Gerbils Mongolian gerbil Meriones unguiculatus Most common pet

Gerbils • Mongolian gerbil – – Meriones unguiculatus Most common pet gerbil Live 2 -4 years Native to China and Mongolia

History • Genghis Khan – Meriones unguiculatus “Clawed Warrior” • Father Armand David (French missionary/explorer) – 1867 - sent specimens to Europe (first pet gerbils in Europe? ) • Dr. Victor Schwentker – Brought to U. S. in 1954 for research – Scientists realized their “pet potential” in the lab • Illegal as pets in California

Anatomical Features • 15 -30 cm; tail about half its length • Weigh 50 -60 g • Adapted to arid environment – Furred tail and fur between toes – Drink little water; excrete little urine – Can go 45 days without water • Hearing 7 times better than humans

Reproduction • Monogamous (usually) • Paired gerbils begin to mate at ~ 3 months • Mating Behavior – chasing and mounting – checking their undersides after each round • Pregnancy = 24 days • 1 -8 pups/litter; both parents build nest and care for pups • Mate again almost immediately after the female gives birth

Behavior • Active, friendly animals • Adult gerbils do NOT tolerate new cage mates • Place with permanent cage mates by 10 to 12 weeks of age – New cage mates will result in fighting among adults – If cage mate removed for prolonged time and reintroduced, fighting may result

Behavior • Diurnal • Enjoy exercise wheels and edible chew toys – Avoid plastic • Enjoy dust baths • Normally burrow – Appreciate tunnels

Research • Stroke studies • Hematology studies • Experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) like humans (Lau, et. al. 2011)

Husbandry • Require minimal care • Clean cage every 2 -3 weeks • Tolerate wide temperature ranges • Relative humidity of 30% recommended • Should be fed ad libitum • Best housed in solid-bottom caging with bedding • Handled by grasping base of tail – Avoid pulling skin of the tip and exposing tailbone

Husbandry • General minimum guidelines – – 10 -gallon tank = 2 15 -gallon tank = 3 20 -gallon tank = 4 30 -gallon tank = 6 • Bedding – No pine or cedar • respiratory and liver problems – Provide several inches for burrowing and nesting

Common Diseases • Respiratory Problems – Caused by pathogen or bedding material made from pine or cedar – Clinical signs include: rumpled coats, clicking noises, and hunched in a corner – If not eating and drinking or having diarrhea, bring to vet – If due to the bedding change

Common Diseases • Seizures (“going limp”) – Stress/over stimulation – Young gerbils may “grow out of it” – Should not breed animals prone to seizures – Can be fatal

Common Diseases • Nasal Dermatitis – Gerbil gets bald patch around nose (too much moisture, bedding problem, rubbing on cage/habitat contents/overactive Harderian Gland) – Gets irritated/infected and bleeds – See veterinarian

Common Diseases • Scent Gland Tumor – Most common in older males – Can be operable

Common Diseases • Tyzzer’s Disease – Clostridium piliforme – spread through contaminated food or water supplies – Clinical Signs: severe abdominal pain, rough hair coat, anorexia, hunched stance, and diarrhea – Can be fatal – prevention is best

Common Diseases • Malocclusion – Misalignment of the teeth – Be sure to have wood for them to chew on for natural ware – Vet may need to trim teeth monthly

Guinea Pigs • Cavia porcellus • Originated in South America – Peru and Bolivia – Bred for food consumption – Some may have been kept as pets by children

History • Domesticated when brought to Europe in 1500 s • Queen Elizabeth I kept guinea pigs as pets 1580 - Painting of three Elizabethan children containing what may be the first portrait of a guinea pig.

Anatomical Features • Short and stocky • Lifespan: 5 -6 years • 8 -19 inches long; ~5 inches tall • 30 -35 ounces (1. 8 -2. 2 lbs) • Three main breeds • Short-haired • Long-haired • Rosette-haired • Preyer or pinna reflex • Turns head and directing ears to sounds

Reproduction • Monogamous or polygamous • One boar can be kept with up to 10 sows • Gestation averages 66 days • Can have up to 7 pups (average is 3)

Behavior • Rarely bite • Social • Male dominated hierarchies • Tendency to freeze then scatter in response to noise or startling

Research • Biomedical research – nutritional research – vaccines for diphtheria (URI caused by bacterium) and tuberculosis – replacement heart valves

Husbandry • Strictly herbivores – Fussy eaters – May starve when diet changed – Must have vitamin C supplement • Best housed in solid-bottom cages with bedding – Guinea pigs are messy – Scatter food and defecate into feed and water bowls so use a water bottle

Husbandry • Minimum Cage Sizes – One 7. 5 square feet (30" x 36”) – Two 10. 5 square feet is preferred (30" x 50”) – Three 10. 5 - 13 square feet (30" x 62”) – Four 13 square feet (30" x 76”)

Common Diseases • Respiratory/Pneumonia – Caused by a bacterial infection – Spread by direct contact, aerosolized (airborne) particles, and on contaminated hands or other objects – Animal should be brought to the vet for treatment

Common Diseases • Diarrhea – Have a sensitive gastrointestinal tract – Caused by bacterial infection, change of food, stress, some antibiotics (kill off too many “good” bacteria in gut) – Animal should be brought to the vet for treatment

Common Diseases • Scurvy – Need 10 - 50 mg of vitamin C per day – Vitamin C found in fresh fruit and green or colored vegetables – Pellets should be used within 90 days of the date of manufacture (vitamin C unstable)

Common Diseases • Urinary Tract Problems – prone to urinary calculi (stones) – life threatning – bladder and kidney – blockage in the ureter – females cystitis – males stones – Clinical signs include: anorexia, depression, straining – surgery may be required

Common Diseases • Malocclusion – Misalignment of teeth • Barbering – Chewing of fur out of boredom • Pododermatitis (Bumblefoot) – Most typical in overweight animals kept on wire bottom cages – Depp infection on feet causing infection