Chewing TOO Much?

[kristinenote]

Silver is a 1yr old or older male who has always shredded cardboard and hay really fast while being a solo gerbil. Now that he has a friend, Smoke, a >4mo old male, he's going through wooden sticks, cardboard rolls, cardboard boxes, paper towels, hay in a matter of 24 hours. I see Smoke chewing occasionally but not that much. Silver is chewing non-stop.

Is this like the need to build nests? Or an act of being happy or maybe stressed?

They were introduced about 2 weeks ago or less. They sleep together and I always see them grooming each other and eating together at the food bowl.

[crittercrazy]

As far as I know, excessive chewing is nothing to worry about. Its better then the opposite, that being not enough chewing.
I've had a couple of gerbils that were/are crazy chewers, so I'm thinking its not a problem.

[Jazzable]

I agree with crittercrazy, I don't think it's a problem. Chewing is a good, natural behaviour for gerbils. Maybe it's a sign that Silver is very happy to have a companion now?