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Post by Andrea on Aug 21, 2006 2:46:52 GMT -4
LOL... wow bad typo.. i ment "live" Bugs All my gerbils are super fit, i added the sunflowers now b/c everyone could use a bit 'fattening up' I never had them in my mixes before, i used them only as hand treats. I still use them as hand treats too.
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Post by Andrea on Aug 19, 2006 4:11:47 GMT -4
I've never fed crickets My honey says "No love bugs!" lol... Mine eat corn, some actually really like it to. I used to not haev any sunflower seeds in my mixes, but I've started, mostly the small ones. I can't buy the same stuff all the time, it's usually what's on sale and what looks good and fresh (and what Ic an afford) lately, so it will have most fo the ingridients listed, i knwo there is no coconut or rasberries right now (expencive), i do buy this awesome "rat treat mix" stuff and add it in, it has alot of yummies like spanish peanuts and such, the green cereal bits are from that bag.
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Post by Andrea on Aug 17, 2006 4:06:20 GMT -4
My Tips and information on Gerbil Diets Dried FruitsRaisins, Apple, Cranberries, Blueberry, Coconut, Raspberries, Papaya, Pumpkin, Banana, Pineapple, Dried VeggiesCarrots, peas, Parsley, Alfalfa leaves, Potatoes, Parsley flakes, celery flakes, Red & Green peppers, Cabbage flakes, leek flakes, diced Zucchini, tomato flakes, Spinach flakes, SeedsOat kernels, Millet (red & white), Pumpkin, Safflower, Sunflower, Rose hips, corn, barley, milo, wheat (middlings or puffed), hemp seed, barley, NutsPeanuts, almonds, walnuts, pine nuts, Cereals & OtherCorn flakes, wheat flakes, Barley Flakes, Oat groats, Wheat bran, cornflower, Soya bean meal, Extruded rabbit pellets, Cat food, Alfalfa or Timothy (hay and sometimes cubes), Dehydrated alfalfa meal, heat processed soybeans, soybean meal, Extras/Treats – Cheese, Applesauce, Cranberry juice (no sugar), Lettuce, Tomato, Carrots, Broccoli, grapes, apple, clover, boiled egg, cucumber, Dog Cookie, spray millet, Cat/Kitten food, Dried corn on the cob, honey bars, Frozen Fruits & veggies (summer treat), yogert, baby food, blue berry, strawberry, tomato, celery, 8 in 1 “ecotrition” (www.eightinonepet.com) is a great pre-bagged food. Though even with packaged food I reccomend adding extra protine in the form of a dry dog/cat kibble works well. For nursing/pregnet mothers kitten food and/or powdered milk (sprinkled) is needed. You can also feed crickets & mealworms (live) to your gerbils, some though don't care for them, while others go crazy for them. When picking a premade feed, choose one with minimal sunflowers and corn. Also make sure it is not dusty. These are just some of the things you can give your gerbils to kepe them healthy and happy.
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Post by Andrea on Aug 15, 2006 20:33:55 GMT -4
Nope, haven't had anyone eat it. Jetta likes useing it as a sand bath though (too cute).
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Post by Andrea on Aug 15, 2006 19:46:53 GMT -4
LOL... then your cockatiel has one bouring diet (heheheh)... it's Corn Cob bedding, hypo alergetic and cheap cheap cheap They come in different sizes, the stuff u see is the small litter, there is one a big bigger. This is more like sand and i think they like it better. I buy a 40lb bag for $28 and it lasts me about 2.5 cleanings of ALL my tanks. (excluding Degus & Rabbits)
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Post by Andrea on Aug 15, 2006 18:07:09 GMT -4
A couple pictures of the new pair "Ying & Yang" LOL.... with their matching tails... or lack of. "Let me on now" Face shot of Alero, she's my sweety. Deana, I have 3 look alikes also. 3 Pied agouts siblings 2 males and one female. I have found small differences in the boys, mostly personality to be able to tell who's who. They have since de-clanned so it's much easier to tell now and here is a sneek peak at my next pair This is Audi and Jetta, so far their split is going very well.
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Post by Andrea on Aug 13, 2006 3:38:49 GMT -4
YEAY! I just wanted to say i have had another great split cage intro go well with two female, Alero and Capri. Capri has lost 2 tank mates and Alero escaped her tank and was not welcomed back by the time I found her, even with a split cage intro to her Mom & Auntie she lived with. I sure think they make a stunning pair, Black & Nutmeg... they also have half a tail missing, so they match Alero lost her tail to Capri in the split, and Capri lost her's to a cat and that's why I ended up with her. I'm now working on another female split, Audi my beautiful pied black, and Jetta my newer schimmel female. That so far seems to be going very well. Both girls are friendly and sweet. What is a very stange thing though, all 3 of my pied Agoutis, all related 2 males and one female, I have had nothing but problems intro-ing... they boys de-clanned late last year, and still no sucessful intro's, the sister has had 2 split cages, has lived with other gerbils for a while then get's cranky. Their two black sisters have done great with intros and living with others.
