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Post by panthershadow83 on Dec 22, 2004 21:29:17 GMT -8
Which is better to keep, a pair of males or a pair of females?
The main thing I'm looking for is the pair not to fight. Do either sex have a tendancy to foght more than the other??
Thanks in advance!! ;D
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Post by doomgerbiluk on Dec 23, 2004 0:54:32 GMT -8
a pair of males
Females will fight to the death when the dominant one becomes weakened. In the wild only the dominant female breeds so there is good reason for this.
Male colonies rarely declan as dominance seems to be less of an issue for them.
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Post by panthershadow83 on Dec 23, 2004 7:56:29 GMT -8
OK, and if they fight, am I still allowed to use the split cage method on my aquarium? It's 30 gallons, so each gerbil will have 15 gallons.
What do you usually use to put between the two gerbils??
Sorry, I just want to be prepared for anything!! ;D
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Post by tasha on Dec 23, 2004 11:46:23 GMT -8
I may be wrong (but boy, i hope i'm not!) -- but aren't female pairs just as easy to keep together as male pairs as long as they are from the same litter? This is what i was told from the breeder. I have 3 sisters and they get along wonderfully together. They do seem to be a bit more 'energetic' than the male pair that my sister has, but they jump up onto my hand/arm as soon as i approach the tank and are very friendly.
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Post by panthershadow83 on Dec 23, 2004 13:46:19 GMT -8
What do you usually put in the middle of the tank to divide them if they start to fight?
Also, what's are some ways to tell play fighting from regular fighting??
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Post by annie on Dec 23, 2004 15:19:30 GMT -8
I have had females in the past and didn't know then what I know now, which is that males get along better than females. I have in the past kept many females, all two or three in an aqarium and no problems unless one would lose a companion, and then I would use the split cage method and never had an older female that I could not pair up with another older female. I have since learned through this site that males are easier to keep than females and have 5 baby boys in a 30 gallon aqarium. All is well so far, and I will post here if i have any problems. Have only had them for 2 weeks.
I used to top to a 10 gallon aqarium to separate them. You have to make sure though that there is no way for them to go under, over or around, or they will probably fight unless they have been in with the seperator for a few days. I sometimes would get up in the morning to find the two sleeping together after getting through to each other overnight. What a sigh of relief when you see them peacefully sleeping. My top I might add was homemade with a wood frame and quarter inch wire which is much sturdier than the ones that pet stores sell.
You can also build a little wire cage to put one of them in and just set it in the other ones cage.
In any case, switch the gerbils around to each other space so that they get each others scent.
Hope this helps and let us know how it goes.
Good Luck!
Annie
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Post by annie on Dec 23, 2004 15:27:09 GMT -8
I also suggest that you try to purchase two gerbils (either sex) at the same time that are already housed together.
If they are not purchased from the same cage, unless they are very young, I would use the seperator method until they get used to each other and do not want to fight. Sometimes this may only take from a few hours to a week. That is just my experience with this subject.
When I first got my males, I got 3 from one pet store and 2 from another pet store. I brought them home and used the separator for only about 20 minutes before letting them mingle. Had no problems at all in the first 15-20 minutes while they scurried around, checking out their surroundings, then one of the 3 began picking on the 2 from the other store. Put just him back on one side by himself, and by the same evening he was behaving himself. So far so good.
Annie
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Post by doomgerbiluk on Dec 23, 2004 16:08:31 GMT -8
In the wild a colony of gerbils will have one dominant female
Only she breeds. She therefore must be fit and healthy
so when she ages another takes her place. Of course this also happens in our colonies. If the dominant female becomes weaker than her cagemates they will fight her for her position, But in the confined space she cannot get away and the fights can be very nasty, even fatal.
Any colony may declan, it is not common but it is more comon with girls due to this dominance issue. If you have a happy girl clan don't worry about it , but do be aware that a clan that violently declans will ahve to be divided into smaller clans.
as yours are siblings such power shifts are less likely as they are alla round the same age, with gerbils of different ages the risk greater.
For this reason I do advise people that boys are better 1st gerbils.
Hope this helps
My apologies if I panicked anyone
the post was written in a hurry and I didnt realise how bad it sounded. Not all (or even most) girl colonies declan. It is just a higher risk than with boys.
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Post by tasha on Dec 23, 2004 16:50:45 GMT -8
Phew!  |
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simcoe
Member
Ginger & Bucky ? My girls.
Posts: 62
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Post by simcoe on Dec 23, 2004 17:51:56 GMT -8
I'm still scared!  (The idea of one of my girls being murdered by her tankmate is terrifying. I may not sleep tonight!) |
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Post by Darren on Dec 24, 2004 2:06:34 GMT -8
Taken from this actual website: "You need to keep in mind that males can be kept in groups much easier than females. Females are more aggressive to each other. If you purchase females I would recommend purchasing always two females or one female and one male. Females will start fighting very often in groups with more than two females. Males can kept in groups much easier. Both females and males are very friendly to their human owners. " Please Simcoe, sleep easy at night  |
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Post by 1cakelady on Dec 25, 2004 20:48:51 GMT -8
This has been a very interesting read...I haven't brought my two little ones yet...now...I'm not sure what to get...boys or girls?! I guess it will come down to what the pet shop carries...the one Kate brought hers from only had girls! Thanks for all the advise...I shall let you know the out come. Hugs, Cathie (1cakelady...from Virginia, USA)
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Post by doomgerbiluk on Dec 26, 2004 3:54:40 GMT -8
Cakelady I think the important thing is to know what yoru letting yourslef in for.
You now know that with girls there is s higher risk of declannign and if you get girls will know about that.
Forewarned is forearmed but in all likelihood you will never see a declanning.
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Post by j on Dec 28, 2004 0:33:35 GMT -8
Go with males. Supposedly they fight less than females.
Just stay away from plastic toys and any type of tube cage... that cause problems.
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Post by j on Dec 28, 2004 0:34:36 GMT -8
This has been a very interesting read...I haven't brought my two little ones yet...now...I'm not sure what to get...boys or girls?! I guess it will come down to what the pet shop carries...the one Kate brought hers from only had girls! Thanks for all the advise...I shall let you know the out come. Hugs, Cathie (1cakelady...from Virginia, USA) Have you tried looking for a breeder? www.agsgerbils.org/virginia.html ;D |
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