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Post by jinjaninja on Dec 1, 2015 5:24:09 GMT -8
We recently lost one of our rescue gerbils his tank mate seem quite depressed so we decided to get him a friend another rescue gerbils unsure as to what age. We did the split cage method for a couple of weeks and slowly introduced them, they spent a happy week together with no problems them we got up one morning to find that they had been fighting they had a couple more fights following that so we've split them again. My question is will it be possible to try and introduce them again. They do seem to enjoy each others company unfortunately they only seem to fight at night when we're not around. Is it OK to allow them maybe an hour a day together before splitting them at night
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PurpleSheep
Member
Bossed around by rodents & a toddler
Posts: 331
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Post by PurpleSheep on Dec 2, 2015 2:42:05 GMT -8
Can you describe what the fighting you observed looked like? Were there any injuries?
However serious the fighting was will be a big factor in whether it is a good idea to reintroduce them. For a short while, it is definitely fine to only remove the split during the day when you can watch them, and separate them at night. In the long term, the constant change will probably cause them a lot of stress, so it is not a permanent solution.
If your cage is large enough, you can always keep them together in a permanent split. That way, they will at least have a little bit of company without the risk of one of them getting hurt.
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Post by betty on Dec 2, 2015 3:45:14 GMT -8
If you are going to do the Split Cage Method fully from scratch again (ie: assuming that they don't know each other at all), and in a totally new smaller tank with a proper divide, then there would be no harm in trying. And am I right that they are both males?
I would probably switch sides 3 times a day for at least 2 weeks before introducing them. You already know that they get on for short bursts during the day, so you probably shouldn't let them together as 'friends' during that time as it will affect your judgement of whether they are bonding or not?
I am not totally sure of the best way to progress, but I certainly wouldn't give up just yet. Perhaps it is just a reprogramming of their heirachy that is needed for this to work. The way they are knowing each other in different spaces and at different times at the moment is probably a factor in slowing their pairing up. Both are at a status quo, and they know where their home is every night regardless of what happens during the day. For the heirachy to change they need to be unsure of where they own or sleep and so they react differently to situations(which is what the split method does).
However, overiding all this is whether there was serious injury from their first fights. If one was left virtually a shadow of their former self - then this probably won't work long term. If they were just the odd nip and scuffle and squeak - perhaps you have a chance. However, be prepared not to let them back into their existing cages/tank or free runs together in the bath or whatever for at least a month until they have fully bonded in the smaller split tank, otherwise all your work could be undone.
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Post by jinjaninja on Dec 2, 2015 10:48:07 GMT -8
Thanks for the replies. They both had bites and blood was drawn. We are starting from scratch again swapping them 3 times a day we'll do this for a couple of weeks before introducing them again. I did see them try to groom through the mesh but they are not sleeping next to each other. If they can't be introduced we will get a bigger tank which we can split permanently
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Post by betty on Dec 2, 2015 14:26:50 GMT -8
Yes, it is certainly worth taking the time to give them every opportunity to re bond, and having a larger tank well be great either way. If they bond they will be living in a gerbil wonderland, and if they don't, there will always be company wherever they are.
Keep us updated with progress reports...
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