Just putting a cage inside a tank for split cage

[rexcalibur]

This seems like the easiest method but can anyone offer me some insight to it.  

I want to introduce a new young gerbil to my other gerbil but I'm not good with building things.  I've tried making my own split cage method with mesh and wire cutters and it just doesn't work.  The gerbil can easily just climb it up and go over it.  I figure the easiest way to do it successfully is to buy a cage, get rid of the plastic base, and just set it in the tank with one gerbil inside.

The only thing I don't like about this method is the gerbil who is outside the cage will get more room, so it isn't equally divided but I don't know how else to do it.  I've seen DIY methods online but I already know they will not work for me.  I don't want to glue anything in my tank or nothing like that and I'm not handy with tools.

Can anyone give me some advice on just putting a cage inside the tank?  

[keldamouse]

yes I have seen this method also. I personally believe it would work. As far as the other one getting a lot of space, they will be switched often 2-6 times a day so they would both get to enjoy the extra space.

Is this the ones you are talking about?
www.blackwolfclangerbils.com/split-cage.html
www.shawsheenrivergerbils.com/gerbilpedia.html#SplitCage

Are you wanting to do it with your 40 gallon? If so You may need to make the remaining space smaller. I found out the point with a split was that they were so lonely and bored that they reached out the other gerbil for companionship/something to do. Maybe I got it wrong but that is just my thought.

I now wish I had used a 10 gallon and just put a simple diagonal split with wood or something wedged in the side corners. As it was I had to use so much hot glue because I simply couldn't file off or cut smooth the edges. Also the freaking hardware cloth is so sharp, I should've worn gloves but I was trying to be a she-ra...lol

Oh one more thought on research, it is frustrating when you read lots of different ideas and seemingly set in stone ideas. You would think that you could at least trust a hobby breeders site but I have gotten wrong/conflicting info there too. For instance introducing them on neutral ground after the split did not work at all for me.

Good luck with this and I hope you find out a method that works for you and your gerbil(s). From all I've read and researched (okay and I am kind of a research junkie), real young boys to older boys are one of the easier ones.

[rexcalibur]

What do you mean by "make the remaining space smaller"?

Yeah, I was planning on switching them out a few times a day. I just don't know if the two areas not being equal will have any effect on how successful this will be. I want to try though because I feel bad for him living by himself.

I just feel like putting a cage inside the tank will be the easiest way to do it without risk of one gerbil finding a way to climb over or get through to the other. I'll probably buy a cage this friday and give it a try but I just feel bad if I have to end up returning the other gerbil if it doesn't work.

[keldamouse]

May 19, 2014 15:32:29 GMT -8 rexcalibur said:

What do you mean by "make the remaining space smaller"?

Yeah, I was planning on switching them out a few times a day. I just don't know if the two areas not being equal will have any effect on how successful this will be. I want to try though because I feel bad for him living by himself.

I just feel like putting a cage inside the tank will be the easiest way to do it without risk of one gerbil finding a way to climb over or get through to the other. I'll probably buy a cage this friday and give it a try but I just feel bad if I have to end up returning the other gerbil if it doesn't work.

Okay I guess I mean that you should put up a piece of wood or something gerbil proof to maybe split the 40 in half and use the remaining section, say 20 gallons, to do your split. It's just my hairbrain idea. Maybe it's wrong, I just come up with the ideas it's not like I always think them through...

But since you only want to buy something to use, not diy, this may be difficult.

On retrospect maybe a barebones 40 tank with a small cage inside would be fine. It maybe hard to find a cage top or piece that would fit in a 10 or 20 gallon anyway so maybe your 40 would be perfect

Yes your boy will be much happier with a partner and believe me they will not be happy in a barebones tank anyway even with a lot of room during the split. At least with my experience.

[streetwisegerbil]

I tried this method the other week. For about one second. It terrified me. Just want to make a few points.

I have two lone brothers ( from different litters ) who have lost their brother home buddies. Pablo has been on his own since January and is 3 years 5 months. He doesn't seem bothered being on his own. Midnight recently lost his brother . He is 3 years 2 months.

