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Post by asher on Sept 4, 2015 16:16:33 GMT -8
Currently I have two gerbils who declanned a few months ago. I have 4 tanks in my room, and not much more room for more, so I was wondering if it was cruel to keep them both alone? I don't have any tanks big enough for a permanent split, and I would prefer to avoid that anyways because Rafe has been shown aggressive to other gerbils and seems happier alone. Though Sweets is very skittish and shy, but seemed to only really become this way since she was separated. I don't want to risk needing more tanks for more gerbils, but I also dont want lonely gerbils..
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Post by betty on Sept 5, 2015 4:25:24 GMT -8
Gerbils do generally appear better in pairs or groups s they have someone to cuddle, groom and sleep with - so in general - if you can re-split single gerbils to a friend - then I would recommend you trying.
Even the grumpy ones who fail at the first or even second split intro can find love and cuddles on a third attempt. (That's not to say they won't eventually declan again themselves - but the time together seems worth it sometimes.)
There is always a certain amount of 'stress' in a clan anyway as it is always about maintaining the status quo (like bedroom sharing with a sibling) but single gerbils don't even get that balance.
I have had gerbils spend a long time alone before and pootle along 'as usual' but I do like to see them sleeping in a heap rather than on their own. Even my most grumpy of gerbils have had friends at some point.
If you don't have space for more tanks though then you might be at a loss - however, making one small tank into a split wouldn't take up any more space and if Sweets didn't take to a new gerbil in the first tank, then you can try Rafe with the new one afterwards. Then at least you will only have one single gerbil for now and no more tanks?
Some breeders will offer to do the splits for you with new pups as these are much easier - do you have any breeders near you?
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Post by asher on Sept 5, 2015 5:06:57 GMT -8
Unfortunately I have no breeders close enough to me to find younger pups (the closest one to me is over 2 hours away and I wouldn't have anyone to take me that far), so I normally go to the pet store and try picking out younger gerbils when I do split tanks.
I could possibly make room for one more tank, but I don't want to end up with 5 tanks with three of them being home to 3 lone gerbils if it possibly doesn't work out. Would there ever be a chance that Rafe and Sweets could be reintroduced if I do the split for longer then the normal 2 weeks?
I have done 2 splits before, one with Sweets and Rafe which was going well for a few months until Rafe began acting very territorial of the wheel. Then my other split was between 2 pretty young gerbils and a 2-3 year old one, which is still working out pretty well and I haven't witnessed any aggression in them.
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Post by blanknote on Sept 5, 2015 22:58:33 GMT -8
You could maybe ask a store, whether or not you'd be able to return it if the introduction wouldn't work? I have heard that some breeders are willing to take back their gerbil if there's a problem with introduction, but I'm not sure how likely stores would agree to do this. Always worth asking, though!
Did they draw blood when they fought? What I have read is that they are not likely to bond anymore if blood was drawn. And females can be tricky to re-introduce anyway (as far as I know, I haven't done introducing gerbils, just reading a lot).
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Post by vexorg on Sept 6, 2015 0:44:23 GMT -8
It depends on the gerbil, some are happy on their own some not so.
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Post by betty on Sept 6, 2015 2:26:33 GMT -8
It is always difficult to say whether a gerbil is 'happy' (as all young healthy gerbils will still be inquisitive, friendly, dig and chew even if alone) so I tend to avoid that phrasing as much as possible. I go to the other extreme - only if I know they are angry/scared/violent do I leave them on their own.
And I tend to only leave gerbils alone who I cannot split to others for whatever reason - and I will keep trying every few months or so when another suitable match comes up. And then there are the over 3 oldies too who look all rather fragile - I sometimes leave them alone but still feel mean the whole time...
Some gerbils are more human-friendly and they may appear content on their own to us - and that is fine for some people and some circumstances. And if you aren't confident to do a split or introduction or have no other gerbils around you, then these all change what is agreeable and compromises are made. We have to make them all the time with our pets.
Perhaps, if they didn't declan in violence, you could try a longer split in this instance and do it super properly and give it one more try. Only then will you need to worry about other compromises and ideas. I think you are right to avoid the permanent split if they hate each other in the first place! I would hate to share a house with the school bully!
