Odd Split tanking behaviour

[loxy]

Hey guys

I'm currently trying to get Sherlock and Mycroft back together after Sherlock did some breeding. There've been in the split tank for about 4 weeks now, swapping 3 times a day, every weekend I try them together and they seem fine. They groom each other, have a sniff around and then fall asleep together (allegedly a success). Then after about 3-5 hours of wandering around, napping and grooming they'll begin to do side-showing whenever one tries to groom the other and eventually begin to fight. They've never drawn blood or damaged fur but it's definitely not boxing. The point at which I separate them usually ends with the gerbil left in the tank thumping. So I have to rebuild the tank and stick them in there for another week.

So how can I be sure that they've really gone together? All advice says that once they nest together it's a done deal but this weekend is the fourth occasion where they've curled up together then 2-3 hours later they're starting a fight. I'm unsure how to allow them to settle this dominance issue.

The other option is I build them a build permanent split tank (and finally be rid of the tiny thing they're in now) and they live side by side. They're perfectly happy in each others company they don't show aggressive behaviour in the split.

It's really strange. Anyone had this?

[johanne]

That's not something I ever try to do. When I breed I give each previous tank mate a new pup for company. So much easier. The fact they sleep together doesn't necessarily mean anything. Gerbils that are declanning typically nest together between fights. I take it they end up in a ball fight? You can try the split tank for a few more weeks with no attempt to introduce them during that time. If after that they still don't get along I guess you'll have to use a permanent split.

[loxy]

I don't let the hostility escalate far enough to get into a ball fight, as such they've yet to hurt each other. They just start getting aggressive; arching, mounting, chasing and thumping. It's certainly not what I'd call healthy boxing.

I figured it'd be no more difficult than the average introduction of males to each other, if anything easier as they've lived together before. Hey ho. Will give it a bit more time.