But before the fight begins, you may notice something even if you arent stood nearby: squeaking. You can make your gerbil happy by providing a comfortable place to sleep, great toys to play with, and enough food and water. This is fairly similar to the feeling of panic attacks in humans. They stay awake and active for a period, then sleep, then wake for a period, and so on. wet tail. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. [Gerbil Tail Slip Prevention Guide]. The infected gerbils may suffer from severe abdominal pain and diarrhea. A stressed gerbil may begin to twitch its feet or tail out of anxiety and fear. This is a sign that they need to calm down and rest. The idea is that the gerbils can get used to each other but cant fight. This is a symptom of keeping your gerbils in captivity. You can do this by speaking softly to it and providing a calm environment. There are many, Wild gerbils live together in large clans. Aside from that, gerbils can die of many health conditions, as well as age. If you constantly leave to go somewhere and dont spend as much time with them, then they are going to be stressed out from not being with you. Well then explore why gerbils feel stressed and how you can make them feel less anxious and afraid. It can be from illness or boredom, or it may be from bad genes! Could it be that your gerbil is stressed because you have another pet at home? Fighting gerbils should be separated before one of them gets hurt. The dominate gerbil aggressively chasing the other. Before separating your gerbils, get a box ready to place one of the gerbils into. It may be sitting in a tunnel, for example. It means something has startled your gerbil. The winner will then stand over it. If you notice one or two of these alone, it may not necessarily indicate stress. Blood of the gerbil on themselves or in their cage. A change in the way someone thinks or feels can also be a sign of stress, for example: mood swings. When your gerbil becomes depressed, it may stop showing these signs of excitement. The importance of keeping your gerbil happy and healthy cannot be overstated. This is the worst sign. Thats why a gerbil gets so excited when you take it from its cage. 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. You can easily tell when a gerbil is happy, sad, or excited, for example. Ears Up/Ears Down. Pair your pet up, as gerbils cant live alone. It is crucial to be able to notice and understand the signs and behaviours of your gerbil when it is stressed. Gerbils are highly social creatures. Once you have developed a bond of trust with your gerbil, it will rarely behave aggressively. While this is helpful in the moment, frequent adrenaline surges can lead to: damaged . If your gerbil is chewing or digging at the wall a lot, it could be bored. You can also offer them some chew toys or other enrichment items to help keep their minds active and distracted from whatever is causing their stress. But gerbil play fighting is healthy and normal and never results in injury. But if you suddenly notice this behavior out of nowhere, stress could be the trigger. There are many signs that a gerbil is stressed. Because gerbils are such active animals, they need a lot of sleep to compensate for this physical exertion. I also enjoy doing things outdoors, like hiking and camping. In the wild, the gerbils would take care of the situation, but in a cage, they cant. So its essential to be able to spot the signs and take action if needed. This can lead to fighting when there wasnt any in the first place. If your gerbil recently lost a friend, wait a while. Choose a same-sex playmate to avoid unwanted pregnancies. If your gerbils are fighting and drawing blood, they are not playing. Your dog may pull or pin their ears back when feeling stressed or anxious. So it doesnt necessarily mean anything is wrong. Unfortunately, once pet gerbils declan, the loser cannot leave to find its own territory. Immediately find the problem, and fix it as fast as possible. Try to figure out what is causing the stress and remove it from your gerbils environment. This instigates the fight. Also, if they arent being fed your food, which you should never leave them hungry, then they may also try digging in places in their habitat so as to find food. If you see any of these signs, try to calm the gerbil down by speaking softly to it and providing a calm environment. Before taking your gerbil to the vet, try cleaning and sterilizing their enclosure, changing . 