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Post by snowballandnugget on Jul 8, 2014 6:16:01 GMT -8
With sadness I am writing this. My two girls were chasing each other yesterday evening...honestly I think Nugget was either pestering Snowball too much or they've had some sort of falling out. There was no squeaking but lots of chasing. This morning when u went to check on them, Nugget had a bute on her tail and Snowball had some blood on her toes.  I am devastated!!! I have separated them but now I have to get another cage for Snowball as she is just in a double Habitrail....it was all I had to use at the time!! So now I have to decide if I do a permanent split or two separate tanks. Suggestions?? |
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Post by crittercrazy on Jul 8, 2014 6:45:28 GMT -8
I'm sorry to hear that. Unless you're able/willing to introduce another female to both Nugget and Snowball, a permanent split might be better. But I'm mostly guessing on that since I've never done a permanent split. . . Maybe someone else has better advice and no matter what good luck! I hope it all works out!! |
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Post by GerbilUK on Jul 8, 2014 7:19:38 GMT -8
I am in the same situation with my two boys. They have had a really good go at each other and I really didn't see it coming. The dominant one has come off particularly badly and was quite hurt.
I am going to find a pup to go with the submissive one and leave the other alone from now on. He has history of fighting and his previous owner had been told by pets at home that he couldn't be kept with another gerbil, but I thought that was just them being their usual. He was introduced to the other no problem and they had lived together happily for six months.
The one who is going to be alone is next to another tank and their toppers meet, so he can sniff and lick the females next door at least. I cannot risk putting him with another gerbil.
It's really upsetting I know, but the main priority now is to keep them safe (ie apart) and do your best for them from now on. A permanent split is a reasonable solution I think, particularly if they also get plenty of attention from you and stuff to keep them busy.
One of mine is in a temporary home too, until I decide what to do!
Love Wokette
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Post by betty on Jul 8, 2014 7:42:27 GMT -8
It's always a difficult one with females. I have had females split and then I manage to 'successfully' match up 2 pups with the 'loser' of the original fight, only to find that when the pups reach 6 months they oust the loser AGAIN.
So far a single pup with a loser has stuck out this 6 month window, so fingers crossed for them.
As for a permanent split, I'm not sure. If the loser in your tank doesn't still feel threatened by the bully, it might be ok for them to have gerbil smells around; but all my losers have been really stressed after a few days of chasing before the actual declan, and once settled in a new tank almost always fall straight to sleep - I presume, knowing they are 'safe'.
I suppose you will only know by trying the split (without swapping them back and forth) and see if they both make contact from the 'safety' of their own side. If they avoid each other long term through the divide - maybe they don't want to be that close to each other...
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Post by snowballandnugget on Jul 8, 2014 9:44:59 GMT -8
The thing is I don't really know who the loser is. They each only had one minor injury though it was Nugget who was hiding up on top of the coconut that I have turned into a ledge. If I do do a permanent split, I'd worry that they wouldn't have enough space. And to make matters worse, we are supposed to go away to the cottage on Saturday so I only have from now until Friday to set up something that I feel comfortable with to safely leave them in.
When they first started chasing, I took them out of the cage to give them some running around time and they were fine together, but once they when back in the cage, they were chasing again. *sigh*
And if one more person says "They are just gerbils." to me, I may lose it on them!!
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Post by betty on Jul 8, 2014 10:16:12 GMT -8
I certainly wouldn't leave them unattended while you are away, things can escalate fast in gerbil world.
If you can't get someone suitable to gerbil-sit, perhaps separate tanks is the only short-term option - especially if the split divide is 'untested'. And when you are back you can plan a proper re-union.
I've had a few declans recently and I don't take any chances now having seen the results of a serious ger-squabble.
Good luck whatever you decide.
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Post by snowballandnugget on Jul 11, 2014 4:58:53 GMT -8
So some very good news with regards to my girls!!! I got in touch with the breeder who I am adopting my next gerbil from to see if there was anything i could do to help the relationship. She gave me some advise, and it seems to be working out really well!! She said she wasn't confident that the girls had fought and that it sounded more like barbering to her. So to test the waters, I put the wire cage that Snowball was separated in right next to Nuggets cage to see how they would react to seeing each other after being separated for a whole day and they went straight away to touching noses and kissing....i was so happy! So after leaving them like that for about 20-30 minutes, we brought them into the bathroom and into the tub....gloves on my hands and a box at the ready for separating. Holding my breath the entire time, they did some more nose touching, bum sniffing, then proceeded to explore the tub together!! I was like "holy crap!" they were fine together! They were left to play for a while, then I let them climb into Snowball's time out cage and the craziest thing happened....they curled up and went to sleep!!! Wooohooo!! A friend of mine had a 20 gal tank that she was no longer in need of so she let me have it for the girls. I gave it a super washing - hot soapy water, hot water rinse, wiped down with vinegar, hot water rinse then dried it out. Set it all up with a bit of aspen, water bottle, food and tissue for bedding, then just watched them contently to watch for any possible disputes! This took place on Wednesday and all has been well in the tank!! So relieved...seriously relieved!
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Post by betty on Jul 11, 2014 5:13:05 GMT -8
That's great news if that is all it was - barbering was easy to see on one of my earlier gerbils as they were A* and so when the top colour was chewed off you could see the undercolour - not so easy to spot with aa I would imagine?
I would keep an eye on them for any more chasing though, mine tend to come and go. I had a trio of sisters who would chase for about 24 hours (mainly back-humping), then all lovey-dovey again; a month later chasing, humping then snuggling; 2 months later; chasing, humping and snuggling; then the next time the chasing had clear 'siding' and repeated bullying and finally biting - but no humping...
Women!
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Post by snowballandnugget on Jul 11, 2014 6:45:09 GMT -8
Whoa! Is it linked to hormones? Like is this chasing stuff like the pms of the gerbil world?
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Post by betty on Jul 11, 2014 7:29:05 GMT -8
I'm not sure, but with mine its the one in heat who keeps going up to the 'bully' and presenting herself only to get chased away; maybe it makes them more annoying?
I often get my females mounting each other, but they just hump - stop - stare at each other and repeat until bored. But with the females about to declan the first mounting leads to the chasing.
Well it has with mine. Maybe we will never know for sure as rubbing their scent glands sort of looks the same...
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Post by snowballandnugget on Jul 29, 2014 6:57:39 GMT -8
Its been 20 days since the incident and the girls are still getting along great in their new tank! I am sort of at a loss as to what to do with their old cage...it is massive and gave them a lot more room compared to their 20gal tank but I am worried to put them back just in case it triggers the chasing again!! Oh well...as long as the girls are happy, I couldn't care less about what habitat they are in!!  |
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I am devastated!!! 
