adding a foster gerbil and have a gerbil of my own

[catnut]

I have the chance to help out a local small animal rescue with fostering a male gerbil until he gets a home(or I decide to adopt him), what else other than keeping him in another room and making sure he is healthy, should I do as I have a one year old female gerbil I don't want to upset or catch anything? I will wash my hands well and let the new guy adjust and will see how his personality is. Shelby is quite a dominant gerbil but can scare at times so I want to make sure she will be okay about this as well. I have a cat,too but she never bothers or has no intention of hurting a gerbil.

Thank you for any help.

Tammy

[gerbilwhiskers]

I have a clan of boys and one of girls. I find that it is better to keep them in different rooms as when the girls are in heat they all get quite distressed trying to get to each other. I keep the food in a central place and feed both clans from it. Washing hands is important when the new one first arrives, we had a new gerbil arrive with mites once and it was tough clearing them, you don't want to risk anything spreading. It sounds like you have everything right to me. Good luck!

[catnut]

thank you, I will be careful and check him over once he gets settled in. I was going to move him into my room but in another area so he won't be too close to Shelby once I know he is healthy-1 month as Shelby can get very hormonal with her heat cycles, will see how it goes, as my room is the warmest as I'm on the bottom floor.

[gerbilwhiskers]

How are you getting on? Is your new one doing well?

[catnut]

Adam seems to be well-he is very shy but am working on him getting used to my hand. I need to move him into another home-he is in a bar cage and an aquarium would be better for him, just need to fix up the water bottle holder and wire top.
Thanks for asking.

[gerbilwhiskers]

Glad it is going well. I've got a real soft spot for rescued gerbils.