My New Gerbil Esty Store

I just opened my new store today. I have 3 of my knitted necklaces for sale and my hamster keychains. Go take a look. I will be having more items in the next few days. Excellent Holiday gift items and stocking stuffers.

Store Name: Squeaky Knitting Designs

What do you think? I welcome opinions and suggestions.

Gerbil and Hamster Update

Just an small update on my babies.

Sam is doing fine alone. He does get a little bored. He recently started purring when we take him out to play.

Bud is thriving on being alone. Not at all depressed.

Spot and Little bear now a tad over 2 years old. Starting in the senior realm of gerbils. Spot recently started jumping into my hand and climbing onto my shoulder without any bribery. Little is starting to do the same.

Toby and Dexter are doing just fine. We still need to work with Dexter more. Still a little skittish. Toby is as friendly as he can be.

Mona and Simone are also a little over 2 years old now. Simone still has her nose problem but it is under control. Mona is now a good friendly gerbil. I can pick her up with no problem. Simone loves to be picked up.

Fred the Hamster is now abut 1.5 years old now. He is still going just fine. Still loves his ball. Loves to be brushed. With his long hair. He needs it.

Bud and Sam Not Meant to Be

Poor Bud and Sam. Putting them together was not meant to be. Their personalities clashed. They won't even interact when I held each one in my hand. They have been in a split since the end of the July.

Last night Bud went to his own digs. I took the divider out and gave Sam the big 20 gallon for now. I will just have to give them extra toys and stimulation. Bud was always good with the ladies. I might get him a senior female to love. I might do the same with Sam later on. Male to female bonding seems to always work better.

Bud is about 1 1/2 feet away from the other two boys. At least he can smell them and know they are around. I am planning on putting Sam in the 15 gallon (where Mona and Simone are currently located) and give the girls the big 20 gallon to romp around. That sounds like the best option I have right now. This is my first failure in try to put two gerbils together.

Also, while I was cleaning an extra small cage, I found Trixie's last thing she chewed. A partial paper plate. It brought sadness to my heart.

Bud and Sam Intro Round 2

Well...this past Saturday on the 29th I tried another intro.

It went a little better. I managed to keep them together for about 1 1/2 hours before they wanted to hurt each other. I really thought it might work today. The split tank was cleaned out. It had to be cleaned. A tiny bug problem. There are wheels on both sides of the 20 gallon split now.

They seem to want to be together. They sleep in each others beds. They like the scent of the other gerbil but when face to face. Nope. They are both dominant type gerbils. One of their fights, I got bit hard with the gloves on from Bud. I think Bud got bit in the rump. No blood but it is tender to the touch.

The neutral territory seems to work for the short term. What do think? If anything, the split can be permanent so at least they won't be totally alone. I will still do the flip flopping and the butt sniffing.

Will keep on trying every weekend. I have never had failure of putting two gerbils together.

Gerbil Updates

It's been awhile since I posted. A bunch has happened over the month. A couple of days after this last post, Trixie passed on. She developed pneumonia.

We didn't want Bud to be left alone. So we got three wonderful 8 week old pups on July 24th.. We thought we might make a foursome. It wasn't to be. The pups were all too old to be put together. So we left two pups together. The other pup we are split caging with Bud. The pups names are Dexter (after the tv show), Toby, and Sam.

Bud and Sam have been in a split cage for almost 4 weeks. I swap sides regularly. I tried an intro last week. They ended up in a gerbil ball. No blood drawn. Alot of back arching and shoving and
tense nose to nose sniffing. Lucky I was wearing gloves. These two want to be dominate gerbil. Sam is over 12 weeks old now and Bud about 2 years old.

I know they want to be together but someone has to be the boss. Bud needs the company of another gerbil. Bud started purring in my hand when I take him out now. He really wants company. Even little Sam sometimes purrs when I take him out to hold.

I try using "hand" intros but they seem to don't want to really interact in my hand. There is plenty of butt sniffing though. They are both sleeping near the wire almost everyday now.

Any suggestions to help? By now, they have to smell alike. I want to try again this weekend. Would doing brief intros at night for a few minutes help? I have never had a split cage go this long.

Trixie's Weekly Update

Trixie is holding on. She still weighs about 60 grams. She has slowed down. Breathing is becoming more labored. She is still eating and drinking on her own with supplement food from me. She starting to like bread crust. So I have been feeding that also. She now likes to sit in my lap in her pouch where it is nice and warm. She is losing some muscle mass.

She still likes to chew on paper plates. She still grooms Bud. Bud grooms her and trys to keep her warm. I am still giving her twice a treatments. She is still peeing and pooing. The poo is getting a little less. Trixie will tell me when it is time to go. Not today.

