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Post by gerby on Nov 14, 2015 13:45:42 GMT -8
Hi all, My beautiful Marthur has gone to the bridge  , she was only 22 months old. Her sister Cerys is now on her own, and as I am out of the house for approx 12 hours per day, I really think she needs a new friend to keep her company. Cerys was the dominant one of the pair. How do I go about bonding her? I have no experience of this (although I am a very experienced rabbit bonder!) Cerys has the large critters choice tank which has the 3 glass shelves, so I am unsure of how to do the split cage method with this style of tank. Marthur passed away this evening, how long should I leave it? Thanks in advance, Dani x |
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Post by gerby on Nov 15, 2015 8:41:09 GMT -8
Does anyone have any advice for splitting a critters choice tank?
Would I only be able to bond Cerys with a young pup? If anyone has experience of bonding an adult female I would be very greatful.
Thanks x
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PurpleSheep
Member
Bossed around by rodents & a toddler
Posts: 331
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Post by PurpleSheep on Nov 15, 2015 10:19:55 GMT -8
I am sorry to hear about Marthur.
It would be best to wait a few weeks to let Cerys adjust, as she introductions are very stressful for gerbils. It may take a while to fond a suitable new gerbil anyway. A pup would be easiest but the age difference would mean that you will likely have another lone gerbil in a few year's time. You could consider two pups instead.
We have previously introduced two pups to an adult who had been alone for a long time and it was quite easy, although there was some trouble a few months later on, but that was an issue between the two pups. If Cerys is dominant, there may be trouble once the pup becomes a young adult and decides to challenge her.
Regarding the split, you will probably need to get another cage or tank. You could look for a smaller cheap tank or make your own bin cage. If you are in the UK, Really Useful Boxes are brilliant for that. You can then move them back into the original cage once they are bonded. It is a good idea to have a spare tank anyway, just in case there are problems at any point.
There is lots of advice on how to do a split cage on this board,so that will help you prepare and hopefully all will go well for you and Cerys!
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Post by gerby on Nov 15, 2015 13:34:09 GMT -8
Hi Purplesheep and thank you so much for your reply.
I did wonder what would happen with the younger one when Cerys is inevitably older and may leave the younger one on her own, so getting 2 pups makes sense. I have no issue with have 3 together as I have the space and money to care for them. I did think that 3 females were difficult to house together?
I will look at getting a 'normal' tank and see if there are any pups available for rehoming... ideally I would like to rescue but these seem to be older. What is the maximum age to mix with an adult female?
I wish there were split tanks available to buy... I am useless at DIY! I am in the UK and will look at Really Useful Boxes, thanks!
x
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Post by t1gg3er on Nov 15, 2015 14:17:50 GMT -8
Sorry to hear about Marthur.
We have the Really Useful Box (from B&Q) which we use when we're cleaning out & as a back up for emergencies It's really good as it's straight up & down (doesn't taper in at the bottom). We made a mesh lid for it. Wickes sell mesh panels you could use for a lid & a splitter. You can also buy wood from there to make a frame for the splitter (or ask a 'handy' friend to help). Ours are held together with aquarium sealant (silicone) so it's non-toxic. If you make it to fit diagonally you'll be able to slide it in & out but the gerbils can't dislodge it. Make sure it goes right up to the lid so they can't climb over.
I think the general rule for easiest pup to adult intros is to get pups no more than 8 weeks old. We've successfully introduced 2 single pups to 2 single young adult males & it only took 3 days each. We've also had success with 2 adult females (10 months & 13 months), altho neither is particularly dominant and we have 2 sets of female trios living happily together too.
Good luck & I hope Cerys adjusts to not having Marthur with her quickly.
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Post by gerby on Nov 29, 2015 6:06:51 GMT -8
So yesterday I bought home 2 young girls, maximum 8 weeks old.
I have a separate tank which they are now living in... It has a mesh divider splitting it. I left them to settle for 24 hours before putting Cerys on the other side. I have swapped them once so far.
Cerys has a new lease of life! She's back to burrowing like crazy & chewing her cardboard like a gerbil should!
My other 2 newbies, Alanis & Beyoncé (haha!) are spritely and into everything.
I haven't seen any aggression from either side. So I'll see how they go over the next week then I will introduce them next weekend if they continue to be ok.
