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Post by theia on Oct 11, 2015 3:45:16 GMT -8
I'd say mesh would be better, you want them to be able to smell each other clearly through it and to be able to interact a little (putting their noses through the mesh holes and greeting each other/sniffing each other, if they get on they might even try grooming each other through it and sleeping next to each other on either side of it). Ideally i'd say a mesh the the holes around 1 centimetre square would be good, big enough to interact if they get on but not big enough to do major harm to each other if they don't.
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Post by aj2013 on Oct 11, 2015 4:45:16 GMT -8
Okay...the holes in the tank lid are definitely smaller than that so I will probably have to find just some plain old wire mesh. Thanks!
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Post by aj2013 on Oct 11, 2015 13:00:35 GMT -8
I just got another gerbil!!! His name (of course) is Sherlock. He is around five or six weeks old. I think he is a spotted agouti. I picked him out of the three they had since he was the most laid back and didn't really mind me handling him. For the split cage, I dissected an old wire cage and resurrected a divider from its remains. Currently I only have Watson in the split cage. As I write this he is gnawing on the wire like mad. I want to put Sherlock in as soon as I can (he doesn't really seem too pulsed by all that's going on) but maybe I should wait until tomorrow? Pictures to come!
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Post by aj2013 on Oct 11, 2015 13:48:58 GMT -8
Here is the tank: And here is Sherlock:
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Post by catnut on Oct 11, 2015 14:33:10 GMT -8
Sherlock is adorable but you really should quarantine him for at least 2-4 weeks in another room from Watson in case he does has something, and wash your hands well inbetween touching both of them, even if he seems 100% some illnesses don't show up right away,but to be sure it is best for both of your gerbils' health. Have fun with your gerbils! Take care, Tammy
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Post by aj2013 on Oct 11, 2015 14:59:19 GMT -8
Ok thanks Tammy! I'll keep Sherlock separate for the time being.
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Post by aj2013 on Oct 13, 2015 7:23:47 GMT -8
Okay...so I couldn't resist. Yesterday I went back and got Sherlock's brother! They had only been apart for a day so I put them back together and they were fine. I did a name switch and now the agouti one is Mycroft and the new one is Sherlock. Here is the new Sherlock: I think he is a spotted black or slate.
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Post by catnut on Oct 13, 2015 14:54:46 GMT -8
soo adorable and glad they are fine together. are you still going to put them both with Watson? this way if Watson doesn't get along with both of them, at least the two youngest will be together.
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Post by aj2013 on Oct 13, 2015 16:52:47 GMT -8
Yes, that is my plan. I can't return them after two weeks so if Watson doesn't like them they will still have each other.
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Post by aj2013 on Oct 17, 2015 7:42:55 GMT -8
I put them in the split-cage this morning! They didn't seem aggressive, they keep sticking their noses through the bars and sniffing each other. None of them seem too concerned about their new companion(s). They have all tried chewing on the bars of the divider. Here's a picture: Hopefully they'll be best friends soon!
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Post by aj2013 on Oct 17, 2015 11:46:43 GMT -8
I did the first switch after lunch. (About an hour ago.) I'm sort of worried about Sherlock...he is chewing on the wires all the time and when Watson comes close he sometimes shoves his nose as far through as he can and scrambles at it and squeaks fairly loudly. I'm worried he might hurt himself...he already has a little sore or something on his chin possibly from doing this. Do you know if this is aggressive behavior or does Sherlock just REALLY annoyed there's a wall keeping him from other side?
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Post by catnut on Oct 17, 2015 15:25:07 GMT -8
this type of wire can tempt gerbils to want to chew them so mesh that has smaller holes would be better for split cages, you could try giving them something to chew on as you don't want any of them to hurt their teeth on the wire or get sores elsewhere.
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Post by aj2013 on Oct 22, 2015 7:10:50 GMT -8
Sherlock and Watson seem to be doing a little bit better. There's less squeaking, although Sherlock still gets really mad at Watson occasionally and tries to go after him. Watson and Mycroft basically ignore each other all the time except for an occasional sniff through the bars. From what I've read this means things are going well, right? Anyways, I was wondering if it would be okay to let Watson and Mycroft have some playtime together, like running around on the sofa?
Thanks y'all for being patient with my many questions and for all the advice you've given!
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Post by aj2013 on Oct 22, 2015 8:56:12 GMT -8
Okay - disregard anything I said about Sherlock and Watson doing better. Until just last night and today, Watson wouldn't let me pick him up. So just now I noticed what looked like a little bit or fur missing on his side. I pick him up and brushed his fur backwards with my finger and suddenly saw that there was indeed some fur missing! Sherlock must have gotten hold of some of his fur and yanked it out. There are some scabs where fur used to be. Unfortunately I hadn't noticed this sooner since Watson wouldn't let me pick him up and Sherlock only took a little fur from a few places so his other fur covered up where it was missing. I'll try to find something to put up in place of/in addition to my divider now. But as I understand it, the rule is that if blood is drawn (which a little bit was), the intro isn't working. Should I keep trying?
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Post by t1gg3er on Oct 22, 2015 9:42:03 GMT -8
I don't know whether the intro has a chance of working or not. Is the wound fresh or possibly a few days old? If it's older & they appear to have been better since it may be worth persevering? But maybe get some narrower mesh so they can't actually get to each other through it.
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