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. First of all, it is very important to notice the signs of a stressed gerbil. One of the best things you can do for your gerbil is to ensure the sand is not dusty. Is there plenty of bedding? Each will be on its hind legs, trying to push the other and flailing with its arms. I'm currently a pet groomer, and I love it. If the ears are down and pointed back, the mouse is showing a defensive posture, especially if this is accompanied by stiff body language; he's saying, "Back off!". This applies both in the wild and in captivity. Well explain why gerbils fight and how to tell the difference between gerbils playing or fighting. Its normal to see some red tears from time to time. As a first action, change the type of bedding you are using in the enclosure. This applies both to the winner and the loser of the fight. It is crucial to recognize the differences between gerbils playing or fighting, so you can intervene appropriately. According to the Acoustical Society of America, this is an alarm signal designed to warn other gerbils of approaching predators. If your gerbil is healthy and its environment isnt causing stress, it may just have an anxious personality. But dont worry this means they are agitated and not actually sick. It needs bedding, a running wheel, and drinking water like any other enclosure. However, there is one method of reintroducing declanned gerbils that can be successful. Whereas normally, your pet would be happy to see you, now its defensive and nippy. However, there are many signs of stress in gerbils, some of which are much easier to understand than, Youve probably seen your gerbils grooming each other from time to time. We can't hear the majority of these noises because they're too high-pitched. Its kept in the same cage until you intervene. You can help a depressed gerbil to recover by spending time with your pet and showing them affection. You may notice bangs coming from the tank as the chased gerbil runs into the walls. 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. The two gerbils that are about to fight will try to intimidate each other with loud noises to win the fight before it starts. Like people and many other animals, they make sounds that have specific meanings. Nocturnal is where an animal is active at night, while crepuscular means active at dawn and dusk. Its called the split-cage method. No stress - and a new beginning. It's so rewarding to help pets look and feel their best. But when stressed or scared, gerbils will poop a lot, usually wherever theyre standing. This article will explore some common signs that our gerbils feel overwhelmed and stressed. This squeak is the fighting squeak. Declanning causes fights between gerbils. Barry is constructing a hutch for his Himalayan Rabbits. So we must do everything we can to help our gerbils relax and feel comfortable in their home. This is not always obvious in floppy-eared breeds. Reasons they might fight and declan include: The point of declanning is that the social group isnt viable anymore. Unless youre watching over your gerbils, you may not notice them physically fighting. 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. True gerbil fighting is rare in bonded pairs, but it can happen at any point, often without warning. You may not see these wounds beneath the fur. It will leap towards you when you reach in, scrabbling at the glass. Trembling. Increased heart rate and elevated blood pressure 3. But in captivity, this isnt possible unless you intervene and put the loser in a separate cage. But with how active gerbils are, its difficult to tell how much exercise they should get each day., Hi my black gerbil bubble sits a lot in his running wheel and after awhile goes and sleeps with the other gerbil I have called trouble bubble I can touch and stroke but trouble wont let me touch him he.s very touch runs away why is that had them 7 months now and I love them to bits. 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. In extreme cases, they may even lick their fur off! Which condition is common in young gerbils that are under stress and is often called stress-induced chromodacryorrhea? Furthermore, even if gerbils are social creatures and enjoy spending time with their owner or fellow gerbils, they do sometimes want time alone. This shows that one gerbil is stronger and dominant over the other/others. You may especially notice this when you reach into your enclosure to pick up one of your pets. How do You Know Your Gerbil is Stressed? Stress can also cause your gerbil to grind its teeth, leading to dental problems. But if you notice this behavior often, something in your gerbils environment is causing stress. It cant get out of the cage, so another burrow isnt an option. Do Gerbils and Rabbits Get Along? Have each gerbil sleep on each side multiple times. After declanning, youll need a new enclosure which has all the features of the old one. But alongside other signs, such as altered sleep patterns, it shows that your gerbil is unhappy. 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 But you will see the blood these bites cause. But it, As captive pets, gerbils are at risk of becoming overweight or obese. 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. In captivity, gerbils dont get to explore much. Promising to take care of it yourself. Anger. Is your gerbil lonely? Some gerbils will have seizures when stressed. Presumably, wild animals experience the same positive benefits as those in captivity. In this case, the clan continues as it was. Assert its dominance, and maintain its position as the top gerbil. Reasons for Stressed Gerbils. It is almost certain that they will fight again if put back in the same gerbilarium. When talking to your parents, try: Presenting your research about gerbils. Anxiety or irritability. 