"I'd like a friend" - Female Pup wanted

[Nippit]

Hello all,

We have eight happy gerbils, all but one living as a pair/group. The eighth member of our clan, Nipper, unfortunately lost her friend sometime ago and didn't take to the two female pups we tried to pair with her a couple of months ago. We are eager to find a lone female pup, preferably lilac or dove, or nutmeg/agouti/black spotted.

We'd rather travel to a breeder or someone on this forum, than go to a pet shop, as we can be sure of health and know more of the pups background.

If anyone can help us out, that would be great and Nipper would be much happier if all goes well

On another note, our previous introductions have been done in a 20 gallon (UK) splitcage. Right now, this tank is currently in use so we don't really want to shuffle any more Gerbils around while introducing Nipper to her new playmate. Would the plastic 'tank' section of a 'Pets at Home Gerbilarium' (http://www.petsathome.com/shop/gerbilarium-by-pets-at-home-15962) be too small to carry out an introduction? By our calculations, its around 8.5 Gallons (UK), so for the time during the introduction each Gerbil would have a little over 4 gallons to live in. I know that's very small, but I have heard that the smaller the tank the more successful the intro' is likely to be. Once they're happy together, we'll be upgrading them to a new homemade 21 gallon tank with 11 gallon topper.

Many thanks,
Kate & Sam,

[sparky]

There is a gerbil breeder in Weston-Super-Mere that advertises on Preloved. I've not met her or had any gerbils from her but we did swap a few emails a while back when I was thinking about getting some pups.

This is her advert.

www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/103350647/baby-gerbils-hobby-breeder.html

I would say that the gerbilarium base is too small. I know my gerbils would hate being in such a tiny space. With the volume calculator that I use it works out as 7.4 US gallons or 6.16 UK gallons (using 19 x 9 x 10 inches which is what mine measures)

www.aquaticcommunity.com/converter/volume-calculator.php

[Nippit]

Thank you for the information Sparky, its a fair trek from us (about an hour & a quater) but I'm sure there's no harm in sending an email

Hmm I must have been asleep when I did our calculations.. Or got US & UK gallons mixed up!! But yes, 3 gallons each is on the small side. Will have to give it more thought again..

[sparky]

It's worth looking on Preloved for other adverts too as you might find someone closer.

I hope you are able to get her a friend.