Year-and-a-half year old cagemate fights

[balloc2c]

Hi, I've had two gerbils for a year and a half. They got along very well, I've never even needed to use the splitcage method. They're my first gerbils. Recently they've been what looks like fighting, but most people here say it's just playing unless it's sort of a deathball, and it was never that bad. Days later, just now, Stig, which is the more skittish one, had a bloody gash to his left jaw. Hammer, who has always been the dominant one, was sleeping in the food bowl at the top floor of the highrise in their tank. I immediately placed a temporary food bowl next to Stig, since two bowls would probably be harder to guard than one.

I've read I should use the splitcage method when it involves blood. I recently got a new 10 gallon tank, which is probably too small to separate them, so I'm hesitant. Are there any options?

Thanks

[balloc2c]

Update: Hammer has turned out really bad. His back is all very bare and red. He cannot move his hind legs. I've put him in the separate tank next to the first with water and food.

[betty]

Oh dear, poor Hammer. How is he getting on? Looks like he will need that new smaller tank to recover in - and then this would normally mean that they won't go back together in a split anyway.

Splits are only usually used to introduce 2 new gerbils who haven't ever lived together before, not to mix back together a pair who have fought - especially if blood is drawn.

I would be concerned though that Hammer is in considerable discomfort and under a lot of stress. He must have been really stressed in the first place to force him to sleep up in the food bowl - scared of an imminent attack. And now he can't move properly and is probably worried that he could be attacked again.

I would put him in the smaller tank alone without too many distractions but plenty of places to hide right next to easy to eat food right in front of him, keep him in a warm and quiet location that isn't in the way of anything so he can't see outside movement - like you walking around the room - perhaps use a towel or something to obscure his view. Perhaps right next to the other gerbil isn't the best idea, and make sure nothing smells of the other gerbil too to remove the 'threat'. That way he will know that he is alone and that way he can finally relax and start to recover. Obviously keep an eye on him at intervals without too much fuss to make sure that he isn't getting cold or bleeding or anything, and hopefully by morning he will appear better - if not - then I would suggest the vets for pain killers and anti-inflammatories - some may suggest otherwise.

[balloc2c]

I put Hammer into the next tank and separated them, right after the fight, but he died during the night. he had proper food and water, plenty of bedding, and proper warmth. Thanks for the help, under better circumstances it would probably have turned out ok.

About Stig... will he be lonely or depressed without a cagemate who he has recently fatally injured? I think he would be too old to meet some new pups, and possibly too aggressive as well. Do you have input in this field? Thanks

[betty]

Gerbils only fight when they 'have to' under gerbil rules in that one environment that one time. So him fighting his brother this one time doesn't mean he will fight all other gerbils.

I have had many gerbils who attacked other gerbils and have soon enough bonded with new gerbils. Obviously these might not last for ever, but several are over 6 months now.

And a year and a half is still quite young I would say to leave alone 'for the rest of his life'. I would certainly try a proper split with him nice a slowly and see how he goes. Most people would recommend 1 or 2 young pups as they bond easier than grown gerbils.

No rush though...