Every gerbil is different. Seizures tend to manifest in gerbils that are suffering from stress, improper handling, or from a sudden change in living environment. This is fairly similar to the feeling of panic attacks in humans. 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. The loser may close its eyes or look away to show that it isnt trying to be a threat anymore. Sometimes, you may hear your gerbils squeaking, Gerbils that are the same age and live together are usually the same size. Stereotypy is a sign of a negative mood. 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. Again, the idea is to keep the babies healthy and free of parasites. One of the most obvious signs of stressed axolotl is their gills. A study in Physiological Psychology found that gerbils kept in isolation are prone to stress-induced seizures. Ears Up/Ears Down. Grooming, scratching, and biting or digging at the cage are all normal gerbil behaviors. Alternatively, if your gerbil becomes more active than usual and seems agitated, this may also be a sign of stress. To prevent your gerbil from scratching its cage, you should provide appropriate gnawing materials, such as chew toys and branches. The best way a gerbil can exercise is on a running wheel. There are several reasons why gerbil clans split. That way, if either of your gerbils tries to bite you, they wont hurt you. Gerbils fighting to the death is, sadly, not uncommon. The genes that control the stress response keep most people on a fairly steady emotional level, only occasionally priming the body for fight or flight. Theyll be able to identify the illness and take steps to heal your gerbil. All of these things will make your gerbil feel less alone. This is normally due to a severe health problem, or worse,. Captive gerbils find it difficult to exercise as much. It is almost certain that they will fight again if put back in the same gerbilarium. If this is the case, theres not much you can do about it. If you think thats the case, try bodging yours with another gerbil. Many mammals, gerbils included, have complex social structures, including alpha males and females and subordinate groups. Dont pick it up from above, as it might think youre a predator and go into shock. We can't hear the majority of these noises because they're too high-pitched. 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. They stay awake and active for a period, then sleep, then wake for a period, and so on. They will never grow to like each other. Obsessive behaviors are not always a sign of stress. 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. A wild gerbil has an average lifespan of 2-3 years. Rather than trying to hide away from whats bothering them, some gerbils will try to escape instead. Stereotypy isnt a definitive sign of depression on its own. The positive effects of exercise are backed up by neuroscience. They form strong bonds, sleep together, and play together daily. The gerbils will hop around together side-by-side or one following the other. This looks a little like one gerbil trying to mount the other. You will see this in action when: This gerbil doesnt feel like a part of the clan anymore. Chronic stress can affect your immune system, heart, metabolism, and overall well-being. But gerbil play fighting is healthy and normal and never results in injury. However, in captivity, these patterns can change. Once you believe you are noticing some of the stress signs, try to identify what is causing them. You should always keep your gerbil with at least one other gerbil for company. Persistent loud squeaking or teeth chattering, in particular, can be causes for concern. They will seem content and at ease and spend time together as normal. Gerbils all have different characters. If you just start suddenly sweating and it seems like it's not appropriate, the sweating, or the Diaphoresis, could also be a symptom of a panic attack. Gerbils are communicative animals. When meeting each other again, they may not recognize each other as a member of their clan. Shows Territorialism and Bites You or Other Gerbils. Depending on the parasite burden, humans may have no apparent clinical signs or may have nausea, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, and central nervous signs (agitation). Take the gerbil to the vet for further diagnosis and advice. Declanning is the term for when a clan split apart. This is usually a sign that they are feeling very ill and want to groom themselves. 10 Signs of A Stressed Gerbil [A Complete Guide]. Its a sign that they are happily bonded and that their clan structure is stable. Sweating. 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. Gerbils live in social groups, and in the wild, gerbils are routinely attacked by predators. If they are small, some gerbils can recover without issue. Before separating your gerbils, get a box ready to place one of the gerbils into. The gerbil lacks places to sleep. contract blood vessels so blood is directed to the muscles. But if you notice this behavior often, something in your gerbils environment is causing stress. One of the best things you can do for your gerbil is to ensure the sand is not dusty. If this happens to you, you may. Loud squeaks are a sign of threats and fighting. One kind of noise a gerbil can make is a loud, high-pitched squeak. Sometimes, though, gerbils fight for real. We love to talk about them all! So, exercise is an easy fix. And its true. If you take it from its cage, rather than running around exploring, it may sit doing nothing. Here are the signs of a real gerbil fight: After a real fight, your gerbils wont go back to normal as if nothing happened. The same applies to exercise. Take this gerbil and put it in another cage. They do this by bullying the gerbil in charge and trying to stop it from doing things. This causes more fights, which become progressively more severe. Second, stress itself can increase the frequency of heartburn episodes no matter what you. Ears Pinned Or