Gerbil really agressive in split

[GerbilUK]

I currently have a split cage intro going with two adult males and one of them is really agressive at the barrier. He goes crazy clawing at the wire, trying to bite the other gerbil, squeaking etc. he destroys the others nest as soon as I swap them. Luckily the other gerbil doesn't seem too upset by this and calmly pokes his nose through waiting to be groomed by the other.

I only started the split yesterday, and I want to give it at least two weeks before I admit defeat! I have never introduced adults before only babies to adults and I wasn't really expecting this level of agression.

Does it mean its unlikely to work or is it too early days yet?
How long should I expect the agression to last?

Any advice would be fab. Thanks

[johanne]

No worries. They're all different. It'll probably work out just fine though might take a bit longer than with less aggressive gerbils.

[GerbilUK]

Thanks Johanne. I have calmed down a bit now and so have they! Milkshake (the younger male) is a little less aggressive towards Mary (one year old male) already. He only occasionally bites at the bars if Mary comes very close, and is a bit half-hearted about it. He is more chilled and when I swapped them just now he went about ripping up some kitchen roll I had just put in rather than stalking about madly. I am hoping it will be safe enough to remove a layer of mesh in a week or so's time. Thanks again

[mmfh]

Two weeks seems a bit short. It took me two months to intro my 2 males and now they are always together.

[betty]

I currently have the same with 2 females, but I am a few weeks ahead of you so far (although with a slightly different approach).

My grumpy girl had already ripped her mum to shreds at 6 months and then attacked a couple of pups at 9 months. I thought she would be alone forever as she was always so stressed and flighty.

I made a permanent split a month ago, and thought I would try her alongside a really quiet (and bullied by her sisters) gerbil. At first the grumpy one was not a happy bunny, chewing at the wire and climbing it right to the top etc. Chasing the other one when she came too close and digging at the divide. The other female was like yours, would sit and watch her and poke her nose through hoping for a hug.

This morning (at last) grumpy is asleep right by the divide and they just nosed each other for the first time (that I have seen) with no aggression at all! I am so excited!

Mind you, they are still living in their own half, I haven't even attempted to swap sides yet - I think with grumpy girl I might leave it a few weeks longer seeing as it is going so well...

[GerbilUK]

Thanks guys. I only say two weeks because I am going on holiday this weekend and by the time I get the gerbils back from the lady who will be looking after them (and swapping them for me) they will have been in the split for 2.5 weeks.

If there are no signs of improvement by then I will abandon it and try the submissive one Mary with one of the (by then) 8 week old babies that I have. Hopefully I will be able to get the aggressive one together with the other baby. If that fails then I may have to keep milkshake alone from now on and I will get another pup for the remaining baby male. I wanted to at least try the adult males for a decent time as they are much more similar ages and then I can keep the baby brothers together.

Today Milkshake is being as aggressive towards Mary as ever. However he is not destroying the other nest quite as frantically when I swap them. I will just wait and see for the next fortnight and make a decision then!

Thanks everyone.

[GerbilUK]

Well a little update, they have had a week in the split now and milkshake is still throwing himself at the bars, biting and trying to dig under it to get to Mary. BUT I have seen some calmer interactions, where they touch noses through the bars (which they can only just do) and lick and sniff each other without milkshake biting. Mary gets into 'groom me' pose and milkshake pokes his nose in and they both freeze stock still for a few seconds.
Also I have not heard milkshake squeaking when Mary gets too close for a couple of days.

Overall, not much reduction in agression. But perhaps a little more 'saying hello' type behaviour. I am going on holiday and a kind friend will swap them for me. So I will see how they stand in another week and a bit.