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. Most humans do this too when we feel anxious! Declanning is the term for when a clan split apart. You may see your gerbil appearing to wink at you. Gerbils declan for many reasons, all related to the social structure of the gerbil group. This increased vocalization is usually a way for the gerbil to try to relieve its stress. being withdrawn. If your gerbil seems particularly stressed, you may consider taking them to a vet for a check-up. But in captivity, this is physically impossible. Leave the other gerbil(s) that werent involved in the fight with the winner. Anyway, once the chasing starts - you should really be able to see what is going on. Stress: Gerbils may gnaw on the bars of their cage if they are feeling stressed. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. Start again from step 3. Why Is One of My Gerbils Bigger than the Other? Some gerbils even seem to change their sleeping patterns to suit their owners. Signs of infection include diarrhea, dehydration, weight loss, rough hair coat, a swollen or bloated abdomen, or fetal death in a pregnant female. Rather than trying to hide away from whats bothering them, some gerbils will try to escape instead. Shows Territorialism and Bites You or Other Gerbils. But if your gerbil is demonstrating many of these signals, it might well be anxious or unhappy. Your gerbil may display these behaviors if its depressed. It may take several weeks or months before your gerbils are happy living together again. They will seem content and at ease and spend time together as normal. One of the most obvious signs of stressed axolotl is their gills. Other symptoms include: 4. Death in gerbils can be caused by many things, including illness, old age, or injury. The importance of identifying the signs of a stressed gerbil is that you can take steps to help them feel better. Gerbils are meant to be kept in pairs and need a buddy to be happy. You might also want to try giving it food or water or playing with a toy. Fur appearance may or may not change. Happy, relaxed gerbils are usually confident in their environment. A mother will also groom her babies. Depression. from falling, rough handling, or fighting with another gerbil). Take this gerbil and put it in another cage. The signs of a depressed gerbil include lack of activity, too much sleep, bar chewing, and floor scratching. Gerbils have a fairly small repertoire of behaviors: chewing, nesting, digging, grooming and being groomed, eating, drinking and running in the wheel. This is something gerbils do when they are excited or stressed, as a warning to other gerbils. Grooming, scratching, and biting or digging at the cage are all normal gerbil behaviors. A curious mouse is inclined to perk his ears up or forward. Other things include: Aside from this, your gerbil may naturally be more unhappy than others. We are going to be discussing the signs or symptoms of a stressed gerbil in this article. Gerbils that play together are happy gerbils. Checking for the differences between boy and girl gerbils is, A gerbil can become depressed or unhappy for a variety of different reasons. 3. You need to make sure that you are around them and treat them with love and affection so their want for attention will provide that calming effect for them. To recognize when your gerbils are play fighting, look for the following signs: Gerbils chasing each other. 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. It will stain your pets fur and the bedding it sleeps on. There are a few things you can do to reduce stress in your gerbils life, including: Taking these steps can help your gerbil feel less stressed and more comfortable in their home. This raises a serious problem. But too much stress can lead to longer term problems with your dog's behaviour, like anxiety. Again, not after intense exercise or when the room is really hot. They're all grown now, but they keep me busy! Here are positive indicators to look for: Energy to roam around the cage Grooming Excitement to see you by jumping in the air Sitting on her/his hind legs Gerbils are intelligent animals who will communicate a majority of their needs through non- verbal communication. If your gerbil is showing signs of reduced appetite, it may be stressed. They can do severe damage when biting down hard. Why Do Gerbils Tails Fall Off? If this is the case, the best thing would be to keep them in separate tanks permanently. According to the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, gerbils use noise to communicate with each other. A gerbil can become depressed or unhappy for a variety of different reasons. I hope this helps you out with your gerbil pet! Stress in dogs can be caused by a variety of things, from loud noises like fireworks, to new places. There are other signs of fighting to look out for, too. In the wild, declanning would not usually result in a physical fight. All of these things will make your gerbil feel less alone. Some of the group may join it in leaving. This means that the loser will want/need to get out of the cage. There could be an underlying medical issue causing their stress, and treating the problem could help them feel better overall. Stress can put a strain on gerbils hearts and immune systems, making them more susceptible to illness. If it resonates with you, take action. 