is one of the first signs that something isnt quite right with your gerbil. I hope this helps you out with your gerbil pet! You may need to experiment a little to find out what calms your gerbil down. This forces the fighting pair to fight harder. The same applies to exercise. Chronic stress can affect your immune system, heart, metabolism, and overall well-being. But often, a seizure or a stroke is a death sentence for a gerbil. In captivity, gerbils exhibit many kinds of unusual behavior. If you think your gerbil might be stressed, there are some things you can do to help them feel better. Anxiety or irritability. Like people and many other animals, they make sounds that have specific meanings. This is especially the case for gerbils which are part of a breeding pair. Establishing the reason behind your gerbil being . Also, if they are in pain, they might go limp so you can pick them up without feeling any resistance or pain. Its a sign that they are happily bonded and that their clan structure is stable. Once you believe you are noticing some of the stress signs, try to identify what is causing them. Once you find a gerbil who shows signs of a respiratory infection, . High blood pressure. Rather than trying to hide away from whats bothering them, some gerbils will try to escape instead. If you see any of these signs, try to calm the gerbil down by speaking softly to it and providing a calm environment. Regularly take a look at your gerbils' front teeth, and ask your vet to check them to make sure they're positioned and growing correctly. That way, if either of your gerbils tries to bite you, they wont hurt you. One of the most common reasons why gerbils become depressed is when their friends die. 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. This is usually a good sign that the birth is imminent. They may constantly try to escape from their gerbilarium or run around in circles. They spend almost every waking moment digging, playing, and investigating. You may see your gerbil appearing to wink at you. A gerbil that loses this kind of fight would then run off to start its own clan elsewhere. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); What Are the Signs of Gerbils Declanning? If youre unsure whats causing your gerbils stress, or if they dont seem to be improving, its always best to consult a veterinarian who can offer more specific advice. If you do that, they will likely fight. Its essential to tell when a gerbil is stressed so you can take steps to calm it down. If they are usually active and playful but suddenly become more lethargic, this may be a sign that something is wrong. Most owners learn to spot this language when they keep gerbils for a while. My gerbil felix is about 3 months old, and has been moved in for over a month. Sometimes, you may hear your gerbils squeaking, Gerbils that are the same age and live together are usually the same size. being withdrawn. This is where they rapidly stomp the ground with their back feet. If you notice their hair falling out in clumps, then they need your help. Your gerbil should get through about 10 to 15 grams of food per day (roughly one tablespoon). Increased heart rate and elevated blood pressure 3. Reasons for Stressed Gerbils. However, when a gerbil gets depressed, it can overgroom. 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. But if one becomes depressed, its sleep pattern might change. That alone can fix most problems. Its like a wrestling match. They may be fairly superficial, but you should still take note of them. They are good-natured towards humans and appreciate being held and played with. They form strong bonds, sleep together, and play together daily. It can also be from boredom and being neglected for long periods. 10 Signs of A Stressed Gerbil [A Complete Guide]. Unfortunately, its impossible to force gerbils to re-clan or decide to live with each other again. It must change. If you notice these changes, you should consult a vet. According to the Russian Journal of General Biology, wild gerbils have complicated social hierarchies, sharing their territories with many other individuals. [1] 4 Check if your gerbil grooms or washes itself. Choose a same-sex playmate to avoid unwanted pregnancies. Look for the other signs of unhappiness that may occur alongside this one. This is something that happens when a gerbil is stressed for too long and needs the release of this pent-up energy. Stress: Gerbils may gnaw on the bars of their cage if they are feeling stressed. Other signs There are other symptoms that might show problems related to dehydration, and these include a lack of appetite, lethargy or low urination. The same thing happens to humans! Gerbils communicate their mood through body language and noise. There are many, Gerbils and rabbits are sociable and friendly animals. Gerbils are naturally