Gerbils!

I like gerbils.

I am not a big fan of rodents, never have been. I am in no way fond of hamsters, no matter how hard Mr. Sapphire tries to get me to like them. They're noisy. When our power went off during the last ice storm, Mr. Sapphire and I stayed to take care of the snakes, using the gas heater in the snake room for warmth. Sleeping among snakes didn't bother me one whit; the stupid HAMSTER kept me up and made all kinds of horrible noises.

So...

Mr. Sapphire, as we all know, has snakes. Ball pythons are African in origin, as are gerbils. He wanted a cheap snake, and "wild caught" snakes from Africa are about as least expensive as snakes go. They are, however, by repute (and now experience) finicky eaters. Naturally, wild-caught African snake + African-originating gerbils = dinner.

I had no problems with this...at first. I mean, rodents either go in mouse traps or serve as part of the food chain. Then, one day, I meandered to the snake room and noted that he bought a colony of five gerbils. A rodent's a rodent, right? But these little guys stood up on their hind legs and looked at me, kind of like miniature prairie dogs. Still, I don't get attached to rodents, and I left.

The second time I went into the snake room, I saw them. Once again, the stood up on their hind legs. I asked them how they were doing, and they got all excited, running up to the sides of the cage and back. Okay, still no real tugging on the heart strings.

The third time, I talked to them and went to the cage and tapped their little noses. They got up on their little legs and came over, sniffing and running around like they were actually happy to see me.

I thought and thought hard. I went back out for just one more time, and stole the gerbil cage.

They now are housed in three different enclosures. The original colony reproduced, not horribly so, but enough to the point where the older females were ready to kick their daughters out as not to compete with their males, so we had to divide the colony a bit. Most live in one large aquarium and get along just fine. We have bought two more females, little ones, because Anubis, my black one, is going to be bred. I was all excited about the concept until we got him:



He's the offspring of one of our original gerbils. I call him Dreamsicle. As you see, he's snuggling quite comfortably with Anubis, our little black dude.

Here's a better pic of 'Nubi:



I want to make something clear: They are clean, quiet, and soothing. I have them right next to my desk, and am making room for the larger tank. Just looking at them brings them to you, and they are just sweet, sweet, sweet. The kids love to just go by for a minute and put their hands in. They love to shred cardboard and anything paper. It's like having your own little town right under your nose.

Thanks for reading this dissertation on the quality and importance of gerbils in the Sapphires lives.