I managed to somehow collect 37 adult and juvenile gerbils,
and an assortment of pups. Some furred and creeping; some
not; some just born, some born after the move.
Sadly I have three pups left of the furred and creeping litter
of nine. All the rest disappeared within two or three days,
two other litters made it to becoming furred....then disappeared.
I took them a few days ago when I discovered the parts of a
few in the tank...and the last three huddled in a small cardboard
box I'd given the community. (Ma, two younger females, a
younger male).
One had it's tail gone, so I considered that I had been in time
to save these three.
Yesterday I was ministering to them, and discovered that all
three are also missing their hind paws. Some to more of a
degree than others...the one missing the tail is nearly legless
in back. One is more or less severed at the 'wrist'; and one
has some bone shank sticking out. (which I am trying to get
up the nerve to finish the amputation before gangrene sets
in...<glerp> I am used to being a veternarian's assistant and
doing some pretty stomach turning medical stuff in the name
of animal health, but this is stretching it.)
Why don't I take them to the vet? Forty bucks emergency
visit; plus probably a hundred an animal for care. To put
them down is $25 each...
There is no joy today in the gerbil branch of the rodentry.
There are a few high notes amongst other residents (dwarf and
syrian hamsters) but that is not for this forum.
The wounded gerbil pups are all lively enough and seem to
be getting along well; eating and drinking and crawling
around on my hand when I hold them. They had crusty
eyes yesterday, which I attribute to pain. A gentle wiping
down with a damp bit of unscented undyed toilet tissue,
which they all took rather well, and they are all looking at
me with their bright black eyes today.
Stumpy, Shorty, and Squirt; will be kept as best I can, with a
close eye kept to their health and quality of life; period. If
they grow up, I think they can have fairly normal gerbil lives.
If things take a downturn, I will be humane; and they will have
enriched my life and knowledge on how to provide good care.
[had a case in March of a dwarf campbell being attacked by
another; not only did it survive but she thrived for nearly three
months before succumbing to something else (aka cold) In
that time I learned a LOT about ICU level care for a small
animal like this...]
The case of the unknown gerbil: Still don't know where it
came from as I had all the other ones accounted for, and
it is not an escapee of the partially destroyed litter, as it
appears about 8-9 weeks old (Thanks Donna A for the
detailed post on how to peg the age).
One black male escapee, caught after about 24 hours and
judicious use of duct tape to secure lid grating. Had one
white female go AWOL early Fri morning, sighting her as I
type. Hope to have her corralled soon, and into her tank
with her mate and a more secure lid.
No she is not preggers, so she is not in search of a place
to nest. She and her mate had been checked at 3 am
because of water bottle banging; and cage resecured...
and broke out a few hours later.
1) Does anybody know a surefire food that will draw them
into a live trap or other sort of 'catch-em' ?
Anyway, that is all for the Rebel Rodent Ranch....in gerbils.
Most all of the others have settled down to being spoiled,
ripping up toilet tissue rolls, and starting families without
being scared of me and the surroundings. I expect to be
armpit deep in pups in the next few weeks <fingers crossed>
No, I am NOT playing mood music in there, either. :)
Deb
Rebel's Rodent Ranch - Member of the AGS
Dwarf Campbells - inc. black bear dwarf
Syrians - golden - shorthair - teddybear
Gerbils
Plus Ratina and the twins
and Mousie the white mouse
[A full spectrum rodentry]