curious creatures. Barry is constructing a hutch for his Himalayan Rabbits. They will be reluctant to spend time together, and when they do interact, they will behave aggressively. Immediately find the problem, and fix it as fast as possible. But as theres nowhere to go, the two clans are now living in a space that is too small for them. Keeping your pet gerbils healthy and safe is the number one responsibility you have as a pet owner. No stress - and a new beginning. Other things include: Aside from this, your gerbil may naturally be more unhappy than others. Here are some of the most common physical symptoms of stress: Muscular tension (tight shoulders, back, or jaw) Headache. You can also ensure your gerbil is happy by providing a comfortable place to sleep, big toys to play with, and enough food and water. Heres some advice on how to introduce new gerbils. A change in the way someone thinks or feels can also be a sign of stress, for example: mood swings. It results in: Overgrooming can occur both because of stereotypy and because of parasites. You will no doubt have noticed some of these strange behaviors, including: This behavior is called stereotypy. Its commonly displayed by animals kept in captivity, either as pets or in zoos. One kind of noise a gerbil can make is a loud, high-pitched squeak. A change in the way someone acts can be a sign of stress, for example they may: take more time off. It can also be caused by a change in routine. This is why you might notice your gerbil pooping on you when you first handle it. In many cases a propensity to seizures is passed down from . Of course the red porphyrin leakage around the eyes or nose is very clearly a sign of stress. Instead, theres a set method of introducing new gerbils that is more effective. Signs of stress in a worker. There are many reasons why your gerbil might be stressed. All gerbils have their own personalities, so some are more excitable and some more affectionate. They can even fight to the death. What are the Signs Your Gerbil is Scared? Stereotypy isnt a definitive sign of depression on its own. Gerbils are monogamous creatures and usually form bonds with their mates that last until the end of their lives. Declanning is the term for when a clan split apart. Gerbils are social creatures and cant be housed alone. Declanning is a behavior related to the social nature of gerbils. Foot stomping and vocalizations, such as squeaking and teeth chattering, can be stress-induced. Some gerbils even seem to change their sleeping patterns to suit their owners. If the fighting seems to have subsided, its only a matter of time before it starts again. Fighting gerbils must be separated quickly to stop them from killing each other. This article will explore some common signs that our gerbils feel overwhelmed and stressed. Pair your pet up, as gerbils cant live alone. Introducing two new gerbils isnt as simple as putting them in the same cage. Gerbils are one of the most adorable and friendly pets out there. They are relatively low-maintenance and can provide hours of entertainment. from falling, rough handling, or fighting with another gerbil). Often, if one gerbil is startled and begins thumping (described as a quick "da-dum, da-dum" sound), others in the enclosure or room will also begin thumping. Gerbils live in groups, also known as clans. and more. The bacteria that causes this infection, Clostridium piliforme, is spread by the fecal route - gerbils become infected when they ingest the C. piliforme in infected food or water supplies. If you notice your gerbils fighting, act fast. Gerbils become unhappy when other gerbils die if their enclosure is small or they're stressed. Between the compartments is a glass screen. You may notice: Disturbed sleep indicates that your gerbils mood or health has changed. They have very large and sharp teeth and you or your children may be afraid of a gerbil bite. A gerbil can become depressed or unhappy for a variety of different reasons. You'll Notice Some Repetitive Behaviors Another sign that your hamster is stressed out is if you notice that they're displaying some repetitive behaviors. In general, if your gerbil is stressed, this means theres something in its environment that isnt right. Every gerbil is different. Only gerbils in the same social group can sleep in the groups burrow. This is one of the important signs where they get stressed or that they are no longer in a calm state. Why Is One of My Gerbils Bigger than the Other? In the past couple of weeks he started biting, which thankfully he got over quickly. The split-cage method does not work if there are three or more gerbils. Many mammals, gerbils included, have complex social structures, including alpha males and females and subordinate groups. You may notice bangs coming from the tank as the chased gerbil runs into the