my gerbil is FAT. He won't run on his wheel at all. instead, he covers the bottom with shavings so it won't move when he walks across it. I've also tried an excerise ball... no good... he panics and really hates it. All he does in there is poop a bunch and try to scratch his way out. What can I do to make him use his wheel? It's the right sized wheel for him and has a solid floor so his legs & tail won't get stuck... so what's the problem?
2007-03-21 10:51:40 · 2 answers · asked by pambetteridge 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Not all pets like wheels. You can try placing him the wheel and hope he goes for it, I had to do that with my gerbil. They just hop out, but they get used to it. Eventually he got on it himself, and started using it. He loved it!
2007-03-21 15:41:03 · answer #1 · answered by AnswerGiver 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Please take him to the vet!! If he is overweight, it may be a health issue for him. It sounds like he may be frightened of the wheel and the ball - perhaps he is afraid of his surroundings? Believe it or not, rabbits, ferrets, hamsters and gerbils can suffer from psychological issues. I had a ferret who was diagnosed with something similar to claustrophobia - he refused to go anywhere that was small and dark, and he used to go crazy when I turned the lights out. Your gerbil may have a health issue that is causing him to panic when you place certain objects near him. Quick trip to your vet might give you some answers! Hope this was some help.
2007-03-21 19:29:34 · answer #2 · answered by axix9 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