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Post by blocketh on Aug 10, 2011 13:40:47 GMT -8
The following is a love story/blog between two gerbils. Please feel free to input and give suggestions as you see fit. Day 1: So! I FINALLY got everything done for my split cage introduction for Sebastian and Penelope. As of right now, they are sitting in their split cage happily chewing away on TP tubes, rather unaware of the other's existance. I'm slightly worried that they'll take to chewing on the wood inside the cage (part of the divider's frame), and thus knock down the barrier, but I don't think that'll happen, as it's double barriered. (that's not a word, I know). maybe I could coat it with something? Like lemon juice? Or maybe that would just make him want to chew it more... Hmm... I need a gerbil deterrent. I purchased Sebastian back in late April when he was 11 weeks old with the intention of breeding him. He's a beautifully colored nutmeg, with a tiny white bib on his chin. I searched for months for the perfect mate for him, and finally found Penelope, a pied red eyed honey. Before I could start the split caging, .I first had to finish all my summer travels. I'm finally back for good now, and today I went and bought the lid for their split tank. Though they're just now officially in their split tank, I've already begun the process of introducing them by introducing them to each others' scent. I had their cages next to each other, and I would put items from each cage in the opposite cage. Yesterday, I put Sebastian in Penelope's cage, and Penelope in Sebastian's (not while the other was present, of course)... That was an interesting experience for everyone. They haven't acted aggresively at all... Barely even acknowledged the others existance. Maybe that's a good sign? Maybe it's because I've already introduced them to the other's scent? Who knows. As for now, I must get ready to go out. I hope they get along well.  That's all for now! Pictures later! I''ll update either tonight or tomorrow. |
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Post by esztershine on Aug 11, 2011 1:56:19 GMT -8
To start with it sounds good as there is no aggressive behaviour. You doing It well by taking your time and not rushing them |
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Post by blocketh on Aug 16, 2011 9:34:41 GMT -8
Thank you, Esztershine! They are doing quite well Day- 7 I apologize for having no updates for so long! Between my gerbils and their split cage and everything else I've been doing, I haven't had time, but I promise more updates and pictures and maybe even a vid soon Sebastian and Penelope are now on day 7 of their split cage. I have yet to observe any agression between the two, and they seem quite calm, however bored. When I switch them, they only sniff around for a bit, and Sebastian rears up and scent marks the wood frame (that is holding up the mesh divider) sometimes. I think I am starting to be able to tell what days she is in season. I could def. tell she was in season on the 11th, and have yet to see such obvious signs again, so I know there's at least 5 days between seasons. I'm planning on taking out one of the dividers tomorrow maybe, since everything is going so smoothly. Right now there are two dividers and they are not able to touch each other through them. What do you guys think about this? That's all for day 7! Over and out! Hello and happy chewing from Nehemiah, Sebastian, and Penelope to your gerbils |
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Post by blocketh on Aug 16, 2011 14:19:04 GMT -8
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Post by esztershine on Aug 16, 2011 21:38:50 GMT -8
Penelope sleeps by the mesh They are beautiful. It does sound they are getting on, though Sebastian is still scent marking and even see it on the picture that Penelope is more easy going then Sebastian. |
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Post by blocketh on Aug 17, 2011 8:59:30 GMT -8
mhmm Yeah, I'm kinda wishin' he'd stop all that nonsense. Dunno if it's cause she's a girl, or he's benig way dominant. Funny that the female is so much more happy go lucky than the male!  and... I have GREAT news!! Day 7- SO today's the day. Not the day where they meet of course, but the day where I take out one of the mesh pieces! I took it out, and froze, waiting for their reactions, now that they could touch each other. Sebastian immediately walked up and stuck his nose through. Penelope? Well she immediately went to grooming his nosey little nose, and Sebastian sat there the enjoying every minute of it. So, more good signs. Yay! I'll update more today |
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Post by esztershine on Aug 17, 2011 9:58:18 GMT -8
Ha ha ha 'Yeah, I'm kinda wishin' he'd stop all that nonsense' that Is funny ;D
All that nose grooming Is so mega cute, is it not?
Happy for their progress.
Am not good with male/females but could it be that Sebastian thinks Penelope Is his and scent marks everything in case another man comes nearby? Just a thought...... Typical man though if It Is the case ;D
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Post by blocketh on Aug 17, 2011 10:01:40 GMT -8
hehe  it is SO. CUTE.  That could be it.. I do have another male in the same room (but it is a big, open room!) could that be it? Should I take one of the cages into another room and see what that does maybe? Silly Sebastian... He should know that old Nehemiah is no match for his studliness! |
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Post by esztershine on Aug 17, 2011 10:20:53 GMT -8
I don't know if it makes any differences. As I said I have no experience with male/females.