I have only intoduced pups to a sole survivor clearly lonely gerbil ( not using the split cage method ).

Basically, first I put midnight in a wire cage which I use as a play cage when they roam their room. Pablo was outside roaming the room. They both peered at each other and pushed their muzzles through the gap gently. Moved around the outside / inside bumping noses etc. I was encouraged to try a split of some sort.

I only found the second link in keldamouse's post.

I put the cage top inside another  (100cm long) and weighed it down with a heavy glass shelf. Firstly, as a weight and secondly, I have heard of gerbils biting off the tail from those above as they dangle in the cage.

I set it all up, bare bedding.
I put Pablo inside and Midnight outside. 

Midnight  launched himself like mad at Pablo who looked a bit stunned. He didn't even have time to get his bearings. The inner cage moved inside and Midnight kept launching. It was quite hard to remove Midnight and I tried not to panic but I did.

So I gave up on this method.

[streetwisegerbil]

May 19, 2014 15:11:08 GMT -8 keldamouse said:

yes I have seen this method also. I personally believe it would work. As far as the other one getting a lot of space, they will be switched often 2-6 times a day so they would both get to enjoy the extra space.

Is this the ones you are talking about?
www.blackwolfclangerbils.com/split-cage.html
www.shawsheenrivergerbils.com/gerbilpedia.html#SplitCage

Are you wanting to do it with your 40 gallon? If so You may need to make the remaining space smaller. I found out the point with a split was that they were so lonely and bored that they reached out the other gerbil for companionship/something to do. Maybe I got it wrong but that is just my thought.

I now wish I had used a 10 gallon and just put a simple diagonal split with wood or something wedged in the side corners. As it was I had to use so much hot glue because I simply couldn't file off or cut smooth the edges. Also the freaking hardware cloth is so sharp, I should've worn gloves but I was trying to be a she-ra...lol

Oh one more thought on research, it is frustrating when you read lots of different ideas and seemingly set in stone ideas. You would think that you could at least trust a hobby breeders site but I have gotten wrong/conflicting info there too. For instance introducing them on neutral ground after the split did not work at all for me.

Good luck with this and I hope you find out a method that works for you and your gerbil(s). From all I've read and researched (okay and I am kind of a research junkie), real young boys to older boys are one of the easier ones.

Totally agree with keldamouse.

I would have thought that neutral territory intro would encourage them to claim the territory as their own. They would be alert to claim and more likely to defend it. I have seen this happen with my established clans when they are in the playroom.

The first link encourages bedding etc. Again, they need to be bored .

I don't think it's a good idea to have one gerbil climb on top of the cage. I would think it was threatening to the one below . And you get the chewed off tail possibility .

The inner cage shifts all over the place ie it's vulnerable and so is the gerbil inside-  even when weighted down or totally covered over for protection.

I was not happy with the size of the gaps between the bars. I have read conflicting info too about the ideal gap size for the dividing mesh, so I know what you mean keldamouse ! 

[rexcalibur]

I may just keep him by himself then. If I get a new gerbil and introducing them doesn't work out, I'm going to have to return the new gerbil and it's going to screw him up. He's going to be a lone gerbil and will be separated from his cage mates and whoever ends up buying him will have to keep him as a lone gerbil or re introduce him to another gerbil and it's just a big mess from what it sounds like.

I suppose I will just keep him alone then unless I find another way around this. I don't really know. The whole situation has made me rethink why I keep gerbils in the first place, because every time I've bought a pair, one dies within a few months and I'm back to square one. I guess it's not fair to the animals.

[keldamouse]

rex sorry you are so discouraged. It took me a bit of time to recover from my girls death and then decide what was best for my gerbil and for our family.

You've had a lot of animal death lately and I am so sorry. Maybe just give yourself time to grieve and recoup and recover. The answer to your gerbil keeping and making a pair and split caging may be easier in a few weeks.

Looking at all the intro stuff can really make you discouraged and frustrated. I was such a wreck worrying about the split, but it was a wonderful learning process and Some of my issues were because I am just freaking bleeding heart and I just need to learn patience. (wow I do love run on sentences, don't I ? lol)

take care