they've started fighting

[emma890]

I've had three gerbils for just over a year (brothers), and they've been pefect pets. But today I noticed that two were fighting, they were covered with blood. So I've put one in a seperate cage. Why were they fighting? Will it ever be possible to put them together in one cage?
emma

[whitmoregirl]

Sounds like someone had a go at being the dominant gerbil.
Chances are once blood is spilt putting them back together may have higher risks of more injury or death

[emma890]

Thats sad that they won't be able to be put together. Do you have any advice on how to get my gerbil a friend, is it possible to add him another male gerbil because i dont want any babyies, because my mum would kill me.

[radek]

I don't think so. Gerbils are very teritorial. They live in family groups so young gerbils accept other gerbils more easily, and if they remember them from baby age, they should be (not always, as this accident show) good friends for whole life. Adults are more agressive. I think it's too late to find him a friend. I read that it's probadly possible, but you'll have to use strange methods like divided cage or perfume (gerbils recognise others by smell, strangely smell gerbill can be not found as enemy). But I didn't used that methods, my pair was introduced in age of 7 weeks and immediately accepted each other.

[reallybes]

I disagree, I think it is absolutely possible to try and pair your lone gerbil up with another. Use the split-cage method - click here. You might want to find a younger gerbil since younger gerbils are easier to accept than adults. Good luck.

[emma890]

Thanks for your advice, I think I'll try the split-cage method.