Eeyore and Piglet. They are named after A. A. MILNE's characters according to their coat colors. These names would prove to be rather apt, as I would find out.

FIRST DAY HOME

I brought them home in a container the breeder provided, a plastic box punched with holes on top for ventilation, held in a plastic bag. It was raining.

The book I had been reading on gerbil keeping advised against handling new gerbil pets, for they would be feeling nervous on the first day of their arrival at their new home. But I couldn't resist! I wanted to see them up close. I did not try to handle them, but picked them up in a shoebox to take a closer look at them.

I first picked up Eeyore and he seemed okay. But when Piglet was in it, she started to get nervous, and began thumping her feet on the floor of the shoebox! Just like I had read from the books; gerbils thump their feet when they are afraid, when they sense danger! It was my first experience with gerbil feet thumping! Not wanting to scare her further, I immediately let Piglet back into the tank.

HAND TAMING

After a time, I started trying to hand tame my gerbils. They were curious creatures and came to explore my hand right away. At first, Eeyore was the bolder one as he came and sat in my hand, while Piglet did not. I decided that Eeyore was the braver one, while Piglet seemed more timid.

This opinion however was to change later. As time passed, Eeyore seemed to be unwilling to sit on my hand any longer. She would put her front paws on my hand still, but not sit completely on it. Instead, Piglet started to become more trusting and began to sit on my hand quietly for a long period of time.

PIGLET'S ESCAPE

As they got older, Eeyore started to get a bit more plump than Piglet, and thus wasn't as agile. Piglet developed great jumping ability, and even escaped from the tank a few times.

In Milne's The House At Pooh Corner, there is a chapter in which Pooh, Owl and Piglet were trapped in Owl's house when it was blown down by the wind.Piglet, being a very SMALL ANIMAL, was the only one who could escape from the collapsed house. He did it with a string, through the letter box! And then he called for help for the trapped Owl and Pooh. A very SMALL ANIMAL!

They are still like that now, Piglet being the more adventurous and excitable one. Now, Piglet has become so adept at jumping out of her tank, she does it everytime I leave the lid open! Stocky Eeyore is more mellow, but she exudes much enthusiasm chewing up whatever is put in the tank.

LIVING TOGETHER

Eeyore and Piglet are great together, being sisters that were from the same litter. Neither seem more dominant than the other. They do get into short wresting bouts, the winner of which gets to groom the losing gerbil. They usually take turns at winning and losing, so their status seems quite equal. They like to cuddle together when sleeping.

Copyright © 2005 House of Eeyore & Piglet