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Post by blackace on Aug 17, 2014 5:40:57 GMT -8
So yesterday I had my new gerbil minnie, who i had for a week, decided to jump out of her tank. My brother put her back and after that I decided to make a cheap cardboard lid and taped it on the tank,I also made holes. And apparently today Minnie jumped out again and joined my other gerbil's, Peaches, tank. I didn't believe she did it herself so i asked around if someone was messing with me and everyone in my family said no. After that apparently my niece saw minnie try to escape through the lid again. I don't know how long they were with each other in the same tank,but all i want to know is if I should allow them to stay in the same tank still or seperate. I am monitoring them with a glove. The only way they met prior was when I switched their tanks yesterday. So far no fighting has occurred and I checked both of them and they are fine. They are currently eating, laying around, or drinking. I want them to stay together to get along because It seems they are, but I know I can't allow them to hurt each other. So currently I am watch them with a rag in hand. So if they do fight I will seperate them by covering my hand with the rag and dividing them. I didn't plan for this to happen i was actually wanting to build the barrier today so that I can start the split cage method soon. Thanks for your help.
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Post by betty on Aug 17, 2014 5:57:40 GMT -8
Although it goes against the usual 'rules' some gerbils can go together with relatively little fuss, particularly if one of the gerbils is very old, very young or is in some other way very submissive and 'not too bothered' by another more dominant gerbil. Just like people - they have different characters.
However, just like people they can suddenly change their mind!
If you have a lot of time today to watch them and still have a spare tank (with more suitable lid) should something go 'wrong' I would leave them together for now and see what happens. If they start eating and sleeping together you could be onto a good thing, but if they start facing up to each other and pushing into each other sideways whilst staring at each other (best description I can think of) then they are trying to decide who is 'boss'. As long as there is no actual fighting or any real chasing they will sort it out by themselves. However, if the chasing and fighting start, you will have to start over with a split tank most likely.
Keep us updated with anything you aren't sure of - but be prepared for a fight at any time. So don't leave the house just in case.
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Post by blackace on Aug 17, 2014 6:46:14 GMT -8
So I am still currrently watching them and Peaches is just digging while Minnie eats. If I ever see any type of confrontation that is bad I immediately shove my protected hand in between them to stop anything form pursuing. I risked it a couple of times by putting my hand in with food and they both ate from my hand at the same time. When one doesnt have any near her she goes to grab some closer to the other without fighting. As i was typing this Minnie tried to sleep and Peaches walked over her and awoke her. They also seem to like to smell each others butts. I have been monitoring both of them for about an hour and a half. They also like to taste each others saliva often. They seem to not mind each other much. But I will monitor them for the rest of the day. Please help me by giving any type of sign of aggression. Thank you very much.
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Post by blackace on Aug 17, 2014 6:48:36 GMT -8
I am also hungry right now and I would like to eat but I dont know if I should let them stay together while i eat or should i seperate them. And I feel if I seperate them it loses progress.
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Post by blackace on Aug 17, 2014 6:55:30 GMT -8
Also When I first saw them they were both going inside a hideout and staying in their together for a bit until one walked out. I removed the hideout and I don't knwo if i should keep it in there. Also before all of this happened I was planning on cleaning their tank but I don't know if I should. But if I do do I seperate while cleaning or do I leave in same area.
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Post by betty on Aug 17, 2014 6:56:13 GMT -8
If they haven't shown any aggression so far, you could probably leave them for a short while without any issues, although have an ear out for any chasing or scuffling.
You can leave them for longer, you just have to go with your gut for a bit. If they look totally content you can worry less, if they seem to be posing at each other then you need to watch them more, etc.
You are going to have to go to sleep tonight anyway, so you just want to have spotted all the signs - either content or facing off - so you can decide whether to split them up before you go to bed? However after about 3 hours of content, you may feel that that was enough?
It's never easy deciding on leaving gerbils together for the first time. Only you can decide as only you can see what they are like.
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Post by blackace on Aug 17, 2014 7:03:53 GMT -8
I will still monitor them while i eat because their tanks are litterally inches away from my computer. Also while I was typing this they started to scuffle a bit but then I intruded and pushed one away form the other they now seem to be okay.
Could someone please explain what the butt sniffing is meant to be. Thank you
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Post by blackace on Aug 17, 2014 7:07:12 GMT -8
Okay so they just had a actual fight to wher eI jumped out of my seat to stop. None of them were hurt but it took liek a minute until both were calm. Should i still leave them together. Now they are just walking around but peaches keeps bothering minnie. Nothing big though.
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Post by blackace on Aug 17, 2014 7:09:51 GMT -8
Sorry I am not typing properly. I am trying to put most of my attention to them instead of typing.
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Post by blackace on Aug 17, 2014 7:23:53 GMT -8
I think I just saw the two lay down next to each other is they a good sign they stopped when I looked and cleared my throat. But mostly they sleep in corners that are about a couple of inches away from each other.
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Post by blackace on Aug 17, 2014 8:24:14 GMT -8
Ok so after 3 hours they started to fight some so I seperated them. I don't know what to do next.
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Post by MTPetey on Aug 17, 2014 8:25:33 GMT -8
Are you sure it was an actual fight? Gerbils will box (looks like slap fighting), wrestle, sometimes even chase each other a bit, all without meaning anything serious by it. When you said you jumped out of your seat to stop it, what did you actual do? We standing up enough to make them stop, or did you have to physically separate them? If they are laying down next to each other, it is a good thing. The fact that you cleared you're throat and they then moved away from each other, not so much. You want them to sleep together, groom each other, and interact in other ways (not counting fighting of course). Its the only way they are going to get to the point of being comfortable with each other. Another thing to look for is if they are grooming themselves. Supposedly they only groom themselves in the open when they feel safe.
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Post by blackace on Aug 17, 2014 8:42:22 GMT -8
Well the fights happen after one goes up to the other and starts to taste the their saliva. So say Minnie is minding her own business and Peaches walks up and tastes Minnie's saliva. Then Minnie pushes Peaches face and they pause. After that they start flip around. A couple of times I heard squealing after I heard that I seperated them. I don't know what happened because they were fine for really 2 hrs and 30min and at the last 30min they started to really become more tense so that was when I started to pay much more attention.
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Post by blackace on Aug 17, 2014 8:47:40 GMT -8
Ok well I put them back together and they seem fine again. I placed a hide out to see how they react, and they both just casually walk in and out and sometimes stay in their together. Should I leave it.
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Post by blackace on Aug 17, 2014 9:11:06 GMT -8
After a couple of play fights the two fell asleep about a couple of inches away from each other. I have a picture but I don't know how to post it.
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