Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know that this is the mouse forum, but anyone hardly ever answers me at that forum. But something really weird happened today and I was wondering if anyone knew what it was.

I went to see the gerbils and my male (they are both male, but that might be important) gerbil was acting strangely. He was in his strawberry den thing, sticking his head out. I just pet him on the neck, and he made this thumping noise. I looked in and he was banging his tail and back feet on th ground. Why? He seems ok, but i'm worried. Please respond ASAP Thanks!!

Don't know squat about gerbils but I have mice that would shake their tails rapidly, producing a rattle sound when they are near the edge of their cage or hide. From watching them I feel this is a sign of either aggitation or dominance since it almost always happen when a mouse is reaserting it's dominence over the other mice in the colony of the same sex.

Agreed. In mice, tail rattling and thumping is a sign of aggression and dominance...it means a very angry mouse. I would expect it's probably the same in gerbils. However, I have no gerbil experience either.

I just read in a book that it was mating behavior! But i've got two boys! I've had them for over 3 months so I'd probably know if they were'nt. They just became mature a little while ago so it could just be hormones I gues. After, he hopped right into my hand, so I don't think his was angry, but who knows?