Just One Gerbil

[Jacky]

Is it okay to keep just one gerbil? I didn't realize until after I had gotten my little Jacky that I needed to have two, and by that time my mom had already bought the one. She said no to getting another one. I'm thinking that if I absolutely can't stand seeing Jacky sleeping all day and all night because she has no one else but me to play with, I'll somehow manage to get another on the sly, but first I want to know if it is an absolute no-no to keep just one.

(Tee hee. They're like Lays potato chips; you can't have just one.

[atreyu]

I suggest you to get another one. If you keep them in pair, they will be more happy, they become lively and I think they are much frendlier. It's ok, if you play with them a lot, but it's not really the same, as the gerb play with another gerb.
I have a gerbil, who lives alone, and she is sad and bored. But I can't keep her with another girl, 'cause I saved her from a pet shop where she lived for 2 years. I think she won't accept another gerb.
Anyway, I suggest to keep only in pairs.

[Jacky]

Thanks for advice. I'm going to try to get another one...after getting a tank, that is.

Have you tried introducing her to another gerbil? I've read on a bunch of sites that, even though it's not always a sure thing, an older gerbil can accept another.

[rachel24]

Yes it is possible to introduce gerbils to other gerbils.

You need to get a same sex gerbil (unless you want to breed) who is younger than jacky and do a split cage intro.

There are lots of threads in this secting on people who have done a split cage intro and what you need to do.

However, it can sometimes be a bit trickier to intoduce females to each other, but don't let this put you off, as with introducing any animal to each other and their personalities they will either get on or they won't.

The positive's are really worthwhile, you will have a very happy Jacky who will have a friend to play with, cuddle up to and play with.

hope this helps. Good luck

[atreyu]

Jacky,
I tired to introduce my old girl, Röntgen with 3 females. But the females were agressive and I give up. Maybe the problem was that: a group adopt harder another gerb. I'll try again later with another female gerb.

[Jacky]

Good luck with that, atreyu. Yes, I've heard that it's a bad idea to introduce one gerbil to a group since groups are so close.

I'm so excited! My mom said that if I can pay for it, I can get another gerbil. Granted, that means that if I want to get the gerbil that I want (the one that used to be with Jacky at PetCo; I have to save her from being all alone there), I have to get a job fast. I figured out that at minimum wage ($6.50 and hour), I'd have to work five hours a day for about nine days before I could get the tank, gerbil, etc.

[britt2667]

Well...I have two lone gerbils and they are very happy I just give them lots of attention and toys...and they are very friendly and playful.
I think it's possible to have one happy gerbil.

[Jacky]

I'm glad your two are happy. It makes me feel a little better about Jacky for the time being. I'm going to have to start a split-cage intro soon; my mom bought me Jacky's old cagemate. I think she's a lilac, but I don't know. She has red eyes, and I'd swear that someone picked her up by her tail a while ago; the end of her tail is broken off. It healed up, but the assistant at PetCo picked her up by her tail when my mom got her before my mom could stop her! I named her Valor, and she's still getting settled in, but I think she'll be way happier now. She was all alone at PetCo.