Three six months girls declanning... I think?

[fuzzbutt]

I've had my gerbils for about a month, maybe just over now. They were an unwanted litter from pets at home rescue side of things and I've only ever had males so I stupidly figured they'd be alright plus the place said I couldn't leave one obviously.
So I took the girls and one of them is bigger than the other two and to be blunt, quite an idiot. But she also has a head tilt and squeaks a lot so I know she isn't completely ok in the first place.
However now the other two that are significantly smaller have started picking on her. She seems to accidently start fights a lot and hasn't stepped down from her wheel in about two days now.
Problem was I work a lot and go to college for the majority of the day so I didn't notice until past night that there are bite marks on her tail.

Basically my biggest girl sits in her wheel all day (its raised off the ground onto the wall of the cage) and they have at this point drawn blood but only slightly.
Should I separate them now or is there any chance this will all blow over?
I would usually instantly get her out of there and introduce her to someone new but I do believe that she may not reach as old as her sisters as it is without fighting.

If it's the case of that's enough blood to be a declan and I need to get her out I will but I really don't know, I've never had it happen like this before...

PS I have a secondary question of if I was to separate and introduce her a new friend would I go pup or could I go older to senior?

Thank you in advance
(I'm already working on getting a new cage ready just in case)

[betty]

It sounds as though it isn't 100% happiness in there. One of the first signs of a declan is the bullied gerbil sleeping alone and higher up than the others. If it is a declan in progress, she is sleeping up there because she is too stressed to socialise with the others and so taking her out of that environment will certainly be better for her.

I didn't notice the stress myself until after a similar declan, my little girl had lost weight and was exhausted - especially if there is intermittent chasing with yours too. As soon as she was out of the tank she fell asleep.

There may be other views on here, so can you tell us a bit more about the size of the tank and any other behaviours you have noticed, it may be something else? Something like more than one house, too big a space, etc...

The fact that she is a bit socially challenged may hinder her making a new friend if you do take her out of this trio. If you split her to another pup - they may challenge her when they get old enough to care about being the boss. Difficult.

[fuzzbutt]

Sorry it took me so long to update this but I've been working all the days... Anyway since then she has come back down from the wheel, one is still being bullied but they'll let her eat and drink with them now and there is a lot less fighting.
I feel definitely like I should still separate them but I know once she's out that will be it for her and I'm worried about finding her a friend as I'm not overly confident on bonding.

I will admit the tank is possibly a bit small for the three of them but I normally take in lone aggressive gerbils and these three were unexpected additions. Don't worry I do plan on getting a bigger one now I know they are here to stay whether in a two or a three.
The cage is 52.5 x 2g x 52cm.
They currently don't have a bed in the cage, they prefer making there own nests out in the cage.
They have one wheel but only the bullied one uses it.
Only one food bowl and one water.

(would a submissive elder maybe make a better partner or I have heard with females a high success rate of same aged gerbils)

[betty]

Yes, if there is still bullying, chasing, squeaking or lone-sitting, I would consider a split up - before any blood is shed. If you can spot the tension even while you are so busy at work - imagine what it is like living in that one same tank with it.

I have successfully paired up a number of females pairs now but I always paired up with what else I had, I didn't plan to go find a perfect cagemate, so I am not 100% sure what would be best. I am sure someone else will have a few suggestions.

I once paired up a 'really dominant 16 month old female who had attacked her own mother at 6 months and attacked a pup and basically shunned all other splits' with a recently ousted 14 month old 'female who had been chased an bullied by her own 2 sisters and had started sleeping up top with a few bits of tail fur missing'. However, on splitting them together (nice and slowly) they switched roles. The bullied younger one was SO the boss and the single baby-biter fell into line instantly?

[sinthiav]

I think if you are willing to spend the money you should get that head tilt checked out by a vet.