MOD 4 - COURSE 5 - PT 1 - GERBIL Flashcards
(23 cards)
What are some characterisitcs of girbils
- docile
- monogamous pairs - dont spereate
- low occurance of natural diseases
- adapts well to captivity and environemntal manipulation
- prone to audiogenic seiqzrues
what researhc models are used for gerbils
- stroke
- epilepsy
how is best to handle gerbils
- base of tail
- cup hand to lift out of cageh
how do you restrain gerbils
- scruff loose skin at back of neck - same as mouse
what the body temp of gerbils
- 35.7 -39.3’C
whats the heart rate of gerbils
- 260-600BPM
whats teh respiratory rate of gerbils
- 70-120 breaths per min
whats the weight of adult and newborn gerbils
- 70-90g
- ~3g
whats teh daily food and water consumption of gerbils
- 3-6ml per day
- 4-7g pr day
whats their avg lifespan of gerbils
- 2-4 years
how do you detmermine the gender of gerbils
- angogenital distance = larger in males
what are gerbils oestrous cycle like?
- ebery 4-6 days
- polyestrous
- post partum oestrus
when do gerbils reach sexual maturity
- 70-84 days
how long is their gestation
- 24-26 days
whats their litter size of gerbils
- 4-5
how long until their weaned
21 days
is cannibilsm a problem
- not normally with established pairs
what is their behaviour normally like
- docile
- cyclic activity, rest period
- foot stomping
when do gerbils stomp their feets
- sexual ritual
- danger signal
what is the verntral makring gland of gerbils
- vertical midline of abdomen male and female
- marking territory and sexual atttractant
how common is epileptic siezures in gerbils
20% of gerbils
what are the husbondary conditions for gerbils
- susceptible to high humidity - predispose to facial dermatitis and greasy coats
- HUMIDITY BELOW 50%
- use opage breeeder cahe - reduce agression
- gerbils - need deep layer of litter for digging and nesting - a burrow substitute - 20cm long
whats the diet / water intake of gerbils
- rodent feed - same as mice
- wate r= always be available - consume very little
