> Since gerbs are desert creatures, they get enough moisture through
metabolism. One >of my veterinary teachers told us this, and I've had
great success.
This may be true for our gerbils' wild relatives, but I don't think it
should be readily applied to domestic gerbils. Domestic gerbils have a
completely different diet from wild ones that doesn't automatically provide
adequate moisture. Also, when a gerbil becomes ill, what s/he most often
dies from is dehydration, not the illness itself. If the gerbil's hydration
is less than ideal due to lack of a water source, this could occur all the
more rapidly and leave little or no time for intervention.
Also, I don't think their metabolism has anything to do with it- their
urinary systems are incredibly efficient at producing very concentrated
urine to excrete waste, so most of the water taken in can go to support
life.
If they have had a water source for their whole life, it seems a bit cruel
to me to just take it away for the sake mimicking their wild ancestors and
a slightly cleaner tank.
What kind of "veterinary teacher" was this?
Jill