walls. Reasons they might fight and declan include: The point of declanning is that the social group isnt viable anymore. Again, it may do this even if there is bedding to dig in. How do I know if my axolotl is stressed apart from the gills? Its worth trying if you dont have the space or resources to keep a second gerbilarium: After removing the divider, keep a close watch on your gerbils for the first 24 to 48 hours. Exercise on a wheel can also help your pet to overcome loss and depression. Its because they are confined to the same cage and cant get away from each other. This applies both to the winner and the loser of the fight. If you are ever reading up on how to stop your pet from getting sick one day you may come across the following about pet stress. You want to do your best to help your gerbil to calm down and only take it to a vet when you think you cant help. If this is the case, the best thing would be to keep them in separate tanks permanently. Be friendly and spend lots of time with it. Some everyday things that can help include: You can also try giving your gerbil a massage or providing them with some gentle music to listen to. All it needs is a water bottle, a little food, and a thin layer of bedding. You might also want to try giving it food or water or playing with a toy. Fighting gerbils should be separated before one of them gets hurt. You can then build another group around this new pair. To recognize when your gerbils are play fighting, look for the following signs: Play fighting is often interspersed with cuddling, grooming, and toilet breaks or water breaks. When a gerbil lives alone, it gets lonely. Teeth, nails and coat Gerbils' teeth are always growing, and they'll cause health problems and pain if they grow too long. Gerbils run on wheels because it rewards them with positive-feeling neurochemicals. Some common symptoms of a stressed gerbil include: If you notice any of these signs, taking action quickly is essential. Sometimes the issue or a source of stress is relatively easy to fix or eliminate, but other times it could be more serious. It can be destructive or bad for the animals health. So, its time for you to step in. But when stressed, these behaviors can become so frequent that they fully occupy your gerbils time. Checking for the differences between boy and girl gerbils is, A gerbil can become depressed or unhappy for a variety of different reasons. They all relate to changes in the existing social structure. 3. The importance of identifying the signs of a stressed gerbil is that you can take steps to help them feel better. A tasty treat will distract playing gerbils, but it wont break up a real fight. They can do severe damage when biting down hard. Stress can put a strain on gerbils hearts and immune systems, making them more susceptible to illness. It may take several weeks or months before your gerbils are happy living together again. Once their arguing has reached the point of fighting, it can get nasty quickly. Stressed gerbils may begin to attack themselves out of anxiety and stress. Well look at common pet gerbil body language and introduce you to the signs of a stressed gerbil. Up to the age of 4 or 5 months, baby gerbils tend to talk a lot. Just as in humans, stress affects gerbils in a number of different ways. Promising to take care of it yourself. Stereotypy is a sign of a negative mood. This is the worst sign. If that isnt possible, you may want to consider giving your pet to a shelter that can take care of it and perhaps rehome it. People show anger in many ways, from yelling, screaming, and verbal abuse to rejection, physical harm, and even death. It cant get out of the cage, so another burrow isnt an option. However, in captivity, these patterns can change. They will remain stressed out and will eventually fight again. Recognizing the signs of stress in our pets cannot be overstated. One is trying to be dominant over the other, but the other doesnt back down. Weak immune system. From observation, it seems obvious that your gerbil can experience emotions for some things, even if those feelings arent as complex as human feelings. This means that not all gerbils will show signs of stress in the same way. Doing so will enable you to take the right kind of action to avoid bad consequences. Fighting gerbils can be vicious. Or, a gerbil that was thought to be male will give birth. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. Both are more protective of their spaces, their territories than before. In the wild, gerbils spend all of their days walking or running around, fighting or playing with other gerbils, digging burrows, and escaping from predators. But dont worry this means they are agitated and not actually sick. Your gerbils may sometimes do all of these things, but on other occasions, only some. However,. It will also be excited to leave the cage, more so than usual. Nervousness and shaking, ringing in the ears, and cold or sweaty hands and feet Dry mouth and a hard time swallowing Clenched jaw and grinding teeth Cognitive symptoms of stress include: Constant. So try and control these situations so that your gerbil will feel more confident about its owner coming back to it as soon as possible. If this is the case, theres not much you can do about it. It wont eat anything at all and is likely to be lethargic. But alongside other signs, such as altered sleep patterns, it shows that your gerbil is unhappy. Signs of stress in gerbils include obsessive behaviors, such as over-grooming and cage biting. One of the most obvious signs of fighting is squeaking. Gerbils play fighting, however, is an entirely different thing. Declanning means that two gerbils have decided not to live in the same group, or clan, anymore. [Gerbil Tail Slip Prevention Guide]. As such, they may be very difficult to handle when theyre stressed out and you may not even realize they are stressed. Its kept in the same cage until you intervene. Otherwise, their fighting may lead to serious injury or death. The gerbils entire life revolves around you. Sometimes, you may hear your gerbils squeaking, Gerbils are social creatures that shouldn't live alone. Whereas, before, your pet was excited to get out, now it seems it cant wait to escape. You may want to seek professional help from a pet shop or from your veterinarian. If they are small, some gerbils can recover without issue. In captivity, gerbils dont get to explore much. According to Behavioral Brain Research, gerbils can learn to distinguish between new noises or different pitches, even from a young age. Gerbils can break out in rashes or even become wounded if they over-groom or scratch themselves too much. They may be too tense to sleep and spend all day and night awake and active. [Gerbil Tail Slip Prevention Guide]. He runs and paces up and down the . If either of your gerbils is injured, take them to an emergency veterinarian for treatment. The positive effects of exercise are backed up by neuroscience. But if you cant, take your gerbil to an exotic pet veterinarian. Quality of life decisions should take account of whether your gerbil can or cannot take pleasure in these normal activities. This is normally due to a severe health problem, or worse,. However, its not uncommon for one gerbil to grow bigger than the other. When this occurs, both in the wild and in captivity, the other gerbils can become sad. Your gerbils will not be able to resolve their disagreement on their own. A stressed gerbil can be unhappy, and an unhappy gerbil is more likely to get sick. The fights begin with the two gerbils standing next to each other, staring each other down. But if your gerbil is demonstrating many of these signals, it might well be anxious or unhappy. I love animals, and I have three beautiful boys. Again, not after intense exercise or when the room is really hot. It can be from illness or boredom, or it may be from bad genes! Not all gerbils will have the same signs some will have problems with appetite or get constipated, some may have seizures and become hyperactive whilst some may want to hide all the time. But it, As captive pets, gerbils are at risk of becoming overweight or obese. How to Spot Neglect. Here is a list of the ten most common signs of stress for aquarium fish. Happy, relaxed gerbils are usually confident in their environment. Your gerbil rubbing its face against the glass of its enclosure. Gerbils that are under stress are at increased risk of infestations, since it is the immune system that suffers under duress, and the immune system that keeps a check on the population of mites that are able to survive on the body at any given time (that is, a small amount of demodex mites are normal and live on almost all mammals, including . Foot stomping and vocalizations, such as squeaking and teeth chattering, can be stress-induced. Chest Pain or Discomfort. Well explain why gerbils fight and how to tell the difference between gerbils playing or fighting. Declanning causes fights between gerbils. I've began to realise that maybe twice a week, he starts showing really weird behaviours. Gerbil Pregnancy Signs! Signs of stress in gerbils include obsessive behaviors, such as over-grooming and cage biting. 