I have not seen her in the wheel in the past couple of days. She is still very spunky. Eyes and ear bright as ever. Still purrs when I hold her. She still likes to sit on my shoulder when she wants to. She will sit there for minutes. My shoulder must be a warm place.

I know her time is coming soon. Her fur is starting to shed a little. Why do gerbils have such short lives? I wish Trixie could live to four (December 8 birthday) but I know that is not to be. I will cherish everyday that she is here with us. Trixie loves being with her people.

Send her comforting wishes.

Trixie - Weekly Update

I am going to keep a weekly posting on Trixie's progress of her condition. She did well this past week. We are still feeding her the extra food she needs to stay active so she can do as near normal gerbil stuff as she can. Trixie is still eating, chewing, playing a little with her buddie Bud. She gets cooked noodles everyday (one noodle at least 3-4 times a day) with a little bit of her favorite baby food. Gerber's Oatmeal, banana and apple.

She is still getting her twice a day treatment of her medicine and the Povidone Scrub for her sore. She still loves to come out and climb all me. Lately, she has been loving just to perch on my shoulder. She purrs more often now.

I think she is losing a little bit of her muscle mass in her back legs. She has to struggle just a little to climb on their wooden house. Trixie does not climb the Crittertrail tubes anymore. She trys to jog in the wheel a little.

I weigh her every week now. She is still maintaining her weight around the 60-62 gram mark. She has not lost weight since I started feeding her the extra food. She does eat her normal gerbil food when hungry. She loves her pumpkin and sunflower seeds (unshelled). I did see her drink from the water bottle so I know that she is not getting dehydrated.

Trixie Update

It's been a little over 2 weeks since Trixie was diagnosed with cancer. She is doing well. She is still a very active spunky little girl. She is thriving on the extra food we have been feeding her. She gets cooked elbow noodles everyday. At least 3 times a day. Trixie also gets a small portion of baby food at least 3-4 times a day. Her favorite is Gerber Oatmeal, Apple and Banana. She gobbles it right up. She has also been gaining some of her weight back. She is about 62-63 grams now.

I took her into the vet for a quickie checkup. I was concerned because her sore was a little redder than usual. Nothing to worry about. He said to continue the same treatment. The vet said he had seen sores on gerbils like this one last for months. Because it is cancer around the sore, it can't heal properly. Trixie is helping also by keeping the area around the sore clean.

I can't wait for my current craft swap package from Guam. I asked her if she would make Trixie a little play pouch for when Trixie comes on my lap to play. She is still purrring.

Senior Gerbil Trixie

This is my little grey agouti Trixie. She is 3 1/2 years old. About the beginning of May there was a small lump on her belly. Vet said to watch it. While I was away at the gerbil show. The sore opened. Took her to the vet the day after I got back. Vet gave me medicine and brown liquid stuff to keep it clean twice a day. Trixie seemed to respond well to the treatment.

After two weeks, I took her back in for a checkup. Vet was concerned that the sore wasn't healing properly. He took a small sample to send it to the lab for analysis. Trixie did lose some weight. Vet suggested supplement her diet with baby food. That was a week ago.

Vet called yesterday evening. It is not good. Trixie has cancer. Surgery is too risky. Vet and I agreed to continue the same treatment. Supplement her diet with veggie baby food and cooked noodles and any extra sunflower and pumpin seeds she want.

Trixie is still a very active little girl. Doing all the normal gerbil stuff. Trixie also purrs when I hold her. She only does it for me. I will treasure everyday that she has left.

Spot Won at the Gerbil Show!!

My Mottled Black boy Spot won a Blue Ribbon at the 2009 New England Gerbil Show in Bedford, MA on May 30, 2009.

Spot is a beautiful Mottled Black Gerbil about 1.5 years old. There were two groups in the Mottled class. Black and Other. Spot won the black mottled. This is my first gerbil that has ever won a ribbon let alone a blue one. I am so proud of my little boy. He did so well. He now has 3 points toward a championship. He needs 8 to get one.

The person that judged Spot said he was a beautiful gerbil the moment she saw him. The new Blue Gerbils were featured in the show also. The first ones in the US I believe. The gerbils came from a breeder in Finland.

I also entered my Nutmeg Male Little bear in the show also. He was a very good boy at the show. His coloring was just not right. He lacked the black ticking in his fur but otherwise he was a very good boy to the judges.

8 Days Until AGS Gerbil Show!

2009 New England Show
May 30, 2009

Middlesex Community College

Bedford, MA

Time: 11:00-5:00
Admission: $2 per person, $10 family max
Show Details: http://agsgerbils.org/Shows/NEShow/

I can't believe it will only be about a week before the Gerbil Show. I am so pumped. My two gerbils have entered the show. They are excited also. I hope they have a members only chewing and cute face contest. My little Spot would sweep the event. My "Little Bear" has the most adorable cute face ever. It would melt your heart.

