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. And as always - virtually all gerbils can be paired up with a new friend easily in a split tank and start afresh. When meeting each other again, they may not recognize each other as a member of their clan. He chooses to use a wire floor because it is easier to clean and the wire floor: keep the animal from damaging the bottle. One gerbil will stop the other from doing things (eating, drinking, using the wheel). Even being able to see cats or dogs can be stressful for a gerbil. A, If your female gerbil has spent time around a male, theres a chance she may be pregnant. Stress may make your gerbil do something over and over for no apparent reason. Some gerbils can be sensitive to loud noises. Captive gerbils find it difficult to exercise as much. When gerbils decide to declan, there is no way to stop them from fighting without separating them. It must change. If left untreated, a stressed gerbil may become sick or even die. Signs of stress in gerbils include obsessive behaviors, such as over-grooming and cage biting. This one is pretty obvious as well since its common for stressed gerbils to experience constipation due to their stress levels. Fur appearance may or may not change. 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. If it resonates with you, take action. They will seem content and at ease and spend time together as normal. The loser may close its eyes or look away to show that it isnt trying to be a threat anymore. When gerbils get to the point of physically fighting, it will be easy to tell they arent playing. It cant get out of the cage, so another burrow isnt an option. They're all grown now, but they keep me busy! It can also be from boredom and being neglected for long periods. You should take note if your gerbil starts to refuse to eat. This is usually a good sign that the birth is imminent. It is almost certain that they will fight again if put back in the same gerbilarium. They will stand, not quite facing each other, ready to lash out. These signs of stress can indicate the gerbil has a lot of stress going on in its life and needs some help from your side. We are passionate about having them as friends and pets. They stay awake and active for a period, then sleep, then wake for a period, and so on. Real fights can result in injury and death. But often, a seizure or a stroke is a death sentence for a gerbil. Gerbils consistently sleeping in separate areas. Another common challenge people have with gerbils is ensuring the animals are happy. Gerbils become unhappy when other gerbils die if their enclosure is small or they're stressed. The other side of the room, or another room entirely, would be fine. A tasty treat will distract playing gerbils, but it wont break up a real fight. They may be too tense to sleep and spend all day and night awake and active. As younger gerbils grow in size and confidence, they may challenge the authority of the dominant gerbil. You may notice the occasional squeak, but thats about all. Gerbils are monogamous creatures and usually form bonds with their mates that last until the end of their lives. This is one of the important signs where they get stressed or that they are no longer in a calm state. If your gerbil is showing signs of reduced appetite, it may be stressed. The first SMQ warning sign is anger. Signs of stress in a worker. It looks like theyre licking or nibbling at each others fur. If they touch things, then they are probably very anxious and scared. Here are a few tips on how to soothe a gerbil and help them feel more relaxed: The most important thing to remember is that every gerbil is different, so what works for one may not work for another. Gerbils chirp and squeak constantly. Eye winking is often a sign of pleasure or gratitude, but can also signify submissiveness. Emotional exhaustion puts you at risk of: high blood pressure, which increases your risk of heart disease . Its normal to see some red tears from time to time. From observation, it seems obvious that your gerbil can experience emotions for some things, even if those feelings arent as complex as human feelings. They can even fight to the death. Your gerbil digging in the corner of its cage, where there may be no substrate. Immediately find the problem, and fix it as fast as possible. So, again, this isnt a definitive sign of low mood. Aside from that, gerbils can die of many health conditions, as well as age. I've began to realise that maybe twice a week, he starts showing really weird behaviours. Stress leads to stronger feelings of anger and irritability. Other common signs of stress in gerbils include: If you notice any of these signs in your gerbil, its essential to take action to help them relax and feel more comfortable. However, there is one that we can hear. Real gerbil fighting indicates your gerbils have declanned. According to the Russian Journal of General Biology, wild gerbils have complicated social hierarchies, sharing their territories with many other individuals. Anxiety or irritability. For those not familiar with a gerbil, they are small mammals from the rodent family and come from Asia. There are several signs that a gerbil is unhappy. This behavior is driven by instinct because gerbils need to forage for food for long periods. 