If the blood circulation to the tip of the tail ceases, the bare part of the tail may fall off. The gerbil will then adapt to using a smaller tail. Parasites These include mites, fleas and lice. Mange is caused by mites laying eggs underneath. This scratching will result in the loss of fur.
Wet mange is the mange that cause blisters that burst, releasing their contents.
The blisters then turn to sores. Dry mange causes baldness and itching. Fleas and lice are also responsible for scratching. They are uncommon among gerbils but if a case of fleas or lice is present, they can be hard to remove. The powders and sprays that are intended for dogs are too strong and can do a gerbil a lot more harm than good.