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Post by Andrea on Aug 6, 2006 22:47:33 GMT -4
We all have days like this, don't worry your not alone. How often do you clean tanks? I do mine every 3-4 weeks, unless they smell then i do them right away. I give so much cardboard mine stay clean quit well. I don't know how many habitats i have to clean... i will take a guess though, 13 tanks/cages then 2 more bunny areas not inculding their play areas, then the dog but Ry usualy cleaned up after her. The Hamster I have to clean every week (stinky!) and pretty much the same with the Degus. The 55G and 45G tanks I cannot dump so they must be swept out, so that can be a hassle, but I'll choose that over trying to dump the 20G tall tanks, Yowch! they are a back breaker for sure.... i LOVE 10G tanks LOL I have had 2 gerbils in foster sicne probably March-ish, the hamster I've had in foster sicne Jan. she's been in foster her entire life. So there is no quaruntee these animals will ever be adopted, they are lucky though b/c they are in a home with someone who knows how to care for them, while if they were at a Shelter they have a 50/50 chance. I will not give up any of my pets, and right now i'm in a pretty cruddy spot with money and all. They come first, like children I decided to take them on and now it is my job/responcibility to see they live a happy life, especially the few "i" brought into this world (though i have only 5 of them). I know sometimes if something terrible happends then yes, that is what rescues are for, But I trully feel if u can feed and give them even the basic nessessaties, it better then shelter life. I have SEVEN gerbils living alone, 4 of them are in 2 split cages at the moment. Some gerbils live alone, and don't make yourself missrable over it. I've had loner gerbils before and if they don't take after a couple tries with other gerbils it's not going to work. It is THEM who have chosen a solitary life, not you. <hugs> I think you're on your feet now and things will go smoother, now that their are no more litters. Not only does it show how much you care for these animals but your willing to learn more to help them. I think they have a happy home with you, and if you need to make a schedule to help cleanings go faster, it may be someting to look into. I use a wet board pen and write the dates of cleanings on the outside of the tanks if I can't get them all done at one time. I also do mine Wednesday Evenings, as garbage day it Thursday
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Post by Andrea on Jul 27, 2006 20:03:09 GMT -4
gerbilnannie, I asked my friend Sandy about your gerbils, she said she had answered your questions in another forum, i can't rememnber right now what she thought it was... but it made sence when she told me at the time LOL... so whatever she told you elsewhere i agree I don't do genetics anymore, and don't have the breeding experiance to get into genetics other then the regular stuff, not mutaions, CP's and such. I just take in all the ones no one else wants
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Post by Andrea on Jul 26, 2006 15:24:38 GMT -4
My guess, Light CP Agouti for the first two, lt. silver nutmeg wouldn't have a white belly. If their eyes are dark, but look red when a light hits is that says Colour Point.
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Post by Andrea on Jul 3, 2006 3:48:45 GMT -4
yayaya... I say "cage" as in a thing to house them in... i don't actually mean a cage with bars, since i highly reccomend NOT useing them for gerbils
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Post by Andrea on Jul 2, 2006 21:57:44 GMT -4
I have had gerbils decide to fight over a certain item in their tank. Sometimes you can't put that item back in. Sometiems it has to do with they have to much space, though not in your case (10G). You may want to buy bin's and convert them into cages, this is a simple and in-expencive way to house gerbils.
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Post by Andrea on Jun 30, 2006 23:50:16 GMT -4
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Post by Andrea on Jun 30, 2006 17:01:26 GMT -4
Sounds like a seizure brought on by falling from the top, but i mean it's hard to say for sure since i didn't see the little guy. I would just be real careful with him, if it's seizures I hope he'll just grow out of them, if it's something he will have for his life, it will shorten his life span if he has many. My breeder friend had a female who is seizure prone, she dosn't breed this gerbil, but has kept her b/c of the gerbils disability. It is so bad that we can't touch the gerbil, otherwise she starts fitting Oh and the gerbil is So friendly to. My 2 seizure prone girls grew out of it so i thought, we think Porsche's seizures may have been what made her ill so quickly, a Vet student mentioned to me if she had fitted and been eating something, it could have been inhailed into her lungs where it infected and eventually killed her. Or b/c of the seizures she was just predispoded to illness. So either was it's best to be a little more careful with them.
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Post by Andrea on Jun 29, 2006 19:06:13 GMT -4
Yikes, alot of bad signs here. I hate to say it, but I don't think this baby is going to make it, it sure dosn't sound to good. I don't think it's a broken leg. They usually are their normal selves except with a limp if they ahev a broken limb. When everyone is ignoring the ill one, it's usually a bad sign. When you say it's having seizures, how does it look? what is it doing? are it's ear flat on it's head or standing up? I think there's a few things we can change to make sure this doesn't happen to other gerbils in your clans. Make sure to sex everyone and keep same sexed pairs to stop inbreeding. Inbreeding just isn't fare for the little gerbils who have to live short and sickly lives. Have Mom & Babies in a tank, or even cage, but nothing they can hurt themselves on. I learned this the hard way with Wheels in a tank with babies Not to sound totally heartless, but I don't think at this point a Vet could help you. But I don't want that to stop you from going if you are planning to. Keep the baby comfortable, and in a quiet area. I send my wishes to the little guy.
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