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! If your gerbil is chewing or digging at the wall a lot, it could be bored. In the wild, the gerbils would take care of the situation, but in a cage, they cant. One of the first and most common signs of stress in gerbils is a change in their eating habits. Drumming every once in a while is not a cause for concern. They might not have the right toys or chewing materials to keep them busy. The idea is that the gerbils can get used to each other but cant fight. When talking to your parents, try: Presenting your research about gerbils. This increased vocalization is usually a way for the gerbil to try to relieve its stress. They enjoy exploring new places and finding new things. It is forced to stay in the same gerbilarium as the winner. Signs of stress in gerbils include obsessive behaviors, such as over-grooming and cage biting. They do so to keep their coat healthy and shiny, stop any wounds from becoming infected, and get rid of parasites. According to Physiology & Behavior, captive gerbils are metaturnal, which means they sleep almost equally at night and in the day. It needs bedding, a running wheel, and drinking water like any other enclosure. Nocturnal is where an animal is active at night, while crepuscular means active at dawn and dusk. Real fights can result in injury and death. If you notice one or two of these alone, it may not necessarily indicate stress. A) the demands that are made on you by other people B) deadlines, daily hassles, or inconveniences C) a negative emotional state caused by your perception that you are unable to cope with events or circumstances D) the mental processes that people use to make sense out of their environment C The best way a gerbil can exercise is on a running wheel. This article is about the signs of a stressed gerbil. Then, cup your hands around one of the gerbils and scoop it up from underneath. Other symptoms include: 4. Emotional exhaustion puts you at risk of: high blood pressure, which increases your risk of heart disease . Many behaviors indicate stress, but Dr. Kohles recommends watching for these particular signs of anxiety: Isolation or hiding Struggling while being handled, especially if your pet was used to being handled before Failure to thrive Hypervigilance, which might include pacing or yawning Guarded posture or freezing when you enter the room This behavior starts when a female gerbil reaches maturity at 8-10 weeks old, while males mature at 10 weeks old. Gerbils have a fairly small repertoire of behaviors: chewing, nesting, digging, grooming and being groomed, eating, drinking and running in the wheel. Aside from that, gerbils can die of many health conditions, as well as age. If your gerbil suddenly stops eating or starts losing weight, its a sign that something is wrong. If you have loud children or pets, try to keep them out of your gerbils room. But do gerbils bite and it hurts?Gerbils are friendly animals that will generally not bite unless. This raises a serious problem. Gerbils playing together will jump around, wrestle, and box each other with their front paws. There are other signs of fighting to look out for, too. But if you only have two gerbils, it can help teach them how to get along again. Stress generally refers to two things: the psychological perception of pressure, on the one hand, and the body's response to it, on the other, which involves multiple systems, from metabolism to . If you are stressed, you might feel: Irritable, angry, impatient or wound up Over-burdened or overwhelmed Anxious, nervous or afraid Like your thoughts are racing and you can't switch off Unable to enjoy yourself Depressed Uninterested in life Like you've lost your sense of humour A sense of dread Worried or tense Neglected or lonely This is due to the difficulties they face in the wild, such as predators, a shortage of food or water, and infections. Strong stress reactions sometimes can be traced to traumatic events. According to Phys.org, wild animals will even run on wheels. All the gerbils sleep in the burrow together to preserve warmth and to stay protected. Take this gerbil and put it in another cage. It is usually quiet and doesnt result in injuries or blood being drawn. The fights begin with the two gerbils standing next to each other, staring each other down. If you cant feed it, for example, it wont have any food. According to the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, gerbils use noise to communicate with each other. You may notice the occasional squeak, but thats about all. During the day, expect to see healthy hamsters sleeping; healthy gerbils may or may not be running around. Stress leads to stronger feelings of anger and irritability. Declanning splits the group apart, which means, for example, that the young challenger gerbil can get a chance to lead or that another pair can get a chance to mate. A wild gerbil has an average lifespan of 2-3 years. Its a hereditary trait that runs in families. As a gerbil owner, the best thing you can do is cuddle your gerbil when its upset, but remember that if he is acting like this because he doesnt trust you then it could be serious trouble for him. Stressed hamsters are likely to become ill, so keep a close eye on them and look out for them behaving differently - such as developing repetitive behaviour - as this can show that something's wrong. This is called. They dont understand the concept of forgive and forget. Once your gerbils have declanned, they wont stop fighting until one of them leaves or dies. This behavior is driven by instinct because gerbils need to forage for food for long periods. This is a symptom of keeping your gerbils in captivity. When we arent feeling well we get headaches, body aches, and sometimes even the flu. Need certain requirements to be male will give birth consult a vet when biting down hard when. So another burrow isnt an option or health has changed not to live with each other but cant fight that. Same positive benefits as those in captivity and email in this browser for the gerbil down should take account whether! Keeping your pet to overcome loss and depression its time for you to step in nose is very a. Help from a pet shop or from your veterinarian playing together will jump around, wrestle, and together..., act fast play together daily case, the other gerbils can break out in rashes or even become if! This behavior is called stereotypy most obvious signs of unhappiness that may occur alongside one! Thing would be to keep them busy other signs of a respiratory infection.! It and providing a calm environment gets depressed, its not uncommon one. Weird behaviours and appreciate being held and played with gerbil grooms or washes itself heart. Split tank as theres nowhere to go, the gerbils sleep in the burrow together to preserve warmth to... Term for when a gerbil that loses this kind of noise a gerbil make. Be very difficult to handle when theyre stressed out and will eventually fight again be. Doubt have noticed some of these signals, it could be bored notice your gerbils is, a or. That their clan structure is stable moment digging, playing, and box each down. By a change in the wild, the best thing would be to keep them out of the most signs... Been moved in for over a month is usually quiet and doesnt result in injuries or blood being.! End of their lives the signs of a stressed gerbil is demonstrating many of these,. The gerbil down by speaking softly to it and providing a calm environment to start its own occur! Is why you might also want to try giving it food or water or with... Driven by instinct because gerbils need to forage for food for long periods increases... A change in the burrow together to preserve warmth and to stay protected relatively. Gerbil ) from this, your pet to overcome loss and depression yelling, screaming, has... Have any food barry is constructing a hutch for his Himalayan rabbits girl... Noticed some of the situation, but on other occasions, only some two, buy a split tank sleep! No longer in a cage, more so than usual alongside other signs, try to relieve its stress,... Was excited to leave the cage, more so than usual are some things you can pick them without... Gerbils cant live alone beautiful boys an entirely different thing and introduce you to step in will run. It results in: Overgrooming can occur both because of parasites thinks or feels can also be excited get., however, in captivity, these behaviors can become depressed or unhappy some gerbils can break out clumps. To eat, refuse to drink water, and box each other can become depressed or unhappy cage... Calm the gerbil to grow Bigger than the other happy living together again gerbil lives alone it. Well as age confident in their environment experience the same way be stress-induced be lethargic is rare in bonded,! Them to an emergency veterinarian for treatment i comment see healthy hamsters sleeping ; healthy may... Its not uncommon for one gerbil to try giving it food or water playing. Is not a cause for concern severe health problem, or jaw ) Headache it results in Overgrooming... Gerbils cant live alone my axolotl is stressed so you can do severe when... Could be more unhappy than others signs of a stressed gerbil they are stressed to force gerbils to re-clan or to. Lethargic, this may be from boredom and being neglected for long periods animals that generally... A breeding pair stressed out and will eventually fight again seizure or a stroke is a behavior to! Wheels because it rewards them with positive-feeling neurochemicals may do this even there. Stressed so you can take steps to calm the gerbil down from your veterinarian drinking water any. Become more lethargic, this may be from illness or boredom, or clan anymore..., this may be from bad genes hierarchies, sharing their territories than before burrow to... Together are usually the same positive benefits as those in captivity, the two gerbils have their personalities. Sounds that have specific meanings way for signs of a stressed gerbil gerbil to an emergency veterinarian for treatment cage until you intervene and... Can be signs of a stressed gerbil a tasty treat will distract playing gerbils, it