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Post by TntGerbils on Sept 16, 2014 22:23:58 GMT -8
So my devious little girls, three if them, chewed a hole in their modified bin cover (only bin that doesn't have a full hardware cloth cover). Two were caught within 24 hours and put back in the home cage with a full hardware cloth cover. Over 48 hours and I just caught the last one. She's in a temporary kritter keeper. Can she go back in with her sisters or has it been too long? What naughty little girls, they were out and would climb into your lap and skitter away if you moved to grab them. The last to be caught even avoided a live trap but continually was stealing from food piles I set out for her.
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Post by betty on Sept 17, 2014 1:51:02 GMT -8
I would give it a go so she isn't on her own - but I would be expecting the worse. And the sooner the better if it's going to work easily... The longer you leave it the worse it will get.
I personally would have her in a large neutral space for a while along with some of the stuff from her original tank and then once she had been all over the place I would add the scared-iest/least dominant of the current pair alongside some yummy food they haven't had for a while and a neutral toy or climbie thing. If they settle fine I would leave them together for about 10 minutes to make sure they are re-bonded (with the help of you rubbing your hands all over them both) - all the while keeping the most dominant other one alone in a small carrier.
If all has gone well with the first 2 after that time - add in a large fresh dustbath and the third gerbil and see what happens. Hopefully having been alone for a while and then introducing to a big space with 2 existing gerbils who smell like her she will have to make friends.
Something along these lines worked for me when I had to introduce a 6th female pup to a group of 5 12 week old pups but I have never tried it with adults (you didn't say how old yours were).
Either way you could end up with 2 together and one single - so I would give it a try because you have nothing to lose here. If you leave it too long I don't know if the idea of splitting a single gerbil to an existing pair would work at all - even if they were related? So get your flower pot and thick gloves ready - and have a go.... (nice a slowly though - no need to rush any introductions...)
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Post by TntGerbils on Sept 17, 2014 8:36:18 GMT -8
The one currently alone is the most dominant of the three. I will try your suggestion Betty, I am expecting the worst but I'd be nice I'd they could be back together. The lonely girl is 8 months and the other two and 8 months and 6 months. Almost indistinguishable pews and dtws. Fingers crossed this works, I didn't try putting them together last night because I didn't have the ability to watch and ensure mediation.
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Post by betty on Sept 19, 2014 7:44:41 GMT -8
How did it go?
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Post by TntGerbils on Sept 19, 2014 8:03:24 GMT -8
Everyone is now happily back together, neither of the less dominant girls questioned the dominant one and they all went directly to sleep in a big cuddly pile. So glad they were so compliant and now don't have to get another gerbil for a loner.
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