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Post by asher on Sept 6, 2015 6:41:26 GMT -8
They did end up declanning with a fight unfortunately, so I will definitely avoid trying that again. Minor injuries only thankfully because I got them separated fast because I was with them when it happened.
I wish the pet store would allow you to have them longer, but you only have 2 weeks to return them, which in my opinion, you really need all that time for the split but also a few more weeks of observing. Perhaps I could try to work things out though with them.
I don't like having lone gerbils, especially since Sweets has become so skittish without another gerbil with them. I will try to work something out.
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Post by betty on Sept 6, 2015 8:33:48 GMT -8
Good luck and let us know your thoughts when you finally have an idea. We might have tried it already and can give you some tips... (or we may never have tried it and can learn something new).
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Post by vexorg on Sept 6, 2015 11:53:32 GMT -8
It is always difficult to say whether a gerbil is 'happy' We had one girl (profile pic), mad as you could get, was alone her whole life, so strange in a unique way. She really was non-stop, more active than any other we've had, and much smarter too.
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Post by betty on Sept 7, 2015 3:48:27 GMT -8
Yes, Vexorg, I had one of those too. She was a total 'human' gerbil with character by the truckload.
She was rescued alone, and we kept her alone for a while as she was impossible to split to anyone. Then I met an expert splitter and she had friends at last. They were like Charlie's Angels - Black, Ginger and Silver - they look great with each other for just over 6 months. It was great to see her all snuggled up in a pile.
However, like yours, I think there is something not quite wired right gerbil-wise and they declanned quite spectacularly.
She had a short break, then went with an older male after that for another 6 months before he died. Then we left her alone until her death...
Some gerbils - just like people - don't quite fit in with their own type.
She was great though for people though - I still fondly remember her staring at me across the room, stamping one foot 'demanding' to come out and run all over everything...
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Post by asher on Sept 7, 2015 15:50:52 GMT -8
Do you think there is no possible way for Rafe and Sweets to be back together? They did draw blood, but perhaps it might have been over the wheel? Would putting 2 wheels in the cage work if the split ends up okay?
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PurpleSheep
Member
Bossed around by rodents & a toddler
Posts: 331
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Post by PurpleSheep on Sept 8, 2015 23:55:13 GMT -8
It may work if the wheel was the main reason for the de-clan. You will have to watch them very closely if you give it another try. You will also need to reintroduce them with a split cage.
We have two girls who squabble every few months as one of them is very territorial and wil start chasing the other if they've spent too much time out of the cage. They drew blood once but we still managed to reintroduce and they love each other to bits most of the time, they just occasionally need to spend a few days apart in a split.
Hope things work out for Rafe and Sweets.
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Post by betty on Sept 9, 2015 5:06:21 GMT -8
Same here, I had 2 sisters who were like that after 'outside' time.
I could take the Sapphire out as often as I liked for as long as I liked and they were fine on re-introduction. Take them out together or the Argente one for longer than 10 minutes - and chasing began in earnest...
Stuck to 'their rules' for the rest of their tiny lives and never had any more problems. (I recently lost the Argente one and the Sapphire is currently alone at 3 years (after not splitting with her first attempt at a new friend).)
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Post by asher on Sept 9, 2015 7:52:15 GMT -8
I did put them in my splitting tank. Sweets doesn't seem to mind Rafe next to her, and she does sleep in her nest. Rafe seems a bit bothered though,and today she wasnt doing it, but yesterday when I first started it she would fluff up her fur aggressively (mainly the back of her neck.. wasn't the normal sleepy/sick/cold gerbil fluffing up) and was lunging a bit. But she seems to have calmed down today, and did calmy greet Sweets with a nose touch and partly sleeps in Sweets' nests. Perhaps they just need what your gerbils need, not a lot of handling and splits if they are aggravated.
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Post by asher on Sept 9, 2015 18:55:59 GMT -8
Not good news. They chewed through my split while I wasnt around, and came into Rafe chasing and forcing herself in front of Sweets. I took the split out and separated them. I don't think Im willing trying to continue splitting them, because I am afraid they might fight while Im not around if it works out somehow at first.
Both of them seemed a lot more happy in their normal tanks.
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