Digging in corners

Gerbil behavior-  digging in corners


If you've had your gerbils for any amount of time,  you've no doubt noticed that they have an odd habit of digging in the corners of their cage,  never seeming to realize that digging through glass is simply never going to work.
If you're thinking that your gerbils are frantically trying to get out,  no need to worry!  Though the zeal and gusto with which they attempt the impossible can give the appearance of them being desperate to escape,  they aren't.  Their natural instincts are simply kicking in and demanding that they burrow - even where burrowing isn't possible.
Something else you may notice (not all gerbils do this but some do) is that,  while digging in the corner,  your gerbil will jump,  still digging.  That's normal and harmless as well.  They're just seeing if up higher is any better for digging.  

4 comments:

  1. Thanks for all the help! the web sight is really good!

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  2. I have a problem. My gerbil lost his skin off of his tail tip and now its just a bleeding naked, rat- like tail tip left. What should i do?

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  3. I'm sorry to hear about your gerbil's tail! How much of the tip is missing skin? If you want to take it to the vet, they would probably amputate it and perhaps give some medications. But it's actually a defense mechanism in gerbils, so if you want to just leave it, the wounded part of the tail will eventually dry up and fall off, and the gerbil will be fine. Unless it's just the very tip, then it's possible the wound will heal up like any other wound.

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