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Sexing Mongolian Gerbils
It is important to be aware of the sex of your gerbils, especially if introducing new pups. Although a reputable breeder or rescue should be able to do this confidently, it is worthwhile taking a moment to accustom yourself to this guide to sexing gerbils to help you identify the differences yourself. It also means that if a mistake has been made you will pick up on it quickly and you can be sure your pet gerbils won't have unexpected litters!
If you have any concerns or notice any unusual behaviour then it is always worth checking.
Female gerbils are called Sows and male gerbils are called Boars.
- Females: Have more obvious nipples, this is best used at 2 weeks before they become obscured by hair. It is not a completely reliable method and should be used as a guide only.
- Males: have a large bulge at the base of their tail, usually visible from 4 weeks and obviously by 6.
- Males: have a much larger scent gland than females. However dominant mongolian gerbils will have the biggest scent glad so in an all female group the dominant girl would still have a bigger scent gland.
- Males: are generally larger than females, but this can be influenced by many other factors.
Behaviour can also play an important part - as although same-sex mounting is common when gerbils mate there tends to be a more concentrated effort, usually in the evenings, with a prolonged period of chasing. Drumming can be a sign of sexual excitement so may well accompany this.
Main method
The main distinction that you should be aware of is one common to most rodents - in that the distance between urinary and anal openings is much smaller in females. This can be used from 3 weeks of age and is the best indication of a gerbils' gender.
The example photos on the right clearly show the male gerbil with a visible bulge at the base of his tail and when you compare to the female gerbil you can see that the distance between his urinary and anal opening is much greater.
Health & Illness in Mongolian Gerbils
Signs of illness include:
- Poor coat condition, posture
- Sudden weight loss
- Squeaky, laboured or otherwise noisy breathing.
- Lethargic and cool to the touch
- Lack of interest in food or water
- Diarrhoea or constipation
- Excessive scratching
Take an ill gerbil to the vet as soon as possible but do not separate from tank mates as gerbils separated too long would need a split-cage to reintroduce them.
Signs of gerbil in pain include squeaking, hiding, nipping, and carrying the ears back against the head.
Gerbil mucus is red so a redness around the eyes or nose is not blood but rather caused by an organic compound known as porphyrin. It is natural for gerbils to produce this although when it happens excessively then it can be a problem. Excessive porphyrin could indicate an allergy, stress or other illness. One common cause is the use of sawdust, pine or cedar based beddings; these can cause serious breathing difficulties in rodents and should always be avoided.
Declanning
Although most gerbils can live out their lives together quite happily, sometimes serious fights can break out. This is known as declanning and females are more susceptible to this than males.
If declanning occurs in a pair then you may be able to reunite using the split-cage method, but you cannot introduce a single gerbil to an existing pair or clan.
If blood hasn't been drawn then one of the most common problems may be odour, say if you handled one gerbil without handling the other or if there is as strong smell in the room such as if you have recently painted. A dust bath is a good start to try and neutralise this.
Degloving
Degloving is where the fur, skin, and muscle have been torn off a gerbil's tail, leaving muscle and bone exposed. This is an extremely painful injury and will need vet treatment including pain relief. The missing part of the tail may never grow back but could potentially be amputated.
Fits/seizures
Gerbils are sadly prone to epileptic fits. Other than the fits themselves, it does not affect their quality of life. They will usually recover within ten minutes of a fit. Fits can occur if you startle your gerbil, and if one occurs then they may remain stiffly upright or maybe fall to their sides - sometimes with involuntary movements or twitchings. Stay calm and do not touch your gerbil whilst this occurs. If you are holding your gerbil when one happens then try placing them back in their nest or bedding.
Scent gland tumours
Male gerbils in particular are prone to scent gland tumours. Keep an eye out for any unusual lumps and at the first sign of trouble visit your local vets. These tumours can often be operated on, which depending on the health and age of your gerbil can extend their life. One of our male gerbils developed a tumour at 2.5 and lived a further two years after the successful operation to remove it.
Handling & Taming Mongolian Gerbils
Taming mongolian gerbils is usually a smooth process, providing they were from a rescue or ethical breeder. Pet shop gerbils may be harder to tame due to their past mistreatment. Always give a new pet a few days to get used to a new environment before attempting to handle them.
When handling your gerbil never lift or pull a gerbil by its tail as the fur and skin can detach from the tail. This is known as de-gloving and can be very painful for them. When you begin taming your gerbils it is often a good idea to try hand feeding them first to get them used to your smell and voice. Try scooping your Gerbil up in both hands from its sides and them sitting down to let them run over your lap. You can also try placing a cardboard tube in their cage and gently picking them up once they are inside.
Free ranging
If you can gerbil-proof a room then your gerbil will be very happy running around. Just be careful to monitor if you have both gerbils out at once as being in neutral territory may cause fights. You may also have problems if you have more than one tank of gerbils, as the scents of the other gerbils could cause fighting.
Check all wires and chewable material is out of the way, and watch your gerbil if it climbs onto a sofa or soft furnishing. Some gerbils are more interested in chewing than others whilst out and they can chew through remarkably thick cables which is not healthy for them, or your TV! They are also good climbers so be careful in case they are in danger of falling.
Make sure that other people in your house know that you are free-ranging your gerbil so they know to knock before entering the room. Also if you have a dog or cat in your house, you will not be able to do this unless your room is especially secure.
Some gerbils are a scared of open spaces. If you find your gerbil hiding in large corners a lot, is particularly tricky to recapture or is drumming a lot with their tail, then free ranging is not for them.
An easier way to free-range would be in your bath or bed, although be careful they do not jump off. Take care when handling your gerbil after they've been free-ranged, as they are likely to be more excited and quicker than normal.