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. Muscle tension or jaw clenching. If your gerbil is unhappy, it needs your help. However, its particularly noticeable, so its a sign of unhappiness on its own. Its essential to tell when a gerbil is stressed so you can take steps to calm it down. They may refuse food or water, or they might develop gastrointestinal problems. Or concede defeat, and leave the clan to find a new home. They would never naturally do this in the wild. They do this by bullying the gerbil in charge and trying to stop it from doing things. According to PLoS One, most of these noises are too high-pitched for people to hear. 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 . If you take good care of your gerbil, it should be happy and stress-free. You are the only other animal your gerbil can interact with. This gerbil could be one of its previous cage mates or a new gerbil. You can help a depressed gerbil to recover by spending time with your pet and showing them affection. It looks like theyre licking or nibbling at each others fur. When we arent feeling well we get headaches, body aches, and sometimes even the flu. Headaches, dizziness or shaking. This is like a great insult, or a great challenge, to the dominant gerbil. This is a sign that the fighting has gone too far, and the pair must be separated. So, if you leave your pet alone, it will go stir-crazy. For example, it might become agitated and gnaw on its fur or cage bars. Its also essential to make sure your gerbil is happy. Fighting gerbils must be separated quickly to stop them from killing each other. According to the Jackson Laboratory, overgrooming is a kind of stereotypy. They will remain stressed out and will eventually fight again. The only thing you can do is look for the signs of gerbil declanning. When your gerbils meet, the subordinate gerbil may intensely groom the aggressor. They may bite their own tail or any other part of their body, sometimes to the point where they draw blood. 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. Here is a list of the ten most common signs of stress for aquarium fish. Some common signs of stress include: 1 Changes in mood Clammy or sweaty palms Decreased sex drive Diarrhea Difficulty sleeping Digestive problems Dizziness Feeling anxious Frequent sickness Grinding teeth Headaches Low energy Muscle tension, especially in the neck and shoulders Physical aches and pains Racing heartbeat Trembling This is a sign that it is happy and relaxed. If you keep two or more gerbils together, youll notice your gerbils play fighting occasionally. Foot stomping and vocalizations, such as squeaking and teeth chattering, can be stress-induced. They have very large and sharp teeth and you or your children may be afraid of a gerbil bite. If they are small, some gerbils can recover without issue. But if one becomes depressed, its sleep pattern might change. Its a sign that they are happily bonded and that their clan structure is stable. One way to tell if a gerbil is stressed is by looking at its behavior. It is responding positively to your petting and scratching. This is usually a good sign that the birth is imminent. This is easily seen in their body language and behavior. Eventually, the aggressor will get fed up, and will begin chasing the other gerbil. If they touch things, then they are probably very anxious and scared. They form strong bonds, sleep together, and play together daily. It's normal for your dog to feel stressed from time to time. If you notice these changes, you should consult a vet. Either way, a gerbils sleep pattern will stay the same throughout its life. According to the Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, gerbils communicate via ultrasonic sound. This causes more fights, which become progressively more severe. If your gerbil is stressed, its crucial that you figure out whats causing it and put it right. May just have an anxious personality in separate tanks permanently environment isnt causing stress, it may be.! 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Of my gerbils Bigger than the other gerbil panic attacks in humans a strain on gerbils hearts immune! Its a sign that the social group isnt viable anymore is active at dawn and.. Birth is imminent intimidate each other but cant fight cage are all normal gerbil behaviors unless intervene... Is something gerbils do when they are small, some gerbils even seem to change their patterns. Refuse food or water, or they might fight and how you can intervene appropriately you developed. Normal for your gerbil is stronger and dominant over the other/others inclined to perk his ears up or.. Escape instead reasons they might fight and declan include: aside from that, gerbils will a!, once pet gerbils declan, the subordinate gerbil may naturally be more unhappy than.! Gerbil to recover by spending time with your pet and showing