I am getting stuff ready to take to the show. I am also the coordinator of the Gerbil Photo contest. The public gets to choose what photo they like the best. I am also coordinating the Silent Auction and Raffle. There are going to be lots of wonderful items up for auction and raffle.

I will also have a table setup selling my knitted critter stuff. I made knitted gerbils, rats, guinea pigs, mice, and hedgehogs. There will a couple of bunnies also. I will also have many critter cozies for your mice and hamsters.

If you going to be in the Bedford Massachusetts area May 30th, stop by. You will not be disappointed.

18 Days Until 2009 NE Gerbil Show!

2009 New England Show
May 30, 2009

Middlesex Community College

Bedford, MA

Time: 11:00-5:00
Admission: $2 per person, $10 family max
Show Details: http://agsgerbils.org/Shows/NEShow/

Meet the Author!

Holly Robinson Cookson appears with copies her brand-new book, The Gerbil Farmer's Daughter, which tells the story of America's largest and most successful gerbil farm. Kirkus Reviews writes: "Journalist Robinson cheerfully recalls growing up with a closeted gerbil-breeder....It’s a scenario that could have been lifted from a 1960s sitcom, but Robinson invests the narrative with pathos, good-natured moments of absurdity and plenty of keen humor....Daffy yet sweet and affecting." A remarkable story in the history of our beloved pets told with sparkling humor and affection!

Pet Class

In order to better serve the traditionally large public turn-out, we will break the Pet Class into two segments. The morning class (11:30 am-12:30 pm) is targeted toward younger children (ages 8 & under) and uses our traditional "Best Whiskers" format to acknowledge the things that make each gerbil special with a blue ribbon for every gerbil. The afternoon segment (1:30-3:30) will feature a Mock Show for gerbils owned by kids ages 9 & up. Trained AGS Asst. Judges (youth members ages 11 and up who have taken Judges' Training) will award 1st, 2nd and 3rd place Pet Class ribbons to pet gerbils, judging them by color class using the AGS Standards, exactly like the breed show. The Jr. Judges will describe the characteristics of the winning gerbils. This mock show will be an excellent chance for older children interested in showing gerbils to learn what makes a winning gerbil in a less-competitive, educational event.

Register for the Pet Class at the AGS Show site

Photo Contest

Can't come to the show in person? Send in a photo of your gerbil and we'll let the visiting public choose a winner!

Silent Auction & Raffle

Beautiful craft items, useful gerbil supplies, adorable novelties and more, to benefit the AGS! In past years we have had wonderful items from books to jewelry to quilts to gerbil supplies.

Exotic Pet Visitors

Rebecca Azer of Gerbil Parade will speak about rabbit care and the joy of owning a bunny. Meet Elvis and hear all about how much a fun a bunny can be!

Knitted Hamster Pattern Wanted

Has anyone seen a knitted hamster pattern toy/stuffie? I have been looking all around and came up with nothing. I would love to be able to make some for the upcoming gerbil show at the end of the month.

I will be bringing my knitted gerbils, rats, guinea pigs and hedgehogs.

Can anyone help?

Help My Shelter Win a Makover!!

Friendship Animal Protective League, Elyria, Ohio

This is a legit cause. Go vote.

Fred's New Hamster Cozy

Fred recently received this wonderful play pouch for him to play in when he comes out to play. It is now one of favorite toys next to his ball. he got this from a recent craft swap on Craftser.com. The maker of the pouch decided to use Fred's picture with him playing in the pouch as a model for her blog on how to make the pouch. With my permission of course. Fred is now a famous hammie! Click on the link in the header to see the whole article.

Isn't he the most adorable hamster in the world? I love him so much. So gentle. never bitten once. Now I have two famous crittters. The first was my gerbil Buddy. His picture was shown on Cleveland's Fox 8 news last year and now Fred!

Spay Day 2009 - Vote for Fred!

The Humane Society of the United States' and Humane Society International's Spay Day Online Pet Photo Contest! To support Spay Day, The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International host the Spay Day Online Pet Photo Contest $1.00 a vote.

Isn't Fred the cutest hamster in the world! Go here and vote for this cutie.

Hamster - Feed Him

I found this cute little guy in google widgets. To feed him, jsut click on an empty space.

My First Swap on Craftser

My first swap on craftser was a Mini Holiday Swap. It was so much fun. I made my partner a pair of slippers, a gerbil stuffie in her favorite color, and some slipper ornaments in her favorite colors.

I got these from my first swap:

A little blue mouse stuffie, mouse earrings, a mouse stamp pin. The pretty little Christmas mouse card came with the package. Adorable! You can never go wrong in giving me a stuffie.