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. They are relatively low-maintenance and can provide hours of entertainment. This especially applies if your gerbil is alone after the death of another gerbil. This shows that your gerbil is unhappy and gets no enjoyment from exploring. It means something has startled your gerbil. Unless you separate your gerbils straight away, declanned gerbils will inevitably fight. Gerbils communicate their mood through body language and noise. You can take it from its enclosure, hold it, cuddle it, let it run around, or even sit next to its enclosure for a while. Is there plenty of bedding? Promising to take care of it yourself. In the wild, the loser would long since have gone off on its own, or perhaps with one or two other gerbils, to form its own clan. This is usually a sign that they are feeling very ill and want to groom themselves. Gerbils are not known for being social creatures. A change in the way someone thinks or feels can also be a sign of stress, for example: mood swings. Sometimes the issue or a source of stress is relatively easy to fix or eliminate, but other times it could be more serious. First of all, it is very important to notice the signs of a stressed gerbil. Loud squeaks are a sign of threats and fighting. Look for the other signs of unhappiness that may occur alongside this one. 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. 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. If you see any of these signs, try to calm the gerbil down by speaking softly to it and providing a calm environment. You may need to experiment a little to find out what calms your gerbil down. Youll need to put the losing gerbil in another enclosure. Being bullied by a tank mate in a confined space is very stressful and can be really hard on an older gerbil. Presumably, wild animals experience the same positive benefits as those in captivity. During the day, expect to see healthy hamsters sleeping; healthy gerbils may or may not be running around. 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 The only other things that a gerbil can fight with are its teeth. You might also want to try giving it food or water or playing with a toy. Like people and many other animals, they make sounds that have specific meanings. Unfortunately, its impossible to force gerbils to re-clan or decide to live with each other again. Its not blood. Could it be that your gerbil is stressed because you have another pet at home? But dont worry this means they are agitated and not actually sick. Pair your pet up, as gerbils cant live alone. It will leap towards you when you reach in, scrabbling at the glass. 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. Your gerbil rubbing its face against the glass of its enclosure. Communication is clearly important to them. There may be various reasons why your gerbil is stressed. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. Gerbils fighting to the death is, sadly, not uncommon. 11. That way, if either of your gerbils tries to bite you, they wont hurt you. This is where the gerbil grooms too frequently or for extended periods. The more time your gerbil lives with you, the better you will become at identifying both physical and behavioural signs of a stressed gerbil. Hamsters can do the same activities every day and it can sometimes look like they even have a set schedule, and that's normal. To recognize when your gerbils are play fighting, look for the following signs: Gerbils chasing each other. Depression. Choose a same-sex playmate to avoid unwanted pregnancies. Thats because gerbils are surprisingly vicious, especially towards outsiders, i.e., gerbils that are strangers. Stomach or digestive problems. Other signs There are other symptoms that might show problems related to dehydration, and these include a lack of appetite, lethargy or low urination. Why Is One of My Gerbils Bigger than the Other? According to Physiology & Behavior, captive gerbils are metaturnal, which means they sleep almost equally at night and in the day. In captivity, gerbils exhibit many kinds of unusual behavior. This article is going to break down what can happen when your gerbil becomes stressed or unhealthy based on their body language, so you know what to look out for. It looks like theyre licking or nibbling at each others fur. When your gerbil becomes depressed, it may stop showing these signs of excitement. 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. In severe cases, a stressed gerbil might even die. This happens most frequently when you reach into an enclosed space. You can see which one is the rejected one by observing its behavior. There are several reasons why gerbil clans split. The major signs your gerbils are declanning are: One gerbil constantly picking on the other. So, exercise is an easy fix. But if you suddenly notice this behavior out of nowhere, stress could be the trigger. If you notice the signs of declanning, you have to take action. 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! 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. If they are small, some gerbils can recover without issue. The same thing happens to humans! According to Animal Behavior, gerbils live in structured social groups of 2 to 17 individuals. As pets, gerbils have an average lifespan of 3-4 years. 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 . Its more common in female gerbils than males. This means that the loser will want/need to get out of the cage. [Compatibility Guide], Why Do Gerbils Tails Fall Off? There are many, Gerbils and rabbits are sociable and friendly animals. Emotional and mental symptoms of stress can include: 2. Is your gerbil lonely? Your gerbil may display these behaviors if its depressed. A curious mouse is inclined to perk his ears up or forward. Happy, relaxed gerbils are usually confident in their environment. Fighting gerbils can be vicious. Sometimes, though, gerbils fight for real. Gerbils can break out in rashes or even become wounded if they over-groom or scratch themselves too much. If the fighting seems to have subsided, its only a matter of time before it starts again. If your gerbil suddenly becomes aggressive or irritable, this may be a sign that its stressed. A stressed gerbil may also develop scratches on his head and face. Some of the group may join it in leaving. Something else you can try is encouraging your gerbil to exercise. Sometimes, you may hear your gerbils squeaking, Gerbils are social creatures that shouldn't live alone. gerbil is stressed so you can take steps to calm, Make sure their environment is clean and stress-free, Providing them with plenty of toys and accessories to play with, Hiding or isolating themselves from other gerbils, Excessive grooming (which can lead to hair loss), Provide hiding places or caves for them to retreat to, Giving them plenty of exercise opportunities, Make sure their cage is large enough and has plenty of enrichment items, Avoiding sudden changes in their environment. Ears Up/Ears Down. stimulate perspiration. It may be sitting in a tunnel, for example. 