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Post by AndreaS15 on Mar 16, 2006 19:41:17 GMT -8
Well I'm a bit disapointed. I worked for two months to get Dakota and Chevy to bond through the split cage. We played every week on the lid together, they smelt each other but sometimes would ball but no one ever got bit (but me once  ) This past weekend i decided to let the boys run around the living room together, it had been just over 2 months they had been split caged. After a little while Dakota attacked his father and bit his paw  So after that I clean out the split tank and put Chevy and is other some Jimmy in the split tank. Jimmy had shown a bit of aggression to the divider when i first put him in but that's about it, well untill today when i had Chevy on my sholder and leg Jimmy "smell" him as i held him. Jimmy tryed to attack him right away though couldn't b/c i was holding him.. so he bit me instead LOL (no biggy didn't break the skin). I have such luck with females and introductions and keeping larger groups, but no luck with males. I'm going to try Jimmy & Chevy for up to two months again, if this dosn't work out I have 1 more lone male I will try. Chevy is over 2 years old now, and he's a badly bred pet store gerbil. I don't really want to get him a pup as a friend b/c then I will end up with the same deal later on when he passes away. I almost want to give up with this split cage intro stuff, but i have such hopes these boys can/will get along and become best of friends. Heres a Pick of the 'bully' Dakota -  Heres the old man Chevy -  |
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Mud Pony
Member
We can only be, what we give ourselves the power to be!
Posts: 284
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Post by Mud Pony on Mar 16, 2006 19:56:12 GMT -8
Poor you! And Poor Chevy! Now see unlike you I have more luck with males than females LOL I can't really give you any adivice cuz I have never had a split cage not work  ... i just dont get it  |
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Post by lizkiss2010 on Mar 17, 2006 11:45:47 GMT -8
i'm sorry to hear about your gerbils fighting. i've had a successful split cage with females, but this is my first time with males.
i've been splitcaging my male gerbils yoshi and axel for a week now. And, today, one of them finally chewed their way into the other side. and i just got home and found out they had a fight! they're both bloody, but seem to be okay. one of them got out and they've been leaving each other alone.
what can i do? should i continue the introductions?? or is it just not going to work since they bit each other?
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Post by AndreaS15 on Mar 17, 2006 19:42:44 GMT -8
Usually once blood is shed with a big fight, there's not a good chance they will ever bond.
Sounds like we're both having issues with boys.
While Dakota & Chevy used to sleep beside one another against the divider, jimmy won't. So I don't know what to do, I mean I need to give it time, But Chevy is loney, everytime I put him back in his tanks he runs around squeeking and lookging for another gerbils (I'm guessing his brother). It's so depressing.
I may Just have to get him a pair of pups to live with.... guess i may be calling Sandy.....
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Post by AndreaS15 on Mar 24, 2006 9:25:20 GMT -8
;D ;D ;D ;D Jimmy Moved his Nest! Jimmy Moved his nest! I just went in to check on the gerbils, and what do I see, Jimmy Moved his nest and is now sleeping right beside his Dad at the divider!  Great news except I allready planned on picking up to pups tonight for Chevy to live with.... what to do, what to do. I planned on cleaning out that tank today to palce the two pups in the one side... should i hold off? Ack, what to do! |
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Post by musparva on Mar 24, 2006 20:43:57 GMT -8
Glad to hear that. But still I'd be cautious and then wait a bit before picking up pups  |
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Post by AndreaS15 on Mar 24, 2006 21:34:01 GMT -8
I will decide Monday now whether or not to pick up the two male pups.
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Post by musparva on Mar 25, 2006 5:53:49 GMT -8
I don't understand why are you so eager to keep males together. Not to tempt fate I prefer not to settle them together.  |
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Post by AndreaS15 on Mar 25, 2006 8:12:46 GMT -8
I don't understand why are you so eager to keep males together. Not to tempt fate I prefer not to settle them together. Because gerbils are social animals and live happier in groups. If I end up with a 'loner' gerbil, which i have one female who is, then i do not try an find them a partner but let them live their lives alone. But for the others who's cage mate has died, and are stressed and lonley i will try my hardest to find them a perfect match. Even if it takes some time. Split caging young pup(s) to an older gerbil is much easier then split caging adults, but both can be done. Males are also suposably (not in my case it seems) much easier to re-intro then females, so why wouldn't someone intro them if we know gerbils live happier lives with a friend? |
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Post by musparva on Mar 25, 2006 19:07:21 GMT -8
Just it has always seemed to me that females are easier to "re-intro" (as you say it). That's just probably MY case. I don't think it's good for them to live alone either. Just a bit surpised...
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Post by RitzieAnn on Mar 26, 2006 23:52:15 GMT -8
Where are you getting your boy pups from? Sandy??? Err.... I have some. Some girl aparently flaked out on me! Also, after a while in splits, try a smaller one. I know it's not fun, but i have a 10 gallon, and I've had much luck with them in that. One pair That last time I posted about my girls fighting, it was just because they needed some alone time.... I put up a 3 way split in a 10 gallon. ((** PLEASE, nobody dwell on that.... they all got time every day outside of the cage, and it was all I had, and it kept the clan together, and now they're happy. They were in it for less than 7 days.**)) Ok, but try that. Sometimes I've noticed that if they're forced to be just a bit closer, then they'll take more interest. Also, my split intros, I make as boring as possible so that they interact. One piece of cardboard at a time, no wheel, and on digging depth, just 2 inches or so for 'scooting' around. I've never had to split more than a month. It could just be my subjects.... but I'd try that. Even Sandy told me once that once they don't try to kill each other through the divider, she puts them in a smaller one, and she gets her pairs clanned up pretty fast! (she had Tris for what, 3 months? he had 5 wives! Even her same sex pairs seem to get together pretty quick.)! My advice....  Try it! |
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Post by sandy on Mar 30, 2006 13:48:40 GMT -8
I've seen lots of gerbils that bit hard and shed blood make up and live happily together. How's that split going, by the way?
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Post by AndreaS15 on Mar 30, 2006 13:59:53 GMT -8
I've seen lots of gerbils that bit hard and shed blood make up and live happily together. How's that split going, by the way? I switched things around yesterday. I put the two girls in my 50G split tank, and took the two older boys (Chevy & Jimmy) into the 20g one the girls were in. they are not sleeping beside one another, but show no aggression. So hopefully that is a good thing. Same with the girls, they are not sleeping beside one another, and so far no more aggression. When the boys have bonded (i'm thinking so positive LOL), then i will try the girls back in their again. And once i clean up the 40G tank and ryan builds me a new split for it i will put Peej & Dakota back into it and see how things go. Here's a heartbreaker.... Chevy still squeeks when i place him back in the tank, and even when he has playtime in the living room. I squeek back and forth with him, if i give him kisses the little bugger nibbles at my lip (ouch)... silly little guy. |
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Post by sandy on Mar 30, 2006 17:42:26 GMT -8
aaaawwwww!
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)
... i just dont get it 
Try it!
