> >I wondered about mites causing itching, but I have had a really
> >good look and can't see any evidence of that, and she still seems
>
> > From: Deb Rebel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To really check for mites....take a white paper towel or some
> white unscented undyed toilet tissue, and wrap the animal in
> it, sort of swaddling them, with their head barely sticking out
> of the wrapping. Watch the area around the head, on the
> toweling. After about a minute, if there are mites, they will
> be showing up on the white toweling. Unwrap the animal
> and check the toweling.
>
This is good advice for things like bird mites but some mites e.g. demodex
mites, sarcoptic mange mites are not visible by the human eye. You have to
look at skin samples through a microscope to see them.
These sort of mites commonly cause problems for rats and hamsters.
However, I have never had problems with gerbils.
Sue
