Chapter 21: Gerbils Flashcards
True or False
Gerbils create a lot of urine and therefore need to have their cages changed often
False
Create little urine
True or False
Gerbils maintain “cyclic activity,” or intermittent periods of high-level activity followed by periods of rest or sleep
True
True or False
Only female gerbils have a dark yellow gland, called the central marking gland, on the central midline of their abdomen
False
Both male and female have scent glands
True or False
Secretions from the ventral marking gland are used in territory marking and pup identification.
True
True or False
Since gerbils are desert animals, they can get all the water they need from their food
False
They need water in addition to food
How long is the gestation period for gerbils?
24-26 days
What type of breeding scheme gives the best results in gerbils?
Monogamous mating
Are gerbils generally aggressive or docile animals?
Docile
What hereditary problem occurs in approximately 20% to 50% of gerbils?
Seizures
When handling gerbils, you must be cautious because they have a tendency to:
Jump
When grasping gerbils by the tail, what must you be careful not to do? Why?
Grab too hard as the skin may come off
When two gerbils are housed together for a long time, and one gerbil does, what may happen stop the remaining gerbil?
It may get depressed and refuse to eat
What behavior might you observe in a startled gerbil?
Freezing or seizures
What is one problem female gerbils may have, which may cause them to cease reproducing prematurely?
Ovarian cysts
Where should you place food in a cage that houses nursing animals?
On the floor
