|
Post by P E on Apr 8, 2010 13:10:19 GMT -8
Hello Everyone,
I've tried to register as a member, but haven't been sent an account activation.
The reason I wish to join is because I hope to ask your advise about reconciling my gerbils.
I have 3 brothers - unknown age, but fully adult.
After happily living together they suddenly fell out. One is the aggressor, one neutral, one the victim.
I removed the victim to a separate cage in order to allow his tail to heal. As I wished to reunite them once they'd had a cooling off period I kept swapping them between the two cages so that they would remember each others smells. It is not possible to build a split cage as my main tank has overlapping diagonal shelves, which means the back wall isn't clear to affix a split to.
This evening I tried to reunite them, but it was a total failure. The aggressor and victim immediately went into a death role, and the neutral one cowered in a corner.
This leaves me with a problem, as in a couple of weeks time I'm going away for a weeks holiday. My family are happy to look after one cage, but they'd be unimpressed to have two cages appear in their living room.
Short of buying a third cage, one big enough and capable of being split, is there anything I can do to effect a reconciliation?
I'd be very grateful for any ideas.
Many Thanks,
Polyethyl
|
|
|
Post by P E on Apr 9, 2010 0:19:10 GMT -8
In fact I believe my efforts last night have made things worse.
The neutral gerbil hasn't stopped cowering.
|
|
|
Post by bexpetz on Apr 9, 2010 9:33:28 GMT -8
Hmmm, well. I'm not sure what to suggest.
Maybe you should've seperated the aggressive gerbil, because he is now in danger of hurting the neutral gerbil? The neutral and the victim could've lived together and gotten on?
I also have shelved tanks, and have exactly the same problem with split-cages. Not sure what to suggest short of borrowing or buying a cage you can use for a split, or somehow adapting a wire mesh, cutting indents in one side... so it fits around the shelves. Can I just ask on a completey un-related topic, how you get a waterbottle to fit in the shelved tanks? I've had to buy wire ladders and mesh and cable ties, but I still can't effectively attach a waterbottle - let alone a wheel?
I'll have a think. If the neutral gerbil remains in this state of trauma, then you should try and put him with the victim, they could calm each other. At least, it might be better than staying with the aggressive.
Hmm, sorry I couldn't be of more help!
Becky.
|
|
|
Post by murphybuddy09 on Apr 10, 2010 3:04:45 GMT -8
By the looks of it there is no way all 3 can live together but you could try a split tank with the victim and neutral to see how they get along.
When you introduced the agressive gerbil did you use a split? If not then it will almost definately cause a fight. Split tanks are good as they can see each other and then you swap sides without a bedding change so they can learn each others scents. When all seems well you can then remove the split.
So i guess this would involve buying a new cage.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2010 13:25:39 GMT -8
If you're leaving in a couple of weeks, it might be dangerous to do a split. You would have to leave as soon as it was finished and there is a possiblility that the split still wouldn't be finished. Some of them take at least a month-although I'm not sure how much shorter it is when they have lived together before. Either way you might consider waiting to introduce them till you're back.
It's not harder to feed them in one tank than it is in two. Is there a way you can convince them? How big are they? If they are bigger than a 10 gallon you could buy one just to use while you are gone. That might convince them better than if they are in for example a 30 gallon or something.
|
|
|
Post by PE on Apr 14, 2010 1:33:03 GMT -8
The victim gerbil is miserable and lonely in his separate cage. Can anyone offer a home to him? Perhaps because they too have a lonely gerbil? He’s white. He’s fully adult, but I have no idea of his age. He has recovered entirely from having his tail bitten. But he is climbing the walls of his cage in boredom and loneliness.
I live in Herne Hill, London.
|
|
|
Post by murphybuddy09 on Apr 24, 2010 11:36:00 GMT -8
Have you found him a home? if not is there no way you could find him a freind?
|
|