Gerbil Fight - Wounds

[bam330]

I have a split cage for my 2 females and 2 males.
The males found their way over the top of the split and under the cover.
They've done this before, but I started putting a weight on top the cage so they couldn't cross. I forgot to put it back on after feeding last night.

This morning I found my senior male, Bam, with a nice wound under his eye, and another on his top right hand lip area.





They look like they were bleeding (obviously), but are dry now.

Should I use a q-tip and water and try to clean them? Apply something else too--or just leave them alone? They don't seem to be bothering him. I'm keeping him by me today.

My other male is fine. I think because the females were his mother and sister.

[esztershine]

1st question i have is do you have a split cage with 2 males on one side and females on the other side? it is not so clear from your post.
years ago i had a gerbil from day to another with very similar bites. i thought he injured himself. it did not even cross my mind they could have been fighting
anyway i used camomile tea bag, that i soaked in hot water, let it cool and dab the affected area. it did wonders.
how long have they been in a split for?

[bam330]

Yes I do.
They've never picked at each other, and have been split for 5-6 months now. Really just mind their own business.

I have Bam and his son Wham on the right, and Sham and her daughter Cam on the left. (Cam and Wham are Bam and Shams pups)

I saw it was Sham going after Bam.

I'll try the tea bag. Thanks.

[esztershine]

hhhhmmmm..... not good. they may be related and they were a family once but now they seem to be established individual clans, living next door to each other. I think it is a very bad idea keeping them like that. Now the fights have started, god knows what will happen next. The girls may get agitated and go for each other and the boys may do likewise
I am not an expert but by heart i would not do it, sorry. Also if they fought then it is a sign they cannot tolerate each other's presence.
I hope someone will give you a proper advice on this

[The Gerbils]

I think the gerbils are gonna get stressed seeing each other now

[bam330]

They were able to fight because the males got over the split. With a weight on they're not able to do that.
They don't fight on their own sides.
Maybe I should get a solid split wall, or put another layer of the fencing in.

I have them as a split to not have to have another aquarium. (No where to put it) I wasn't expecting pups as sham was suppose to be a male. I rehomed 2, lost 2 to unknown illness, and was going to keep the last two females together.

Though, now I'm wondering if I should see about finding Sham and Cam homes.
I don't like doing that. I love my pets to death and we live by a very strict 'pets are family until they die' thing in our home.

It looks like Wham is trying to groom Bam's wounds. Should I stop him from that?

[esztershine]

probably Wham is licking it for Bam so i would let them.
I only said what i would do, but am sure some people will give you better advice
you dont have to rehome them, but i would try to find a way to separate them, in case you forget to put the weight back on the tank topper/lid

[bam330]

I'm going to put a sticky note on the tank with a picture of the weight on it. LOL I won't forget again.
I'm going to watch and see if they get bothered seeing each other. Everyone is either munching or sleeping now.

Will also see about a solid wood wall for the middle. that way they can't even see each other.

[MoonstoneGerbils]

Why are they in a split to begin with? It would just be simpler to but them into two separate cages. Especially if the are splitting a 10 gallon tank.

Buy a second cage.

[bam330]

I already covered why.
They're splitting a 20g long.