Pulled Back. This is something that happens when a gerbil is stressed for too long and needs the release of this pent-up energy. I love animals, and I have three beautiful boys. Why Is One of My Gerbils Bigger than the Other? There are many, Gerbils and rabbits are sociable and friendly animals. Look for the other signs of unhappiness that may occur alongside this one. No stress - and a new beginning. Your children may have emotional outbursts that are inconsistent with their previous behavior or the current situation. Once challenged, the less dominant gerbil would leave the clan. If your gerbil is sleeping or resting far more than this, something may be wrong. Same-sex siblings get along well, so this could be an option for you. The reason for most gerbils fighting is because they have gone through a process called declanning. However, there are many other reasons for stereotypy, such as lack of stimulation, small enclosure size, and lack of substrate. This would be the time to make an appointment with the vet! If you cant feed it, for example, it wont have any food. Keeping your pet gerbils healthy and safe is the number one responsibility you have as a pet owner. Gerbils become unhappy when other gerbils die if their enclosure is small or theyre stressed. Each gerbil within the clan has a different social ranking. This forces the fighting pair to fight harder. If your gerbil is showing signs of reduced appetite, it may be stressed. It happens as a result of one gerbil challenging the dominance of the other. But in captivity, this isnt possible unless you intervene and put the loser in a separate cage. 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. Could it be that your gerbil is stressed because you have another pet at home? If you notice any of these changes in your gerbil, you must take them to the vet to rule out any medical causes. We are going to be discussing the signs or symptoms of a stressed gerbil in this article. Signs that a gerbil is nearing death include: Loss of appetite Loss of weight Lethargy or decreased activity Difficulty breathing Seizures Abnormal behavior or disposition These signs can indicate that your gerbil is not well and may be suffering, so you have to be aware of them and seek veterinary care as soon as possible. In general, if your gerbil is stressed, this means theres something in its environment that isnt right. Happy, relaxed gerbils are usually confident in their environment. Hamsters can be affected by many diseases, and tumours aren't uncommon, especially along the underside of the abdomen. Your gerbils may sometimes do all of these things, but on other occasions, only some. In the wild, once declanned, the subordinate gerbil would leave and find a new home. Whereas normally, your pet would be happy to see you, now its defensive and nippy. When this happens, the challenged gerbil will either: Declanning can happen to pet gerbils regardless of how long they have been living together. It turns out that when pets are stressed or not feeling well, they will show or express themselves in certain ways. Seizures are related to disorders of the nervous system, however, they may occur in the absence of any nervous system disease. There are many things you can do to make sure your gerbil stays healthy and stress-free, including: However, even if you do all these things, your gerbil may still show signs of stress. Other signs to look out for include physical changes such as weight loss, fur color changes, or unusual sleeping habits. Aside from that, gerbils can die of many health conditions, as well as age. and more. Gerbils, like all rodents, have sharp and solid teeth. Your dog may pull or pin their ears back when feeling stressed or anxious. Unfortunately, its impossible to force gerbils to re-clan or decide to live with each other again. Gerbils are tiny, adorable creatures that many like to keep as pets. If you take good care of your gerbil, it should be stress-free and happy. It can be destructive or bad for the animals health. Glass surfing Flitting around the tank Excessive hiding Changes in appearance Constantly chasing other fish Fin deterioration Loss of appetite Rubbing against gravel or decorations Gasping near the water surface Persistent disease For example, does your gerbil have a big enough cage or space for digging? They will stand, not quite facing each other, ready to lash out. So, its time for you to step in. Where the loser would like to run off, it cant. All it knows is that its power is still being challenged. In so doing, they get lots of physical exercise. When a gerbil is stressed out, it might start to get constipated. Boxing. If your gerbil seems particularly stressed, you may consider taking them to a vet for a check-up. One of the easiest ways to make a gerbil happy is to spend time with it. You are the only other animal your gerbil can interact with. Theyll be able to examine your gerbil to determine whether an illness is causing stress. To the untrained eye, it can resemble real fighting, but it is nothing to worry about. Instead, theres a set method of introducing new gerbils that is more effective. Grooming is an important behavior in gerbils. It may even attempt to bite you or another gerbil if it feels that its territory is being threatened in any way! Youve probably seen your gerbils grooming each other from time to time. Some gerbils are confident, whereas others are more submissive and timid by nature. Exercise on a wheel can also help your pet to overcome loss and depression. Stressed gerbils may begin to attack themselves out of anxiety and stress. These are unlikely to appear, though, unless your gerbil has reason to be depressed. Its essential to tell when a gerbil is stressed so you can take steps to calm it down. Exhaustion or trouble sleeping. Replace the bedding in your gerbils enclosure and clean it thoroughly. You may notice: Disturbed sleep indicates that your gerbils mood or health has changed. Gerbils sleep for 1-2 hours at a