Bald(ing) tail?

[KurtsGurl]

Hey everyone -

My little sister has a pair of female gerbils, around 8 months old. She called me tonight, really worried, wanting to know why the black one's tail is losing some hair. She told me that she could see the skin and the skin looked darker than the skin on, say, the gerbil's shoulders.

I know about self- and cagemate-barbering (and told her that this is what it probably is), but does anyone have an explanation for the darker skin? She could just be exaggerating or something I guess, but I figured I'd ask here. I'm such a hypochondriac, I'd hate for her gerbil to be developing cancer or something. They are kept in a huge wire cage on Yesterday's News, but they get pet store food.

Thanks in advance!

[cassi]

I don't know why they would be losing fur, but the tail may be darker if the fur is darker. I know that some gerbils have dark tails while their bodies are lighter colored. Not just the fur looks dark, but the skin underneath is dark as well, so nothing to worry about there.

I wish I could help you more.

[andreaS15]

What colour is the gerbil?
If it was Colour Point (CP) the tail, nose and legs would all be darker then the rest of it.
I think a picture, or you actually seeing the gerbil youself may help us better to understand 'what' is wrong with the gerbil.

[KurtsGurl]

OK, thanks Cassi!

andrea - I said in my post that the gerbil is black. :) I'll go see the gerbil in person tomorrow, and see if this warrants a trip to the vet. Thanks for your help!

[andreaS15]

andrea - I said in my post that the gerbil is black. :) I'll go see the gerbil in person tomorrow, and see if this warrants a trip to the vet. Thanks for your help!
LOL..... maybe I should be wearing my glasses LOL

The only think i can think of that would make a gerbil loose fur on it's tail is, over grooming and a wound that's healing but has no fur. The scab or scrape would make it look darker.

[KurtsGurl]

Thanks! :) I'll tell her to (and check for myself as well) for wounds on Zoe's tail.