BUT of lately, due to the overall warmth of the apartment (heating has gone up since it’s just a few days shy of winter), the gerbils have taken to stretching out on their bedding just to snooze with ease (sometimes they even sleep belly-up but sorry, no pics of that!)…here’s a look at what I mean.

While I’m busy with my spinning and stuff, the gerbils are busy with their own stuff, especially warming up the wheel the old-fashioned way. I just want to go snooze after looking at this pic!!!! XD

It has been a while since I last shared pictures about these two boys. We have had them for nearly two months now and am glad to say that they are finally getting used to the idea of being picked up and all. Scratch no longer nips when confronted with a hand and Emile is bolder, choosing to climb all over my hand at every chance he gets.

We were very fortunate to pick up a glass tank that someone had unceremoniously dumped at the rubbish bin. There was not a single scratch on it and it was just the right size for a play tank. We could always move them permanently there but I think it’s better to have a separate play tank where they can dig and climb around like crazy. Anyway, here are a couple of my favourite shots. For more, do check out the entire set on my Flickr page here.

When Scratch is looking around…

…and so is Emile…

These were taken while I was busy working with my dyepot – I guess they are pretty used to all the noise and such. The two boys loves to nap during the early mornings and mid-afternoon, choosing to get super active around breakfast and dinner time. Why? Because that’s usually when I’m feeding or handling them! Can’t you tell that they are all about food and play? ^.~

I’ve set up their main tank with a few log tunnels but decided to add a little more in their playpen which is connected via a tunnel. Anything is game really, as long as it isn’t plastic and is safe to swallow – things like cardboard, pine cones and more logs. Since my mother-in-law has a few apple trees in her garden, I thought it’d be nice to throw in some branches as well. I sunned them together with the pine cones for a few days and toss them into the playpen.

As you can see, they were an instant hit!

And of course, there is that pose that they strike once in a while; this time, it’s Emile.

As you can see, I still have a long way to go before churning out “worthy” shots but this is my favourite so far…

Then Nil reminded me of gerbils and I thought why not? After doing some reading up and joining a gerbil forum to know more and what is expected of me, I went around looking for these lovely creatures. The nearest breeder was in Orbe which was quite a distance from me so I settled for the petshop in town.

I had in mind two males but then when I saw the condition of the females, I decided to get a pair of females instead. However, when I went in the next day to get them, well, things didn’t look all that great – fights, pregnancies, babies…so I ended up with two lovely males who evidently have been together for a while…

So here they are…the new additions to our family!

Scratch

Colour | Nutmeg
Age | Approximately 2 months (slighter younger than Emile)
Sex | Male
Personality | Active, curious, furious tunnel digger and very into nest maintenance

Emile

Colour | Agouti
Age | Approximately 2 months
Sex | Male
Personality | Relaxed, loves food and enjoys napping regularly.