Wild, Wild Boys

I think a common misconception about gerbils is that they're nocturnal. Which is totally FALSE.

Gerbils seem to have several sleep-wake cycles during a 24-hr period. Most wild gerbils tend to be diurnal (meaning they are more active during the day), whereas domesticated gerbils exhibit "crepuscular" behavior (meaning the boys will be at their WILDEST  at dawn and dusk). For more info, click here.

This is just one of the reasons why gerbils make great pets. You do not need to wait until dark to play with them. If you have children, they will actually be AWAKE to interact with the gerbils.

From my personal experience, the boys tend to adapt to our own sleep/wake cycles. The boys sleep in the afternoon until C comes home from work, and then start their little gerbil motors. If we both leave the house, they seem to sleep until we return (as their tanks always seem relatively unchanged).

The boys are up all night, doing spooky things!

Recently they have been partying like rock stars late into the night, and it's been tough to get some sleep. I feel like an old fart when I shake my fist at them from my bed and say "Keep it down, you two!" But they don't listen. Why should they? They're just living the gerbil lifestyle :) Digging, running, chewing, and making a mess!

Interesting little creatures :)

New Year for Gerbils!

Tig's Resolution? To escape his tank! Tig managed to climb on top of the skinny bar of his wheel. On two feet, he stretched as far as he could go and he ALMOST made it out of the tank. Needless to say, we turned the wheel around so its highest point is only half the height of the tank.

Pendy's Resolution? Not quite sure yet! He seems to be happy in his tank, but I am afraid that he is still quite lonely. He is also getting older (sad :( ) and he seems to be sleeping more. He is also jogging on his wheel, in comparison to Tig's speed-runs on his own wheel. I hope I can still provide a happy life for Pendy as he becomes a senior gerbil!

My resolution? To continue being a good mom to my gerbs! And to spoil them more, if that's possible!

C is also in the process of creating his calender for me, an annual tradition! This year's calender features Pendy, Tig, and the late D'Agosta. The photos above are June, and August, respectively. I can't wait to see the final product!

Missing My Boys

I've only been away from my two furry boys (well...three if you count C) for three days, and it feels like it's been a MONTH since I've seen them!

The first time I left the gerbils for an extended time was in 2008. When I returned, Pendy and D took turns scent-marking me! I also got many gerbil-kisses as a "welcome home" greeting. I was worried that they might forget about me, or lose interest, but their love for their mama was still apparent, as was my love for them! Plus, it was not as if they were left entirely on their own. Their "grandparents" and their "uncle" J took quite good care of them, and from what I could see, they had been spoiled!

Pendy and Tig will be traveling by car with C to meet up with me in time for Christmas. Pendy is a pro at riding in a vehicle. We put him in his critter-carrier and carry him out to the car (where his tank is already waiting). There, we place him in the tank, and repeat the process with Tig (in his own tank, of course!) We remove the wheel and the water dish from the tank because we don't want the gerbs to get injured, or have to sleep in wet aspen!

Safety first! Buckle up, boys!

C will stop periodically on the drive to give them water, and their wheel for a little entertainment. Of course, the gerbs will have plenty of cardboard tubes to chew on during the drive.

 

C will make sure to take many breaks, as it is quite a long drive. Tig is an adventurous little gerbil, so I imagine he will take to the drive quickly. Forget Christmas - I am counting down the days until I get to cuddle my three boys again!

Tig enjoys a good book. Perhaps he will read on the drive?

Gerbs Enjoy the Holidays, Too!

I especially enjoy the holidays for it gives me an excuse to make little crafts for the boys!

Last year, I pulled some materials together and painted snowflake ornaments: one for Pendy, one for D!

The boys also needed something to set out for "Santa Paws". We set out some yummy gerbil treats, and I put together a couple of stockings in which to receive presents!

Although D has left us in body, he has not left us in spirit :) We hung up his stocking and ornament in his honor!

Tig, alas, had nothing, so today I painted this ornament for him:

I haven't made a stocking for him yet, but if I run out of time I will make sure Santa Paws knows to drop off some gifts for Tig! Next year, my goal is to create a gerbil tree-topper. The holidays are for rodents, too!

Favorite (Store-Bought) Toy for Gerbs

The boys are pretty fussy with new things, especially Pendy! But there is one toy that Pendy and Tig can not get enough of:

The Super Pet Combo Toy Hamburger!

When we introduced Pendy and D to this toy, it took them a few days to begin chewing on the burger. Once they started, they were completely enamored. Tig took to the burger right away, and now we go through two of these twice a month! (One for Pendy, one for Tig) Luckily, the pet stores around here seem to keep them in stock.

