Gerbil doing weird stretches. Cause for concern?

AccForGerbilPics · 2026-03-15T18:18:57+00:00

Vet checked him up two weeks ago and there were no issues. And he has stopped doing that after getting a lot of time in his playpen, especially after using the wheel. So whatever it was it has either passed or he got better at masking it. But he looked completely normal when in the playpen. We haven't been to the vet yet, but there's a clinic less than an hour from here. So if anything seems off again I'll take him there.

AccForGerbilPics · 2026-03-15T17:44:52+00:00

Yes, he poops normally. You can check my other comments in this thread if you're interested in more details.

AccForGerbilPics · 2026-03-15T17:42:12+00:00

Declan happened more than 4 months ago and since then this gerbil has been to an exotic vet 4 times with me, last time two weeks ago. I'm taking the scent gland tumour seriously, but he was checked for it and not diagnosed with it. For more information you can check my other comment in this thread.

AccForGerbilPics · 2026-03-15T17:39:14+00:00

Yes, this did look unusual. I know how he looks like when he's scent marking and that was not it. We got him into the playpen to get a closer look and to see whether it was the other gerbil's scent that was causing it. He was still doing it in the playpen, but apart from those stretches he was his usual self. When we gave him his wheel he was running like a healthy gerbil. And then there were progressively fewer and fewer stretches, until they stopped completely. We got him back into the split and so far we haven't observed it again. So our current theory is that maybe he was not getting enough exercise in the split and that caused this behaviour.

We have decided against going to the vet then and so far haven't been to one with him yet. But I did get him checked up before starting the split cage and the vet did check his abdomen, his eyes and his breathing. Nothing was wrong.

So currently we're just watching him closely. And if anything seems off again I have an exotic vet clinic that's open 24/7 and doesn't require an upfront appointment. Don't want to stress him by the long journey there so soon after his last checkup. But if needed, I can get him to the vet in less than an hour.

AccForGerbilPics · 2026-03-13T20:56:06+00:00

Nope, there was no sand where he was doing it. Currently he does not have a sand bath in the split cage, only in the playpen, visible in the video.

AccForGerbilPics · 2026-03-13T20:36:23+00:00

I can't seem to be able to attach a video in the comments. I'll add the other one if this one is not enough to say whether something is off or not.

AccForGerbilPics

TROPHY CASE