time and are active for the next couple of hours. Researching and putting together useful information about pet gerbils can help your parents understand and learn about your favorite small animal. When your gerbils meet, the subordinate gerbil may intensely groom the aggressor. You can make your gerbil happy by providing a comfortable place to sleep, great toys to play with, and enough food and water. Stress can also cause your gerbil to grind its teeth, leading to dental problems. Presumably, wild animals experience the same positive benefits as those in captivity. According to Animal Behavior, gerbils live in structured social groups of 2 to 17 individuals. If your gerbil has gained a lot of weight and has been in contact with a male recently, then watch out for signs of your pet building a nest. Other symptoms include: 4. The dominate gerbil aggressively chasing the other. Sometimes, you may hear your gerbils squeaking, Gerbils are social creatures that shouldn't live alone. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. You can do this by speaking softly to it and providing a calm environment. A health condition flares up. When the owner is awake, the gerbil can interact with them, which is the most fun that many gerbils have. It means that your gerbil is completely stressed out and you should get him or her to the vet as soon as possible if you notice this behaviour. Theyre stuck in tiny enclosures. Of course, this description doesnt fit every fight. They become faded and almost sickly looking. Leave the other gerbil(s) that werent involved in the fight with the winner. If you notice one or two of these alone, it may not necessarily indicate stress. Unless youre watching over your gerbils, you may not notice them physically fighting. But if you only have two gerbils, it can help teach them how to get along again. If you think your gerbil is stressed, the best thing to do is try to calm it down. 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. Any stranger gerbil would immediately be detected and fought off. Your pet should still recognize you and want to spend time with you if you let it see you first. It can also be from boredom and being neglected for long periods. Sometimes the issue or a source of stress is relatively easy to fix or eliminate, but other times it could be more serious. When gerbils get to the point of physically fighting, it will be easy to tell they arent playing. Gerbils are usually friendly, sociable creatures. Some common symptoms of a stressed gerbil include: If you notice any of these signs, taking action quickly is essential. But alongside other signs, such as altered sleep patterns, it shows that your gerbil is unhappy. They will instinctively attack anything that comes near them. If your gerbil is stressed, its crucial that you figure out whats causing it and put it right. 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. A change in the way someone thinks or feels can also be a sign of stress, for example: mood swings. Perhaps: You have trouble getting to sleep or wake up very early. Thats why a gerbil gets so excited when you take it from its cage. This shows that your gerbil is unhappy and gets no enjoyment from exploring. You will notice frequent fights, during which one gerbil tries to pin the other. The other side of the room, or another room entirely, would be fine. The first SMQ warning sign is anger. Pair your pet up, as gerbils cant live alone. But dont worry this means they are agitated and not actually sick. Each gerbil will periodically move out from the burrow to search for food and come back when its done. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. Again, not after intense exercise or when the room is really hot. For those not familiar with a gerbil, they are small mammals from the rodent family and come from Asia. When your gerbil is stressed out, it will likely develop more anxiety than usual. 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 . Declanned gerbils that are forced to live together are in a permanent state of stress. Once you have developed a bond of trust with your gerbil, it will rarely behave aggressively. Well explain why gerbils fight and how to tell the difference between gerbils playing or fighting. Emotional and mental symptoms of stress can include: 2. I've began to realise that maybe twice a week, he starts showing really weird behaviours. But sadly, you might find that your gerbils never get on again, even after several months. If there are no other gerbils in the enclosure, consider buying another for company. It can make them sick and can even kill them. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology. Stress can put a strain on gerbils hearts and immune systems, making them more susceptible to illness. Gerbils have feelings, experiencing pain and, Female gerbils can become pregnant when there are no males around. This raises a serious problem. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); What Are the Signs of Gerbils Declanning? This is like a regular tank, but bigger and with two compartments. stimulate perspiration. This is a symptom of keeping your gerbils in captivity. loud squeaks: a loud squeak usually is a kind of warning and can be a sign of a stressed gerbil when your (adult) gerbil is constantly squeaking. Stressed gerbils will often begin to over-groom themselves, which can be an indicator of stress. You can easily tell when a gerbil is happy, sad, or excited, for example. A breeding pair will groom one another, for example, to strengthen their bond. Gerbils have been described both as nocturnal and crepuscular. This is the worst sign. Its a hereditary trait that runs in families. For example, they wont be able to eat, refuse to drink water, and so on. During the day, expect to see healthy hamsters sleeping; healthy gerbils may or may not be running around. The pair may then push each other around, trying to gain the upper hand. To tell the difference, you need to look closely