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Post by MK on Feb 22, 2006 6:12:26 GMT -8
Hello everyone, We're hoping on getting our first two gerbil pups Thursday.  We were initially going to get females, but lately I've been hearing so many wonderful things about boys. I love how boys are more cuddlebugs, but I also like how girls are more playful (in general, of course). I'm also a bit worried about females declanning, I'm not too keen on the idea of having to separate them all the time  What us your favorite gender? Can anyone give any suggestions on what I should get? |
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Post by LasVegasNo1 on Feb 22, 2006 7:19:12 GMT -8
I always wanted and kept pairs of girl Gerbils until the store gave me one male, one female Gerbil  It was then that I discovered boy Gerbils!  After that I have always prefered to keep males, I guess it's just personal choice, I can't really say why I prefer them to females? I suppose their characters are different in the sense girls seem very 'hyper' whereas males are more laid back  I now have 6 boys and 6 girls as I bred a pair for the first time last year. I find the boys will do anything to see me, get on my hand etc whereas the girls would like nothing better if I left them alone and they can run off round the house, they are also A LOT more confident! The only aggression I've witnessed was my two elderly boys, who had lived together for life, (4 years) having a nasty fight, after which they were separated  |
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Post by MK on Feb 22, 2006 7:29:12 GMT -8
Maybe I'll get the boys I'd definitely want one that is affectionate. Are boys really less active then females? How much so? |
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Post by LasVegasNo1 on Feb 22, 2006 11:40:24 GMT -8
OK when my girls are up they are UP if you get my drift, full of beans, will jump out the cage when the lid is lifted etc, and they don't want a cuddle they want to be off on the floor! ;D When the boys are up they just don't seem to get 'hyper', they still want to some out of the tank and play but it all feels a bit more subdued compared to the girls. If you only have boys you'll think they are 'hyper' when they are awake anyway  ... I had actually forgotten how females behavioured as I hadn't kept them for many years. Another thing I notice between my males and females is that the females will get straight out of bed if they hear you in their tank, whereas I think I could drop a saucepan in the boys tank and they still wouldn't wake up!  |
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Post by MK on Feb 22, 2006 11:49:58 GMT -8
LOL boys sound more like my type |
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Post by AndreaS15 on Feb 22, 2006 13:48:01 GMT -8
It's all up to gerbils personality, and all young gerbils will be wired and want nothing more then to explore and play.
I have a very sweet female gerbil who just rather be with me then anything. Most of my males are to busy trying to escape they could care less to sit with me, well unless i have a treat for them.
I seem to have prefured females over males, as most of my females are less skittish and more people friendly, but again every gerbil is different.
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caz
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Post by caz on Feb 22, 2006 15:03:19 GMT -8
I think Andrea is right - every gerbil has it's own character.
My two females have different traits to eachother.
Daisy is sweet, tamer, really nosey and reacts to verbal commands,
Bon is a tiny bit more nervous, is an avid climber and the dominant one - sits on Daisy and steals her food etc. However, when they are together eg. in their bed, they are the best of mates!
Suppose I'm biased - I've only got girls
Caroline
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RW
Member
When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure. Puppy 6/6/07
Posts: 530
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Post by RW on Feb 22, 2006 20:30:55 GMT -8
I'm not sure there's much difference between males and females. I think behavior is based more on individual personality than gender. I've kept boys and girls and I've had love-bugs and adventurers in both sexes. I think Andrea hit on a key point, too. Age does seem to make a difference in how most gerbils behave. In general, my experience has been that younger gerbils are eager to be off exploring, whereas older, more settled ones tend to enjoy a nice cuddle. There are exceptions, of course. I had one young boy, in particular, who bonded with me very quickly and has always stuck to me like glue.
RW
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Post by lizzy on Feb 23, 2006 9:14:15 GMT -8
I have 2 boys and 8 females and I don't really prefer one over the other. I find that the females are more boisterous and can be less friendly, whilst the boys slightly calmer. I definitely think that males are lazier and the females are bouncing around as soon as they wake up Large groups of females are more likely to declan than males, but it is still very much of a possibility and a risk with males. It depends how many you want - if you want a group (3 or more) then perhaps males would be better but it doesn't rule out the fact that they may fight. |
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Post by gerby on Mar 1, 2006 10:04:49 GMT -8
Hi,
Sorry, this might sound stupid...but what does 'declan' mean? -_-"
gerby xx
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Post by doomgerbiluk on Mar 1, 2006 10:07:39 GMT -8
a clan or colony is a group of gerbils living together. This can number 2 upwards.
When a clan fights seriously so that they have to be seperated it means the social bonds have broken down within that clan and it is no longer viable, this is 'declanning'.
and actually it is a very important question so thankyou for remindign us that not all visitors will necessarily understand the terms we use.
No question is too stupid or simple to ask on a forum.
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We were initially going to get females, but lately I've been hearing so many wonderful things about boys. I love how boys are more cuddlebugs, but I also like how girls are more playful (in general, of course). I'm also a bit worried about females declanning, I'm not too keen on the idea of having to separate them all the time 
What us your favorite gender? Can anyone give any suggestions on what I should get?
It was then that I discovered boy Gerbils! 
After that I have always prefered to keep males, I guess it's just personal choice, I can't really say why I prefer them to females? I suppose their characters are different in the sense girls seem very 'hyper' whereas males are more laid back 
I now have 6 boys and 6 girls as I bred a pair for the first time last year. I find the boys will do anything to see me, get on my hand etc whereas the girls would like nothing better if I left them alone and they can run off round the house, they are also A LOT more confident! 
... I had actually forgotten how females behavioured as I hadn't kept them for many years. Another thing I notice between my males and females is that the females will get straight out of bed if they hear you in their tank, whereas I think I could drop a saucepan in the boys tank and they still wouldn't wake up! 
