The other possibility is to check for CO2 leakage. Get a CO2 detector and
put it close to where the gerbils were before they died.
If the detector goes off, and keeps going off after resetting it, then do
the following
Open the blasted windows, not by breaking the glass, open it like you would
open it to let air in, call 911, and leave the dwelling fast. The 911 (in
USA) crew will pump out the CO2 after finding the source (blocked flu in the
basement) or other sources, they will not let you back in for at least 24
hours, to make sure everything is clear.
BTW - CO2 kills small animals first, and in smaller level, but when it
builds up - it get deadlier for larger subjects.
Remember - miners uses small animals - like song birds or mice in the
mines - the first sign the animal is dead - a whistle is blown and the mine
is cleared out till the gas is removed.
CO2 builds up from the bottom upwards, as it is heaver then air. SO, you
would not know until you either get under the gas line - or it goes up to
your level. You can't smell it nor can you see it and makes you very sleepy,
a silent sleep it what it is, cause once you sleep - you will never wake up.
That's why it is so deadly.
CO2 is also known as carbon monoxide - Yes the same deadly gas that is
discharged from gas motors.
Well - sorry to ramble on - but is very important that you know about this
gas - there is no second chance once you are targeted. This gas does not
know what season it is - it is around 365 days a year.
-----Original Message-----
From: Gerbil Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of
Deb Rebel
Sent: Saturday, March 03, 2001 1:50 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: update on my gerbils :(
>I just got my gerbils yesterday and today they somehow died I don't
>know how :(
Jenny, first of all, can you tell us anything about how they acted...
a) in the store
b) right after you brought them home
c) what did they look like when you found them? (any signs of
bubbling or discharge at the nose, ruffled fur, anything?)
Take them right back to the petstore you got them from, there
should be a guarantee.
Check ALL of the animals there carefully (gerbils, hamsters,
mice, rats, and chins) to see if there's any sign of disease,
before bringing home any more from that store.
They should all be bright eyed, glossy coated, and active after
being woken up (be careful not to get bitten). No dull eyes,
scum at eyes or nose, clicking or wheezing sounds, ruffled fur,
or wet bottoms.
This is the time of year when the southern wholesale suppliers
have disease problems go through their stock (march and april
are notorious for it) and stuff coming into your pet stores may
be sick coming in. If a sick animal comes in, all the animals
in the store will get it.
I would try to find a private breeder at this time of year to get
animals from, as they usually don't have the problems that the
stores do at this time.
Deb
Rebel's Rodent Ranch