But am sure that when it comes to women, men behave strange, and that I know! ;D
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Post by blocketh on Aug 19, 2011 14:23:00 GMT -8
Day 10- Today is day 10 and things are still going well. When I make the swtiches, they just kinda sit there like "Why did you have to wake me up for this?" and then they either scavenge for food or go back to bed. Sebastian usually takes his time to go and scent mark the frame, as usual. I'm finally able to move their split tank to my bedroom today (someone was staying in my bedroom) so I'm hoping the scent marking will stop once he's away from little old Nehemiah. Penelope is just doing wonderful. Every good sign you're supposed to look for in a gerbil during a split cage- she's gone above and beyond every one! Now if only I could get Sebastian to quit bein' a macho man... Since they're doing so well, it's just SO hard to resist the urge to introduce them.. I want to so so so bad. haha But I think I will wait past the weekend... I'm so busy on the weekend, so I wouldn't have the proper time to watch them. Plus I want to see what Sebasti does when I move him to my room. That's all for now! The gerbs wish to bid your gerbs howdy doo! |
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Post by blocketh on Aug 20, 2011 20:06:07 GMT -8
Day 11: well................................. I did it. I took out the divider.  At first they kinda surprised each other. They squabbled for teency bit and then stopped. Penelope seems to want to be the dominant one. Sebastian is having troubles letting go of his pride, so he is away in the corner scratching all his frustrations out on the tank while Penelope mosies around. She ignores him while he's scratching . She knows men need their alone time They're still sorting out their differences but are doing quite beautifully. Mostly, the groomer of the two is Penelope. She grooms Sebastian a lot, and doesn't seem to liek being groomed. Sebastian keeps trying to mount her, and she lets him know that that is NOT the respectable way to treat a lady, and then he returns to his man cave to scratch away his problems. It's been about 5-6 hours now and they're just getting better and better with each other At one point.. Penelope was just sitting there gazing off into lala land, and Sebastian ran up, kissed her on the nose, and then ran off! Penelope, shocked, ahd sorta a school girl "oh my gosh he kissed me" look on her face and then she dramatically laid down. I thought it was silly. It made me giggle. more updates later! |
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Post by blocketh on Aug 21, 2011 10:21:07 GMT -8
Day 12: both are doing well! Still getting used to each other, but they both enjoy each other. Last night, Penelope was sleepy, so she kept going over to Sebastian, who was furiously scratching away and laying on top of him. Sebastian, who was not interested in naps, and more interested in scratching, would dart away to another corner to scratch, leaving poor Penelope to fall on her face She eventually gave up and went to her own little corner and slept. When Sebastian finished scratching, he went to join her, which I'm sure made her very happy. Does anyone with experience introducing males and females (or any gerbils really, I guess), know when your gerbils finally got completely used to each other, as if they were born and raised together? The last split I did, two boys, didn't end up working out, so I don't know. I did do two other intros via slpit cage, which worked like a breeze, but they were all babies, so I can't really judge that. |
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Post by blocketh on Aug 22, 2011 9:11:39 GMT -8
P&S are doing GREAT! They fall more and more in love with each other with each passing hour Last night was the FUNNIEST thing.... Sebastian was spending about 30 minutes making a nest... Going all over the tank, finding individual pieces of the softest bedding, taking them back to his nest and placing them in just the right spot. It was very painstaking. He finally finished, and crawled deep inside his fluffy cave and curled up and was dozing off to sleep.... Then... Little miss Penelope, who was wide awake, notices the new nest. If they had dialogue, it would go something like this; Penelope: "Oh, you made nest? Here, let me jump on it! ... Oh I'm sorry! Were you asleep?" Sebastian meanwhile, just stares at her through his tired little gerbil eyes. He then goes off to the other corner while Penelope rearranges the nest to her liking. She decides she likes it, and tucks her little head in. It's not a minute later that she gets bored with sleeping and goes off to explore. The minute she leaves the nest, Sebastian darts back over to it and curls back up... An hour later would did the picture look like? Two fuzzy little gerbils sleeping next to each other shes'a pain, but he'll learn to love her. hehe |
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Post by esztershine on Aug 22, 2011 14:45:05 GMT -8
Great news! They sound as they getting on well |
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Post by blocketh on Aug 23, 2011 14:50:52 GMT -8
WE ARE EXPECTING!!!!!!!!!!
Today I walked in on Sebastian and Penelope getting married. hehe. I was so giddy. They did everything JUST like I've read a thousand times like they should. Soo I'm hoping between the 14th-19th for some baby gerbils? O:) I'm gonna guess the 17th. Oh I'm so happy!! What a wonderful love story indeed. :') <3
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and... I have GREAT news!!
