>At 09:56 AM 7/1/00 -0500, Jerry D Smith wrote:
>
>>I know what it means when a male gerbil thumps, but what does it mean
>>when a female or a pup that isn't of breeding age starts thumping?
From the FAQ:
5.1 What are all those thumping noises I've heard gerbil making?
Gerbils thump for two reasons: communication of danger and sexual
excitement in a male gerbil. Gerbils startled by a loud noise or another
pet will make a consistent, quick "da-dum, da-dum" sound. This often
infects other gerbils in the room until it sounds like a gerbil percussion
section. Males will sometimes make a long running thump during sexual
activity as they move around.
Thumps are produced by the gerbils pounding their back feet on the floor
together simultaneously. It is actually quite interesting to watch and a
surprisingly loud sound for such a small animal.
5.2 My young gerbils seem to thump for no reason. Are they constantly in fear?
Young gerbils are somewhat more easily startled than adults, but it also
seems to be a bit of a "Look, Ma, I can thump!" sort of thing. It's
harmless -- even their parents ignore it most of the time. It is cute, though.
Michelle
Flutist