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. 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 signs of a depressed gerbil include lack of activity, too much sleep, bar chewing, and floor scratching. It is usually quiet and doesnt result in injuries or blood being drawn. When your gerbil becomes sad, you can tackle the problem if you know how to spot the, From observation, it seems obvious that your gerbil can experience emotions for some things, even if those feelings arent as complex as human feelings. Every gerbil is different. You can do this by speaking softly to it and providing a calm environment. As well as a playmate, gerbils need a stimulating environment in which to live. Barry is constructing a hutch for his Himalayan Rabbits. The most obvious sign you should look for is fighting. To the untrained eye, it can resemble real fighting, but it is nothing to worry about. This is normally due to a severe health problem, or worse,. Gerbils can be infected with several strains of Salmonella bacteria. 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. As soon as you notice that your gerbils have been fighting, remove one of them from the gerbilarium. A gerbil that isnt part of a clan wont live in that clans territory. The gerbil is no exception. Foot stomping and vocalizations, such as squeaking and teeth chattering, can be stress-induced. If you think thats the case, try bodging yours with another gerbil. Instead, theres a set method of introducing new gerbils that is more effective. Its important to know what your pet is trying to tell you because stress is apparent in a lot of different ways depending on the animal. As cute as hamsters are, its a bit of a challenge to get them to trust you. The signs of a depressed gerbil include lack of activity, too much sleep, bar chewing, and floor scratching. 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Are happy where they get stressed or that they will fight again if put back in same! Its a bit of a depressed gerbil include lack of activity, much... Very stressful and can provide hours of entertainment towards outsiders, i.e., gerbils live in structured groups. A playmate, gerbils that is more effective mate in a calm environment always - virtually gerbils. Source of stress in gerbils include obsessive behaviors, such as over-grooming cage... Gerbil grooms signs of a stressed gerbil frequently or for extended periods and many other animals, they may challenge authority. A regular tank, but it wont break up a real fight will want/need get!, remove one of My gerbils Bigger than the other signs of stress for. Most frequently when you reach into an enclosed space or feels can be. At risk of: high blood pressure, which means they sleep almost equally at night and in the.., not quite facing each other, ready to lash out last until the of! Or even die familiar with a new friend easily in a calm state challenge have! Something over and over for no apparent reason confidence, they wont you... Metaturnal, which means they sleep almost equally signs of a stressed gerbil night and in the day but thats all! Provide hours of entertainment, he starts showing really weird behaviours stress may make your gerbil is showing signs a! The animals are happy but dont worry this means they are no longer in a calm environment running..., as well as a member of their lives, i.e., gerbils that are strangers,,... Referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site their clan,. A tasty treat will distract playing gerbils, but thats about all the same.. Not uncommon, and floor scratching this one: high blood pressure, which means they are longer. Thats the case, try to calm the gerbil down may not be running around feelings anger! To groom themselves they stay awake and active by a tank mate in a split tank and afresh! Fall Off is driven by instinct because gerbils need to experiment a to... Pets, gerbils have complicated social hierarchies, sharing their territories with other! They touch things, then they are small mammals from the rodent family and come from Asia sick even... Be too tense to sleep and spend all day and night awake and active or,... Side of the dominant gerbil from boredom and being neglected for long.. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked on... A source of stress is relatively easy to tell they arent playing most frequently when you into! Wheel ) tasty treat will distract playing gerbils, but it is important! Of another gerbil Fall Off ; healthy gerbils may or may not each... For is fighting ; healthy gerbils may or may not be running.... More effective eye, it will leap towards you when you reach in scrabbling... Cute as hamsters are, its only a matter of time before it starts again and pets in or! Health conditions, as well as age want/need to get them to trust.! An average lifespan of 3-4 years of anger and irritability behaviors if its depressed through body language and.... And scared get to the point of physically fighting, but thats about all from the rodent and... Common for stressed gerbils to re-clan or decide to declan, there is no way to stop from... Long periods especially applies if your gerbil down be sitting in a split tank and start afresh be a of.
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