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Post by gerby on Aug 16, 2015 9:52:24 GMT -8
Hi all, I currently have 2 female gerbils who are 18 months old.... I have stupidly been in to Pets at Home and noticed a female gerbil, who is up for rehoming in their adoption centre because 'she has been in the store for a while'. I have noticed her there since the beginning of May. She is in a small tank with hardly any enrichiment - noting to burrow in, no cardboard to chew, no hay or bedding (All of their gerbils seem to be housed like this  ) I can't stop thinking of her living a miserable life. Has anyone else here managed to bond a female into an existing pair? I know it's really risky with them being female. I just wondered if there's a possibility of me being able to rehome her and bond them? Thanks in advance x |
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Post by fluffy501 on Aug 16, 2015 10:30:37 GMT -8
I don't know anything about introducing a new gerbil, someone else will probably give you advice on that, but you could always keep it in a separate tank for now - even if it was kept on its own, at least it would have more things to do. They shouldn't keep them like that, especially as its pets at home that's supposed to care about animals, you'd think they'd keep them properly  |
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Post by gerby on Aug 16, 2015 10:37:43 GMT -8
I don't have the space for another tank I already have 4 bunnies (outside) 3 cats and the 2 gerbs who reside in our spare bedroom/hubby's office, so think my hubby would have a fit if I took up more room in his office. Such a dilemma! x |
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Post by t1gg3er on Aug 16, 2015 12:46:20 GMT -8
We adopted Yogi from the adoption centre at our PAH. She'd been handed in & had been there for 3 months. We got her in April & so far she's been on her own but is currently living happily in a permanent split with another lone girl. They seem happy with each others company. Maybe a permanent split would be an option for you?
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Post by gerby on Aug 16, 2015 13:24:28 GMT -8
What would a permanent split entail?
My current tank would be difficult to split permanently as my other 2 are used to their space.
x
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Post by t1gg3er on Aug 16, 2015 13:57:07 GMT -8
We have Yogi & Boo in a tank that's 36" long x 15" deep x18" high with a permanent mesh divider in the middle. They each have their own side with platforms, toys, food & water etc... & they also have each others company when they want it. Sometimes they just ignore each other, others they'll spend time saying hello & sitting next to the mesh.
We have thought about trying to introduce them properly but Yogi has always been on her own & has some quirky ways so we're not sure she actually has any gerbil social skills. Boo is on her own after being beaten up by one of her sisters who are our son's friend's gerbils. She only has half a tail & a scar/bald patch at the top of it. We decided not to risk trying a full intro as they both seem happy as they are. Yogi has more company than she's had before & Boo has company but also safety in her own space.
You could extend their space by making full use of the height of the tank with shelves & platforms & even putting a topper on each side if you don't have room for a long tank. And the divider could be glass rather than mesh if they don't seem happy with that - we've divided a 4" tank in half by having a piece of glass cut & siliconing it into the middle for some of our other gerbils.
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Post by eaturbyfill on Aug 16, 2015 16:45:14 GMT -8
Most people recommend against a split/intro to a group because it can cause the gerbils to declan. I think a permanent split with mesh could still carry that risk.
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Post by gerby on Aug 17, 2015 5:33:12 GMT -8
We have Yogi & Boo in a tank that's 36" long x 15" deep x18" high with a permanent mesh divider in the middle. They each have their own side with platforms, toys, food & water etc... & they also have each others company when they want it. Sometimes they just ignore each other, others they'll spend time saying hello & sitting next to the mesh. We have thought about trying to introduce them properly but Yogi has always been on her own & has some quirky ways so we're not sure she actually has any gerbil social skills. Boo is on her own after being beaten up by one of her sisters who are our son's friend's gerbils. She only has half a tail & a scar/bald patch at the top of it. We decided not to risk trying a full intro as they both seem happy as they are. Yogi has more company than she's had before & Boo has company but also safety in her own space. You could extend their space by making full use of the height of the tank with shelves & platforms & even putting a topper on each side if you don't have room for a long tank. And the divider could be glass rather than mesh if they don't seem happy with that - we've divided a 4" tank in half by having a piece of glass cut & siliconing it into the middle for some of our other gerbils. Thanks for the info. My current set up already has shelves in it (I have the large critters choice tank with 3 shelves). I don't want to upset my 2 as they are really happy. I'll just have to try and think of something else for the poor lonely gerbil |
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Post by fluffy501 on Aug 17, 2015 8:31:07 GMT -8
Ask anyone you know if they could take it? Where abouts are you? You could say which store it is, then someone on here might see. I would probably end up wanting to take every animal that looked sad in pet shops too if I went looking at some.
If its up for adoption then it might go quicker now anyway, do you think?
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Post by gerby on Aug 17, 2015 9:08:36 GMT -8
Ask anyone you know if they could take it? Where abouts are you? You could say which store it is, then someone on here might see. I would probably end up wanting to take every animal that looked sad in pet shops too if I went looking at some. If its up for adoption then it might go quicker now anyway, do you think? I have asked some people I know but they aren't as animal mad as me. It's been in the adoption section since the beginning of May It's the Biggleswade store in Bedfordshire just off the A1 if anyone is close by? x |
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Post by t1gg3er on Aug 17, 2015 10:15:08 GMT -8
You need to get your hubby to go into the store with you - how could he say no to giving up just a little bit more of his office space once he's seen her?  |
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Post by fluffy501 on Aug 17, 2015 13:56:58 GMT -8
It's nowhere near me then.
I agree with tigger, surely you can persuade him? it would just be one extra tank. What about somewhere else in your house like the living room or even a hallway?
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Post by gerby on Aug 18, 2015 4:46:15 GMT -8
If only it was that easy.... Our spare room is quite small and already has the 2 computer desks, one has the gerbil tank on, the other has my husbands PC/Printer/work stuff. Then we have the office chair and a single bed. There is literally no more room in there for another tank We couldn't put a tank anywhere else in the house as we have 3 cats, and they roam the whole house (apart from the spare room). I wouldn't trust them near the gerbil tank whilst we're at work. Wish I'd never gone in there and seen this lonely gerbil. Her name's lola and she just looks so depressed. She needs a friend or at least some enrichment in her life! |
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Post by t1gg3er on Aug 18, 2015 6:33:13 GMT -8
Could you expand vertically & put a sturdy shelf above the existing tank & then get one of the lightweight PAH tanks to put the single one in? At least in one of those she'd have room to tunnel a bit & they're big enough for one on its own |
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Post by fluffy501 on Aug 18, 2015 8:19:20 GMT -8
^ Yeah maybe that?
or if not that idea then what about keeping the tank somewhere high out of the cats reach, either permanently or just move it before you got to work. Or you could keep the tank in a locked room when you are out?
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Maybe you (or any of us) should commemt to pets at home about this so they can improve.
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