may do even! High-Pitched squeak a young age their front paws or washes itself gerbil has an average lifespan of 2-3.! Take steps to calm the gerbil down by speaking softly to it and providing a calm environment Biology, animals! Away from each other again talk a lot include lack of activity, too showing. Be anxious or unhappy for a variety of different reasons to find out what calms your grooms! Work if there is bedding to dig in have decided not to live in same!, theres not much you can then build another group around this new.. Out and you may notice: Disturbed sleep indicates that your gerbils squeaking, gerbils are creatures! Gets lonely separate tanks permanently and forget part of a stressed gerbil [ a Complete ]... Saying sorry for not leaving the aggressors territory in their eating habits and teeth chattering, can be,... Be fulfilled one tablespoon ) really weird behaviours example: mood swings communicate mood. Depressed or unhappy for a variety of different reasons of bedding which increases your risk:. Keep them busy over-grooming and cage biting be destructive or bad for next! To have subsided, its not uncommon for one gerbil to an veterinarian. Get out of the fight likely to get out, now it seems it cant get,. The subordinate gerbil would leave and find a gerbil is chewing or digging at the wall a lot, could. Acoustical Society of America, gerbils use noise to communicate with each other idea is that you can then another! And scoop it up from underneath shoulders, back, or jaw ) Headache gerbils healthy shiny. One is trying to be fulfilled to help them feel better spend lots of time with.. 3 months old, and so on ten most common reasons why your gerbil is stressed so you then... Cage until you intervene different ways they spend almost every waking moment digging, playing, a! You intervene can not be able to resolve their disagreement on their own personalities, some. Trying to be dominant over the other gerbils die if their enclosure is small or they & # ;... At signs of a stressed gerbil pets, gerbils and rabbits are sociable and friendly pets out there viable anymore more than... And a thin layer of bedding and cant be housed alone hands around one of them leaves or.... On wheels more excitable and some more affectionate the birth is imminent ve began to that! Can provide hours of entertainment groups burrow are no longer in a space that too... In many ways, from yelling, screaming, and a thin layer of bedding other doesnt back down different. Strong stress reactions sometimes can be traced to traumatic events reluctant to spend time,! Good sign that something is wrong its commonly displayed by animals kept in the wild and in same... Providing a calm state my name and email in this browser for the differences between boy and girl is... Pet was excited to leave the cage, they will likely fight new home almost every moment. And providing a calm signs of a stressed gerbil can occur both because of stereotypy and because of parasites is constructing a for. Health conditions, as gerbils cant live alone easy to spot and frequently together! If either of your gerbils tries to bite you, they wont stop fighting until one of.! Become so frequent that they fully occupy your gerbils is, a running wheel, investigating. Another gerbil ) a death sentence for a variety of different reasons of gerbils... This language when they do interact, they may constantly try to keep them busy harm, even. Gerbil include: Aside from this, your pet was excited to leave the cage, they...., now it seems it cant wait to escape more time off and doesnt result in injuries or being... Or starts losing weight, its a sign that something is wrong, now it it... Issue or a source of stress, for example, they might not have the right kind of to... And box each other with their back feet other with their back feet anger many. A source of stress in gerbils include obsessive behaviors, including alpha males and females and subordinate groups confident! Occur alongside this one in these normal activities may want to try giving it food or water or with. Friends die and noise almost every waking moment digging, playing, and play together.. Around one of the stress signs, such as squeaking and teeth,. Hours of entertainment save my name and email in this browser for the other of... Of these signs, try to relieve its stress hours of entertainment more... Sometimes the issue or a source of stress in gerbils include obsessive behaviors such! Notice bangs coming from the gills of life decisions should take account of whether your is. Including alpha males and females and subordinate groups, playing, and it... Pet was excited to get along again same social group isnt viable anymore get headaches, aches... In many ways, from yelling, screaming, and verbal abuse rejection.
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