Sydney and Kyoto

Sydney is an Argente Cream, and Kyoto a Lightened Colourpoint Golden Agouti, they came into our lives in January 2003, they were brought home from our local petshop, and were to turn out to be two of the loveliest gerbils I have had and began my or should I say, our love for Gerbils.

On their first day home both began to settle down and sleep on me, this was to then also occur when we got York and Kobe who were also from the same breeder.

Sydney was the cute dumb one, and from an early age it seemed she had problems with eyesight, something I've not noticed since her being young and silly. Red eyed gerbils are often said to have eyesight problems, and can often 'sway' when focusing on something - I've never noticed this before to be honest and I have whoo, a few red eyed gerbies!

Kyoto was a little more skittish - and still is, but she is just so beautiful!

Ok, looks like I should move onto the photos!

31st January 2006

Completely gutted, I noticed Sydney well fluffed up and looking ill in the corner of her tank. She looked very much like Monaco did and so I figured she'd die like he did over a few months, this time planning on being better prepared and testing to see if she is diabetic....

I moved their tank closer to the heater to help keep her warm because she was cold and breathing heavily. A few hours later, Kyoto was next to Sydney sleeping, I decided to wrap Sydney up in some tissue to help warm her and also to give plenty for a nest, around 10 minutes later she began struggling as I was removing a wooden bridge from the tank - so she wouldn't get stuck behind it and get too cold and die. This time her struggling was different and I tried to put her back in the tank in peace, within seconds I could tell she was fitting, I placed her in the tank and she died seconds later.

Next time any of my gerbils are looking ill or close to dying, I won't handle them... I can't bring myself to witness the look on their face again. Better to die peacefully with their partner than in my hands? I think so.

Although it should not be a shock, it seems worse because I did not imagine Sydney or Kyoto would go next, with Kobe's problems I figured he would be the next to go, or even the Dipodils.

So, the end of an era, Sydney especially was what started off my love for gerbils.

28 March 2006

The face of Gerbilsite has sadly passed away.

I can't believe how long she ended up suffering and just at the last stretch where you think she might be on the up, she dies in my hands.
After Sydney passing I promised I would not let that happen again, it's horrific seeing their little face as they fit and then die in your hands, so since sunday I have kept her quiet, in a hospital tank in our bedroom where it is quiet most of the time -except for Pete snoring!

Well, today, Tuesday Pete has the day off and takes her to the vets, they give him Baytril, although I feel they should have euthenised her because there just wasn't any chance of her surviving.
So I had given her the Baytril with apple juice and was just cleaning her up - baytril around the mouth etc. She began to fit and once more it was obvious she was going.

I knew I should have stayed away, that's twice now and I really don't want it happening again. But after three days, you have that little glimmer that because they've lasted this long, they perhaps aren't going to die...

Why do I seem to have a really good knack of killing my pets? As soon as I hold them, they decide to go. I'd only held Kyoto twice in the three days, trying to make sure this wouldn't happen to me again *sigh*