How easily can a gerbil be stunned?

Question

Last night I put my 2 gerbils in a big and tall box while I cleaned out their cage. When I went to get them one was just sitting and wouldn't move. He squeked when I picked him up. I thought he had maybe hurt a leg or something cause he was sat all hunched over. After about 10-15 minutes he started to look around and was getting interested. I put him in the bottom of the cage and after a half hour or so he was moving around ok. I'm thinking he stunned himself somehow cause he seems to be fine this morning. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on how he managed to do it so I can prevent him from doing it again? He was in a large box which he couldn't jump out off with his brother. There wasn't anything else in the box cause it was just for 5 minutes while I cleaned the cage out.

Answer 1

he was prob cold my mouse woudnt move once because she was cold i thort she was dead but i cleaned out the cage put some warm rags in there and put her closer to the heater and she perked up after about 2-3 hours so he might of been cold or something but he is better now so all better but if he does that again move his fur and feel if his skin is cold if it is then get a rag or old shirt warm it and put it in with him

owner of 3 female mice and 1 male

Answer 2

I think that he was just scared.

Answer 3

He was definitely just scared at being in a new place

my gerbil did it all the time

they always just come around like you said

Answer 4

My gerbils dont seem to do that maybe ask your vet ??

=D

Answer 5

iunno, but my hamster pissed on my walls when i had it

Answer 6

Maybe you put the two in a cage and they do'nt gell well.

I hate the idea of keeping Pets CAGED!

Answer 7

Gerbil's can be easily frightened and eventually stunned by being placed in a foreign environment, so maybe your little gerri just got caught up in being in a different habitat and over exherted himself discovering its new home.

Whenever I clear out my gerbils I put them in a play ball so that they can see what I am doing, because when I used to put them in an empty fish tank they got over excited and wouldnt eat for a few days, so it's absolutely nothing to worry about if they stunn themselves they'll wind up being okay :D it will be totally alright, but if you check its legs for any injuries just encase because as you said it might have hurt itself but its nothing strange by the sounds of it =]

Maybe next time you clean them out have someone watch over them to prevent it from happening again (:

Good luck :D

x

Answer 8

they can be stuned easily ive herd that a camra flash can stun them

Answer 9

Wow, I didn't even read all of that...A completely worthless question.

Answer 10

Some gerbils will stun at being picked up or being somewhere strange.  It can be infrequent.

I had a gerbil that stunned and fitted really easily, it was awful!

sounds like your gerbil may have got a fright from being in a strange place perhaps?

Answer 11

some gerbils 'faint' when they are threatend, so dont worry he will probably do it again. just leave him to come round by himself, its quite common.