We lost our hamster Tribble to old age a couple of weeks ago. My daughter just bought three male 13 week old gerbils to live in Tribble's old enclosure. (She says they're Jedi Gerbils , and has named them accordingly from Star Wars novels: Anakin, Kyp, and Zekk). The thing is that instead of keeping them in the living room, where Tribble used to live, she's keeping them in her bedroom, about three or four feet away from Spectre's enclosure. Is their scent going to drive him nuts because they're so close? I feel like maybe he's been out searching a lot more than usual, but I don't know if it's because he's extra hungry since he would only eat two hoppers last Thursday or because he smells the gerbils and wants them. Should we move the gerbils out to the living room away from Spectre? Any advice would be appreciated! Thank you

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~Juliane~

I wouldn't worry about it a snake can smell a rodent from a long way off so the scent that close would not be much different if the gerbils were kept further away. IMO

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I'll think of something to put here soon.......

Yep I agree - a snake is capable of tasting and smelling a rodent much further away so I don't think it would make much difference. We keep our rats on our upstairs landing, which is very close to the snake's room - we have no other choice and it hasn't caused us any problems.

Just be careful not to go into the snake's enclosure after handling the gerbils

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"If you know everything you may as well blow your brains out because the reason for existence is to learn more everyday." - Mark O'Shea, 2004

I agree, the snake will be aware of the gerbils but they won't drive it crazy. If you think about it, in the wild rodents are everywhere leaving their scent around the environment. In fact since different prey items "smell" differently the snake may not even be aware as to what they are. This is part of the problem with getting some wild caught snakes to accept lab mice as food. They smell and look different from the prey that they are used to.

As Rachel warned be very sure to wash hands (and change clothes), between playing with the gerbils and handling the snake.

And just for the people that will tell you that being in close proximity to the snake will traumatize the gerbils,....
Baloney!

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

mmmmmm....baloney...*sitting with mouth open dribbling into my lap*

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I'll think of something to put here soon.......

Personal experience, your snake will be fine. I had breeding mice in my snake room, and encountered no problem.

But, if you notice nose rub (dark red coloring on nose). I would move the gerbil out...

Thank you for the advice everyone, and I'll watch for noserub. Hmmmm...Maybe the close scent of gerbil will entice Spectre to eat an adult mouse without a fuss...

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~Juliane~