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Post by emilystrange on Jan 14, 2015 5:59:05 GMT -8
I have two gerbils, a male and a female, that are two and a half years old (probably even a little older). They are living in a split cage together due to both loosing their same-sex pair, RIP. They have lived together for about six months, and are getting lonely again. There is only so much bonding that can happen through the wire mesh. So I guess I have a few questions; - Should I just let them live together, without the split?
- How many babies should I expect (if any?? fingerscrossed
 ) - Is there something different I should do when I introduce them
being that they have lived together for so long, and arent as
interested in eachother?
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Post by johanne on Jan 14, 2015 13:22:05 GMT -8
At that age the odds on them having pups is very, very low. Possible, but very low especially assuming they haven't been bred before. If they did have a couple of pups they probably wouldn't survive. I'd introduce them assuming you're willing to deal with the small risk of pups.
Just trade sides a few times a day for a few times. Then supervise to be sure they're bonded.
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Post by emilystrange on Jan 15, 2015 5:55:20 GMT -8
Thank you! Afer reading things online, I just wasnt positive if it was correct that she could possibly not have babies anymore, it seemed to good to be true! Being only experienced samesex pairs/splits/introductions, the idea of having just one litter sounds kind of fun.
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Post by MoonstoneGerbils on Jan 15, 2015 19:27:03 GMT -8
They can still have pups. However, whatever pups they do have are probably going to be small litters 1-4. Small litters dont always suckle enough, and the mom may not produce enough milk... this will end with either the pups not making it... or you having to hand feed them or find a foster mom.
Generally if the females are 2.5 years plus and are fat/round they are usually infertile. But if they are still slim and have their "figure" they're still quite capable.
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Post by betty on Jan 17, 2015 3:18:58 GMT -8
I have a couple of mixed pairs together after splits like yours and there have so far been no pups despite a lot of sex in one of the pairs.
One pair is not having sex at all (old female, much younger male), and another pair are at it almost every other week (old female, even older male (3+)).
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