>
>7. I've noticed that Ding-dum seems to poop in the toilet litter pot well,
>but Poke-poke tends to go wherever he happens to be, and usually in the
>corners where he's eating. Aren't gerbils supposed to naturally want their
>cage clean and poop in one spot (ie. the toilet)? Can you train them?
>
This is completely new news to me. I had no idea gerbils had a
particular place they'd deposit feces. It used to be, when I first
got my gerbils and started handling them, they would poop in my hand.
I figured it was the same reaction as picking up a wild toad or other
animal. They don't do it any more, but I am interested... can you
train them to poop in a sort of gerbil litter "box"?
Also, and update: The solo pup is still going and seems to be ding
pretty well, though I'm thinking I might have to start supplemental
feeding now. His skin is looking just a tad wrinkly, but when I pick
him up to check him out, he's quite a mover! And is obviously
nuzzling around for food. He shows no other signs of malnourishment
besides the slightly wrinkled skin. Would I use an eye drop to feed
him the milk substitute? Or would I need something smaller for such a
tiny mouth?
On another note: Einstein, the male, is having to live solo for now
until I can find him a suitable cage partner. I had him out today,
handling him as I usually do. My daughter also happened to be up, so
we had a little "gently touch the gerbil" time. Everything was fine,
as it usually is when I have him out, then things just happened in
the wrong place at the wrong time and he sunk his teeth into my
daughter's index finger. Needless to say I will not have him out
again while my daughter is about! It happened so quickly I didn't
even know it until I saw the blood coming from her finger. He didn't
take off any skin, just gave her a nice puncture wound. I stopped the
bleeding and peroxided the wound. Is there anything I should be
concerned about? I know children, and adults, can get nasty things
from cats and rats. Is there anything humans can catch from gerbils?
My daughter seems to be doing fine. No fever, but the finger is a
little red. But I'd thought I'd check, just in case.
