Gerbil Question (not medical)

[Firefly_Dreamer]

I was wondering about them. I had gotten two, my very first rodents, and noticed a weird bald slit on their stomachs. I was wondering what its for, or if its a genetic error, or something.

Background info~

My gerbils are male and brothers

One is all black with the exception of a white chin. the other is like a very light agouti leading to a white belly. he has a few blotches of white on his head.

[Thomas Hickey]

that is normal for male gerbils so don't freak out it is how you tell the males from the females

[Jazi]

It's a scent gland! If your gerbils are tame you might be able to stick your nose against it... smells like musky pee right? It's supposed to be there :]

[Pastasquid]

lol, I would hate to smelll it but my two gerbils have it aswell It's a scnt gland defo

[Imzadi83]

If you watch you'll see them rub their bellies on things to put their scent on them. My girls used to do it with their wooden play houses.