I had a pair of female gerbs, one one year old, the other one older (exact
age unknown). Both died late last night. I found them curled up together
in the tank when I came home from school. The black was quite dead and the
DEH was nearly dead. She died very shortly after I found her. The black
may have been old enough to die of old age (she was a rescue), but the DEH
just turned a year this month. I haven't done anything new with them--same
food, toys, bedding. They were fine yesterday playing and running in the
wheel. I'd like to get another pair (the cats really miss watching them
run) but I'm a bit concerned since I don't know why they died. Any ideas?
Diana
Maybe the water bottle stopped working? Did you check the bottle in the past
few days? A gerbils health can go downhill quickly if they are getting
dehydrated.
Another idea is to check the carbon monoxide level in your home. About a
year ago, a GML member lost several gerbils due to a faulty furnace. Since
the gerbils were so small, they were the first ones in the home to be
affected by the carbon monoxide.
I can't think of anything else since you mentioned they seemed fine the day
before.
Ann-Marie Roberts
T&T Gerbils, member of the AGS
Please visit my website and pup count project at:
http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/Reserve/1928/