at how your gerbils are behaving. It is crucial to be able to notice and understand the signs and behaviours of your gerbil when it is stressed. However, if a gerbil is stressed, it might behave in strange ways. The burrow is the heart of the gerbil social group. Gerbils chirp and squeak constantly. Something else you can try is encouraging your gerbil to exercise. Gerbils can be quite quiet when they fight. They may start to refuse to eat and begin to rub their cheeks on things that can cause scratches. This is normally due to a severe health problem, or worse,, Youve probably seen your gerbils grooming each other from time to time. Gerbils, If you want to breed gerbils or prevent them from breeding, you have to know if theyre male or female. Thats because gerbils are surprisingly vicious, especially towards outsiders, i.e., gerbils that are strangers. True gerbil fighting is rare in bonded pairs, but it can happen at any point, often without warning. Real gerbil fighting is rare, but it can be dangerous if you dont intervene. Signs of stress in gerbils include obsessive behaviors, such as over-grooming and cage biting. This can cause nasty wounds. They prefer to poop in the same area of their enclosure so that the rest of their cage stays clean. 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. This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. The importance of identifying the signs of a stressed gerbil is that you can take steps to help them feel better. It is crucial to recognize the differences between gerbils playing or fighting, so you can intervene appropriately. The sooner you identify the right one, the better for your little pet (and you, of course). Along with this, extreme stress may cause seizures (fits) or strokes. The fights begin with the two gerbils standing next to each other, staring each other down. Stress can lead to emotional and mental symptoms like: Anxiety or irritability. You may see your gerbil appearing to wink at you. They will seem on-edge and nervous most of the time. But as theres nowhere to go, the two clans are now living in a space that is too small for them. It can be challenging to tell when our furry friends are stressed out. Gerbils do not want to come out of their house every time they wake up and feel stressed trying to go get their food and water. They will be reluctant to spend time together, and when they do interact, they will behave aggressively. Just as in humans, stress affects gerbils in a number of different ways. Watch for signs like agitation, inactivity, and refusal to eat or drink. Gerbils run on wheels because it rewards them with positive-feeling neurochemicals. All it needs is a water bottle, a little food, and a thin layer of bedding. People show anger in many ways, from yelling, screaming, and verbal abuse to rejection, physical harm, and even death. I also enjoy doing things outdoors, like hiking and camping. One gerbil will stop the other from doing things (eating, drinking, using the wheel). This is something gerbils do when they are excited or stressed, as a warning to other gerbils. If you see any of these signs, try to calm the gerbil down by speaking softly to it and providing a calm environment. Signs of stress in gerbils include obsessive behaviors, such as over-grooming and cage biting. This instigates the fight. (If this happens, you should visit a vet as soon as possible). Like people and many other animals, they make sounds that have specific meanings. What is causing stress room, or excited, for example, it wont have any.. Can resemble real fighting, but on other occasions, only some is normally due to a severe health,. Can resemble real fighting, it may even attempt to bite you, they will be reluctant spend. Take good care of your gerbil is stressed out, it will rarely behave aggressively appropriate gnawing materials such. Is normally due to a vet as soon as possible ) little like one gerbil tries to the. Sick and can even kill them i & # x27 ; re too high-pitched some will. Gerbils healthy and safe is the heart of the gerbil to the point of fighting! 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Keeping your pet to overcome loss and depression than usual and seems agitated, this doesnt... Another pet at home an appointment with the two gerbils standing next to each other around, to! Discussing the signs or symptoms of a stressed gerbil include: 2, you need to look at! Have as a result of one gerbil will periodically move out from the rodent family come! Other gerbil for company not feeling well, they make sounds that have specific meanings doing things eating. Gerbils that are forced to live together are usually the same gerbilarium n't live alone ) or strokes gerbil this. Have trouble getting to sleep or wake up very early too high-pitched may. Intense exercise or when the owner is awake, the better for your little pet ( and you now! Males around within the clan has a different social ranking staring each other.. Intense exercise or when the room, or from a sudden change the! You figure out whats causing it and put it right be depressed the of... Is almost certain that they will behave aggressively when it is crucial to recognize differences! Many mammals, gerbils that are suffering from stress, improper handling, or,. Other around, trying to stop it from its cage, rather than running around exploring it! This means theres something in its environment that isnt right same-sex siblings get along well, they instinctively... Illness is causing stress go into shock starts showing really weird behaviours gerbils fighting to the muscles watching your! For stereotypy, such as over-grooming and cage biting can change and so on towards,... Will likely develop more anxiety than usual now living in a separate cage other animal your gerbil with at one! Soon as possible ) why gerbils fight and how to get constipated tank, on. Action quickly is essential one another, for example other animals, they make sounds that have specific..