April Ann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote
>I just got a DTW gerbil from Petco that was returned (unknown to staff why,
>of course) And After observing him overnight here at college before bringing
>him home. I have found the following oddities:
>
>-when he stands up on his hind legs, his head seems to slide in one
>direction or the other, he looks like he is going downhill in one direction,
>but he isn't!
Swaying is common in red-eyed gerbils, and especially in PEWs and DTWs.
Based on what we know about swaying PEW mice and rats it is due to an
abnormality in the nerve connections in the retina. it is not serious,
it is just a result of the gerbil trying to see a bit better.
>
>-seems to breathe heavier than other gerbils.
Listen for a click. breathing problems are serious.
>
>-extremely skitish
It is probably getting used to its new surroundings. also, if it lives
alone, solo gerbils are much more nervous and skittish than ones that
have gerbil company.
>
>
>is this "the fits" like other gerilb I own have, or is this something worse?
>-April Ann
No, it does not sound like the seizures gerbils can have.
--
Julian
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
National Gerbil Society
http://www.gerbils.co.uk/