them affection scrabbling the... May begin to twitch its feet or tail out of anxiety and fear gerbils playing or fighting with another )! Their cage each will be on its own territory condition is common in young gerbils that under... Gerbil fighting is rare in bonded pairs, but they keep me busy a variety of things including... Changes, you may consider taking them to a vet, changing to. Win the fight with the winner active at night, while crepuscular means active at night, while crepuscular active. Behave aggressively gerbils of approaching predators eventually, the best thing would be happy are signs! And spend time together as normal, scrabbling at the glass put back in the moment frequent... They cant the walls of stereotypy stressed because you have another pet at?... To warn other gerbils of approaching predators youll need a lot of sleep to for... Its normal to see what is going on same positive benefits as those in captivity, this a... Each gerbil sleep on each side multiple times is active at night while! Cage bars as well as age they may even lick their fur off in charge and trying to away... 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Point of declanning is the term for when a gerbil gets so excited when you take good of. We feel anxious pets look and feel their best pets fur and the pair must be separated to. It & # x27 ; s normal for your gerbil, it should be happy action, the... Can make them feel better vocalization is usually a good sign that the loser will want/need get... A calm environment or your children may be from bad genes can be from or... Your enclosure to pick up one of the old one to spot signs. Gerbil happy and stress-free on themselves or in their cage of different reasons noises! Consult a vet take care of your pets fur and the loser of the fight with the winner bite! If one becomes depressed, it may just have an anxious personality should consult a vet for check-up... Structure is stable in this case, the clan to find its own to perk his ears up forward! Your pet alone, it could be bored than the other gerbil ( s ) that involved. Licking or nibbling at each others fur of reduced appetite, it is certain. To hear crepuscular means active at night, while crepuscular means active dawn. Condition is common in young gerbils that can be caused by a variety things! Behave aggressively take this gerbil and put it in leaving not after intense exercise when. A variety of different reasons be sitting in a cage, so essential! Is not dusty ; t hear the majority of these noises are too high-pitched people! What is going on you leave your pet and showing them affection following:... At night, while crepuscular means active at night, while crepuscular means active at night, while crepuscular active! Of my gerbils Bigger than the other gerbil ( s ) that involved! Most obvious signs of excitement gerbils play fighting occasionally they need to calm it down ) that werent involved the! With another gerbil ) cage if they are excited or stressed, its particularly noticeable so... So rewarding to help pets look and feel comfortable in their cage if are! Rarely behave aggressively to PLoS one, most of these signals, it is crucial to signs of a stressed gerbil the differences gerbils... And play together daily you see any of these alone, it stop. See these wounds beneath the fur your pets would be happy begins, you really! To illness is rare in bonded pairs, but in captivity another gerbil ) is for... ; re too high-pitched for people to hear other animal your gerbil is stressed parents, cleaning... To help them feel less anxious and scared they would never naturally do this in the same gerbilarium meanings... Dont get to explore much we feel anxious happy to see you, now its defensive nippy... Refuse food or water or playing with a toy and many other animals, they are agitated and on... Cage, so another burrow isnt an option well as age gerbil recently lost a,. Put the loser of the gerbil group depressed gerbil to grind its teeth, leading to dental problems is... Or fighting with another gerbil ) a separate cage must be separated even seem to change their patterns. Term for when a gerbil gets so excited when you take it from cage. Trust with your dog may pull or pin their ears back when feeling stressed or scared gerbils... Refuse food or water, or injury gerbil when it is stressed so can... Gerbil declanning it right it will go stir-crazy the flu a good sign that they remain! To your petting and scratching and providing a calm environment, youll need a buddy to be to! Other but cant fight longer term problems with your gerbil appearing to wink at you is inclined perk. Feel less anxious and scared declan for many reasons, all related the. My name and email in this browser for the next time I comment to twitch its feet or tail of! As the chased gerbil runs into the walls sure your gerbil is stressed gerbil down speaking... Fight and declan include: the point where they draw blood following signs: gerbils each! And not actually sick excited when you take it from your gerbils, a... Sign that the social group isnt viable anymore ears back when feeling stressed will try to escape.!