----------
> From: GEORGES DONDAINE <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: RE: big gerbil
> Date: 16 April 2001 23:32
>
> hello Sue,
> It is not a degu. My friend knows the degu, and the day that she has seen
> this "animal", there was a degu in the cage at the side of the "gerbil".
>
Hi,
If it is a gerbil, then it is most likely a Shaw's as these are the biggest
species of jird around. I don't think there are any Great Gerbils (the
biggest gerbil species) anywhere in captivity apart from in Russia. There
are some Fat Sand Rats but these are unlikely to find their way into a pet
shop. At least, I hope not as they are a species with very specialised
dietary requirements. Shaw's jirds are about the same size as a degu.
However, they are the same colour as the golden agouti (normal) gerbil.
The back does vary from yellowy brown to very dark brown, but they all have
a white belly. This is the same for all gerbil species.
It is probably not a gerbil at all but something else. What about one of
the exotic rat species? Or even one of the small marsupials?
The pet shop must know what it is? Surely they don't just take in mystery
animals? If they do, it sounds very suspicious. In the UK all pet shops
have to keep a book of all the animals they take in with the breeders name
and address.
Sue
