Post by heatherm on May 22, 2012 2:34:09 GMT -8
Hi everyone! I'm in need of some quick advice.
A couple days ago I bought 3 gerbils from a pet store. I had planned to just get 2, but they only had 3 left and I really didn't want to leave one alone, and I was told they were all the same sex. I'm sure you can figure out the problem here, and it's completely my fault for not checking for myself.
Of course, one gerbil is looking to have some boy parts, and the other 2 look female. As far as I can tell there hasn't been any breeding yet, I think they're still too young (about 2 months old, or so the pet store says).
I'm just a little unsure about the best route to take at this moment. I've been looking at all the pet store around to see if they have another male I can separate the one male with, but every pet store is out of gerbils.
Do I separate the male now, and leave him by himself, hoping to eventually find another male? From what I've read I still have a little time before I absolutely have to separate them to avoid breeding. Or is it better to keep him with the females? Although I've never bred before, I have been reading about it extensively and am confident I could commit the time, care, and space should it end up happening, and would be able to find them loving homes.
I'm fully aware that if I don't separate them and breeding happens, there's a good chance I would end up having to separate them all anyway, especially with 2 females. I know that separating them now and continuing to try and find another male would be easier for me in the end, but what's best for the gerbils? Could the one male be okay by himself if I couldn't find him a buddy?
Any advice is welcome, and thank you SO MUCH for any that you have to offer!
A couple days ago I bought 3 gerbils from a pet store. I had planned to just get 2, but they only had 3 left and I really didn't want to leave one alone, and I was told they were all the same sex. I'm sure you can figure out the problem here, and it's completely my fault for not checking for myself.
Of course, one gerbil is looking to have some boy parts, and the other 2 look female. As far as I can tell there hasn't been any breeding yet, I think they're still too young (about 2 months old, or so the pet store says).
I'm just a little unsure about the best route to take at this moment. I've been looking at all the pet store around to see if they have another male I can separate the one male with, but every pet store is out of gerbils.
Do I separate the male now, and leave him by himself, hoping to eventually find another male? From what I've read I still have a little time before I absolutely have to separate them to avoid breeding. Or is it better to keep him with the females? Although I've never bred before, I have been reading about it extensively and am confident I could commit the time, care, and space should it end up happening, and would be able to find them loving homes.
I'm fully aware that if I don't separate them and breeding happens, there's a good chance I would end up having to separate them all anyway, especially with 2 females. I know that separating them now and continuing to try and find another male would be easier for me in the end, but what's best for the gerbils? Could the one male be okay by himself if I couldn't find him a buddy?
Any advice is welcome, and thank you SO MUCH for any that you have to offer!
