Ho un gerbillo nella cucina

Thursday we brought home a rescue gerbil from the lab. He was the 'spare' animal for an experiment which ended a week or two ago and he was never called upon to be used. Actually, when the 49 gerbils arrived in mid-August I was the only who came into the lab so I got to help Andy weigh and organize the groups and this guy was selected as the spare because he was the smallest. Now that his friends are gone he was going to be gotten rid of, too, if no one wanted him. As far as I can tell he is healthy, was never tested, and always fed a low-fat diet--the only bad thing is that he had to spend so long in a tiny cage by himself.

Seth and I deliberated over taking him home for several weeks. Seth even emailed his class to see if anyone wanted him, and two girls showed interest. However, after we brought him home I decided I didn't want to give him away, so now he is living in our kitchen. Actually, we have been letting him run loose in the sun-room when we are home--he just runs around nonstop, stretching his legs. If you step inside the room he will come over and eventually let himself back into his small lab cage.


Today I bought him a deluxe gerbil-habitat that he seems to have really taken to. However, I felt a little silly at the pet shop, buying small rodent supplies--a rodent not owned by a small child, but by myself. When I was checking out there was a boy with his dad in line in front of me. They also had a cage and some start-up supplies and the boy asked if I was getting a hamster, too. I told him, 'no, it is a gerbil'.


Having a great big place to run freely for hours and hours, being able to roll around in a large oatmeal tub, and sleeping in a fancy tank, the only thing I know that would make the gerbil happier is if he had a gerbil friend or two; being a social animal he really ought to have a companion, but unfortunately that won't be happening.