|
Post by remarksises on Jun 29, 2015 21:37:25 GMT -8
So my sister is taking care of our other three gerbils: Coffee, Milk, and Honey. They have lived together in peace for over a year and have never shown any sign of aggression. Recently though, Coffee and Milk have begun fighting. Usually nipping at each other and recently drawing blood. My sister has tried separating them by putting mess into the cage to divide it, but it never fails, the three usually find a way to dig around the mesh and sleep together. Then they are fine for a period of time. No fights or bites.
Just recently my sissy called to tell me that they got into a really bad fight. Ear missing a piece, sides bloodied, tails bitten and mouths bleeding. Again she separated them with the mesh, but they again found a way to sleep together again, wounds and all. My sis is going to try to separate them more permanently, but is struggling because of the third, Honey, who gets along with both and they get along with her. How should she approach this and how can she separate Coffee and Milk within the tank without them finding their way into their sleeping corner together?
My sis is sad that they won't be together, but she would rather do this than see more blood. The tank is a 20 gallon.
Lots of thanks -remarksises
|
|
|
Post by betty on Jun 29, 2015 22:20:47 GMT -8
You need to take one of the fighters out permanently and put them in another tank. I always take out the one who 'lost' so the one who was being chased and had a majority of bites to the bum and lower back, however if they were both equally matched (both had bites to the face and neck) then I would take out either.
There is always the least dominant one who gets on with both the dominant ones as otherwise they might attack HER. She doesn't care who she lives with she will always be their friend.
Leaving all three in the same tank (even divided perfectly) won't be fair as they will always be in each other's faces causing undue stress, or looking like they love each other temporarily and making you feel guilty.
The one you take out will most likely be able to go in a split with a new gerbil and be the boss again...
|
|
|
Post by leafwhisp on Jul 2, 2015 12:45:04 GMT -8
I hope everything works out for you. Are you going to get a new gerbil for the one that gets put by herself?
|
|