rhianna
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Posts: 891
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Post by rhianna on Sept 21, 2014 15:39:03 GMT -8
Simon and Olaf's intro went by really fast. They showed absolutely no signs of aggression in the split tank, even in the first day, and honestly seemed to ignore each other. Within a couple of days, they were already licking each other's mouths through the mesh and sleeping next to each other. Today was one week since the intro started and I felt they were ready to meet, so I removed the mesh about an hour and a half ago. Simon was mounting for a while and then asking Olaf for a groom, and Olaf wasn't having any of it at first. However, now they've been grooming each other and playing together for about 30 minutes and I've still seen very little signs of aggression (aside from the normal mounting and a tiny bit of boxing at first). I'm keeping a close eye on them for the rest of the night and hoping to see them start nesting together. Wish us luck!
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Post by catnut on Sept 21, 2014 15:55:23 GMT -8
I hope they bond and can keep each other company.
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Post by The Cavy House on Sept 21, 2014 16:03:37 GMT -8
Congrats! and good luck. I hope everything goes well with them
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Post by appledash on Sept 21, 2014 18:16:42 GMT -8
Congratulations!! Tonight was the night I introduced my girls as well. It took mine 6 weeks in the split though, sheesh. I love the name Olaf!!
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rhianna
Member
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Posts: 891
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Post by rhianna on Sept 22, 2014 7:26:15 GMT -8
Thank you for all of the replies. I woke up this morning and immediately checked on the gerbils, as I was excited to see how they were doing. I had given them a hidey house big enough for the both of them last night, and this morning I lifted it up quietly to find them both curled up together sleeping! I'm so grateful that they bonded so quickly and although I'll of course be keeping a close eye on them for the next few days, I think they seem to have worked out any issues that they may have had. I'll post pictures of them together in the photo section later
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Post by Nightingale on Sept 22, 2014 11:30:39 GMT -8
Hooray! I hope things in gerbilland continue to go smoothly.
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Post by ninestone on Sept 22, 2014 12:34:37 GMT -8
Yay!
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rhianna
Member
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Posts: 891
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Post by rhianna on Nov 23, 2014 20:01:50 GMT -8
Thought I'd post an update here. Simon and Olaf got along great for just over two months. However, today I was in my room (thankfully) when I suddenly heard a lot of noise from the gerbil tank. Olaf was chasing Simon, lunging at him, and Simon was running in fear. I didn't let the fight progress any further and I quickly removed Olaf from the tank. They're each on their own now and I don't have any plans to try a re-intro or get any more gerbils at the moment, for multiple reasons; I don't know anything about Olaf's past but he was a young adult living alone when I got him, so it's possible that he had a history of not getting along with other gerbils. I don't want to chance introducing him to a new gerbil because he does great on his own (he was alone for the first 5 months that I had him and very happy) and he was the attacker, so he might just attack any other gerbils I try him with. Simon is going to stay on his own just because he's so old and is starting to slow down, sleep more, etc. I think the whole fight with Olaf scared him pretty bad, too. I think that an intro would be too stressful for him at this point. He isn't hurt except for a couple of small bite marks on either side of his mouth and behind one ear. He just seemed pretty terrified (running away from me, hiding, stomping) for like an hour after I separated them.
Anyway, I'm keeping Olaf in the 40 breeder tank since he's much more active and uses the space more than Simon. Simon is in the 29 gallon tank which housed my dwarf hamster for a few months until he passed away a few days ago. I made a makeshift lid from wire mesh and he's never really been an escape artist anyway. Olaf's tank has a store-bought lid. Both of them have huge tanks that are way over the recommended size for 1 gerbil so I'm not worried about them becoming unhappy. They'll both, of course, get as much attention from me as they always have.
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Success!
Nov 25, 2014 17:28:29 GMT -8
via mobile
Post by snowballandnugget on Nov 25, 2014 17:28:29 GMT -8
So sorry to hear of Simon and Olafs falling out. I worry about this happening with my gerbils too. Sounds like they have awesome habitats and should be quite happy!
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Post by catnut on Nov 27, 2014 16:14:53 GMT -8
soo sorry to hear about Simon and Olaf but I'm sure they will be fine on their own, I have two loner gerbils and they seem happy (I can't put them together as they are male and female).
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