How should I go about introducing them in Cerys' old tank? Should I neutralise it then add a mix of their substrate/bedding? Should I avoid too many toys etc to begin with? I have gardening gloves incase they do fight.
Thanks in advance x
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Post by GerbilUK on Nov 29, 2015 7:04:35 GMT -8
Is it possible to just remove the mesh divider in the tank you are doing the split in? That's what I have always done.
Then after another week or two once they are together, transfer the whole lot plus used bedding into Cerys old tank after cleaning it thoroughly.
Hth
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Post by betty on Nov 29, 2015 12:34:17 GMT -8
If you read up where you can on the standard Split Cage Procedure, as this is exactly what you are going to be doing.
There are certain steps to follow just like those you are asking which should help everything run smoothly. Basically 2 empty sides (bedding, food and water only), three swaps a day, nothing new in there at all, and when ready, introduce in that exact same tank. Once together, leave in exact same tank for at least one more week, gradually adding things slowly. Any signs of fighting, start again.
There are loads of bits to make it specific to your exact case, but that's the basic principle.
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Post by catnut on Nov 29, 2015 15:46:51 GMT -8
Glad you found two young girls to bond with Cerys- I hope it will go smoothly and they will all by happy soon.  |
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Post by gerby on Dec 1, 2015 8:51:39 GMT -8
If you read up where you can on the standard Split Cage Procedure, as this is exactly what you are going to be doing. There are certain steps to follow just like those you are asking which should help everything run smoothly. Basically 2 empty sides (bedding, food and water only), three swaps a day, nothing new in there at all, and when ready, introduce in that exact same tank. Once together, leave in exact same tank for at least one more week, gradually adding things slowly. Any signs of fighting, start again. There are loads of bits to make it specific to your exact case, but that's the basic principle. Thank you for this information. The gerbils seem ok - both the young pups are getting on fine. Cerys is also sleeping near them on the other side of the mesh divider. I will continue to keep swapping them and will put them together for the first time this weekend. I am unsure whether the mesh divider comes out or not? I bought the tank from someone off Ebay where it was pre-made. If it can't be removed, what would be the next best thing in terms of introducing them? Thanks x |
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Post by t1gg3er on Dec 1, 2015 9:59:06 GMT -8
If you can't remove the divider easily then the next best thing may be to put them together in just one side - perhaps put Cerys into the side the pups are in so she doesn't feel they're invading 'her side'.
But if the intro goes well you need to not disturb anything for a while - you definitely don't want to be having to take them all out to remove the divider after they've gone together as it could upset the balance too soon. So it may be better to take them all out now (keeping pups away from Cerys) & figure the divider out to make sure when the time comes you can remove it easily & also put it back if they're not ready to be together.
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Post by gerby on Dec 2, 2015 8:05:39 GMT -8
Good news, the dividers both slide out so I can continue with the bonding process in the same tank! I will keep you updated over the weekend! |
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Post by betty on Dec 2, 2015 14:24:47 GMT -8
Great news, can't wait to hear the progress reports...
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Post by gerby on Dec 6, 2015 3:29:09 GMT -8
Great news, can't wait to hear the progress reports... Bad news I'm afraid  it all started quite positively for the first 5 mins... Then one of the younger ones attacked Cerys and she is now wounded around her face. The bleeding has stopped and she seems fine in herself. I have put Cerys back in her normal tank. My friend is a vet so she is coming to check on Cerys later. I am devastated. Poor Cerys after all she has been through. I can't put her through that again no way |
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Post by betty on Dec 6, 2015 4:11:14 GMT -8
Perhaps you moved too fast for the pups. Sounds like Cerys was all up for some friendship but the pups were already too settled or too nervous?
How long was it in the end, just a week before introduction? What were the pup behaviours like before the intro? Were they really only together 5 minutes before the face off occurred and what behaviours led up to the attack?
Such a shame when they fight so early on and you wonder if a bit longer in the split would have made all the difference...
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, she was only 22 months old. Her sister Cerys is now on her own, and as I am out of the house for approx 12 hours per day, I really think she needs a new friend to keep her company.
it all started quite positively for the first 5 mins... Then one of the younger ones attacked Cerys and she is now wounded around her face. The bleeding has stopped and she seems fine in herself. I have put Cerys back in her normal tank. My friend is a vet so she is coming to check on Cerys later.