 

D'Agosta with his burger!

 

The burger is made up of a combination of small pet-friendly wood and chewable loofah made from dried-out gourds. It keeps our gerbils' teeth healthy and sharp, and also provides them with a challenge: " How can I get to the delicious loofah in the middle?" 

I was a little uneasy when I saw that the loofah was so brightly colored, but the product is dyed with vegetable dye, an animal-friendly coloring method. The boys have had many burgers already in their lives, and they keep coming back for more, so I figure this toy has been safe entertainment for them.

 

D attacking the burger from behind! Sneak attack!

Cardboard tubes will always be their favorite, but our furry guys can't get enough of Super Pet's burger!

 

Troublesome Teeth

In June 2009, D'Agosta stopped chewing on cardboard tubes.

I knew instantly that something was the matter, since D'Agosta and Pendy would never refuse a toilet paper tube! The little guy would sniff the tube and then ignore it. I also noticed that he was yawning frequently, and his paws were constantly at his mouth.

After phoning several veterinary offices, looking for a doctor who was familiar with gerbils,  we took D to the Maritime Animal Hospital. The staff was beyond friendly and helpful, and I would recommend their services to any gerbil owners in the area. Upon investigation, it seemed as though D's teeth front teeth were too long, and were preventing his back teeth from touching. A quick tooth trim, and D was sent home, no worse for the wear.

A few days later, D was back to pawing at his mouth. When I looked into his mouth (which is a little challenging with a squirmy gerbil) I saw that one of his front teeth was hanging a little crooked. We went back to the doctor's to have it checked out. When the doctor trimmed his crooked tooth - surprise! - the tooth fell out! D apparently had a loose tooth, which was what had been bothering him all this time.

D's behavior improved quickly after that. His tooth grew back, and he was eating again (although he was very spoiled from having Mama shell all of his seeds for him when he couldn't chew!) And most importantly to D'Agosta, he could chew on his beloved cardboard tubes once more!

Little did I know then, but this situation prepared me for what happened to Tig in the first few days we had him home. Tig was not eating, and did not seem to be interested in chewing on anything. I first chalked it up to him being in a new environment, and I wondered whether he favored a different brand of food. After some observation, I then noticed the same yawning/pawing-at-the-mouth behavior that I had seen in D'Agosta.

Upon inspection, Tig was missing one tooth, and the other tooth appeared to be loose. We spent the next day feeding him through a syringe, softening up his food with water, and watching his mouth to make sure it did not show signs of infection. Luckily, Tig's teeth grew in quickly, and he has already put on a few healthy pounds with all the food he's been eating :) I feel like I could be a gerbil dentist!

My Gerbils, Past & Present

Al, George, and Scratchy: I adopted these little guys from my Grade 11 Biology classroom. I named Al and George after Al Gore and George W. Bush, as the 2000 US Presidential Election was happening at the time. My brother gave Scratchy his name after his favorite habit - to dig and scratch! They lived (happily, I hope) for about 3 years. I wish I had taken pictures of them!

Pendergast - Pendy is a wild little 1.5 year old guy! He and his brother D'Agosta were a Valentines gift from my fiance. Instead of buying each other gifts, we decided to invest in two furry creatures. Pendy is adventurous and brave. He catches on to things very quickly, and is very observant! He has made several escape attempts during free-run time outside of the tank. We love him for his ability to make us laugh, and how excited he gets to see us every morning!

D'Agosta - D is Pendy's quieter, chubbier, blonder brother. They are both named after characters from the novels of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. What a sweet little guy! D was always cuddling into us, and he loved grooming us and giving us kisses. He never turned down a treat! We also think he was training for the Olympics. See the video evidence here! We were devastated when D fell ill with liver complications. We tried two different types of antibiotics, but to no avail. We were with him, cuddling and holding him up until his death. He passed away at 1.5 years in the arms of his Mama and Daddy, and I hope this gave him some comfort. We miss him so much, and his brother Pendy does, too!

Tig -  Tig is named after the character of the same name in the television series "Sons of Anarchy"! Tig is short for "Trigger", and that suits Tig just fine. Tig came home to us at around 6-7 weeks with one tooth missing and the other tooth loose. The first few days were spent nursing him with a syringe and making sure he had enough nutrients. He seems to be loving our home, especially the areas where he can have a free run! He is pretty focused on removing Pendy from the picture, but he may just be trying to prove himself as the "alpha male". Whatever the case, Tig is a riot to watch, and we are hoping that he and Pendy eventually become the best of friends.