Dead Gerbil and a Lonely Gerbil

[Alex]

I just found that one of my two gerbils, Speedy, was dead. My other gerbil, Buddy, is all alone now and is very lonely. They are female and about one year old. I do not know if I should get a new gerbil for her. Or should i get a new PAIR of gerbils and hope that all three of them will get along. I am not sure if I should risk getting a new gerbil for her to be with because they might fight. If I should get a companion, how should I go about getting them to get along? Thanks.

P.S. Is is normal for a female gerbil to die at the age of one year? She was a bit over-weight, but she was very active.

[j]

If your female has always been really tame and sweet and on the submissive side, you could go with a pair. But only if they're young pups, about 5-6 weeks. (Breeders are more likely to have them at this age) T safest thing to do is just go with 1. The only thing is when the one you have now dies, you'll be in the same position you're in now. Gerbils hate being alone so its a neverending cycle.

Not really normal to die a 1 yrold unless she got sick or something was wrong with her.

The easiest way to add a new gerbil is to go with a pup from about 6-8 weeks. Most petshops get new gerbils about this age so it shouldn't be too hard to find them.
Go here to see how to sex them:
www.gerbilbreeding.com/sexing.htm

If its a pup, you should be able to just plop it in with the other. You just have to watch them for a bit. If the older one starts grooming the other and they sleep together, they'll be fine. If its a little older..8-10 weeks... You'll probably have to introduce them by the splitcage:
home.studenten.net/~petermaas/gerbils/introducing.htm

[Jenni]

Alex, I am so sorry. I have just gone through the same experience. My gerbil is a male, and he's been doing pretty well without his brother, but it make be different in your case. I would wait a couple days, then maybe buy two more babies. The females are the dominant gender of the species, so I would be really careful and use the split-cage method (check out more about split-caging in this website).

Hope I helped. Again, I am tremendously sorry about your gerbil.

[minnesota2121]

What would be the advantage of buying two more gerbils instead of just one? I was thinking that two of the three would gang up on the other one. If I should get two, why is that better?
-Alex

[doomgerbiluk]

Advantage: when the older gerbbil dies the younger is not alone
Disadvantage: when the older gerbil weakens with age a dominance battle is more likely
you pays ur money and takes ur choice

[minnesota2121]

But my gerbil is anly one year old. It is unlikely that she will die a whole lot earlier than another gerbil that is younger. It might be possible for her to even outlive the younger one. I am just not sure if it is worth getting two more, instead of just one.

Also, how many gerbils can live comfortably in a ten gallon tank?

[callimico]

Only 2 can live comfy in a 10 gal, with out of the tank time. Getting one more female would make the intro easier, but it's always tricky with females. If you want to get her a companion better get one sooner rather then later, or it'll just get harder. If the intro doesn't work with the female though, you'll be stuck with two on their own. I'd buy a young female (like J said, 5-6 weeks old) and try the split cage intro after everything in the tanks been cleaned good, so no one will claim the territory as their own.
Good luck

[j]

If you've never had trios before and aren't comfortable with it, then yeah just go with 1 to be safer. There aren't really any advantages or disadvantages with it other than if 1 dies, you still have 2 left and don't have to intro another one for a while.

2 could gang up on 1, but then again there can also be 1 on 1 fights. Whenver I've done it, the older one always dominated the younger ones.. But its not guaranteed to happen in every clan. So yeah, just go with 1 other gerbil. It's easier.

And again, go for a pup. Unless you have an agressive gerbil, they're highly unlikely to fight because pups haven't hit sexual maturity yet..so they don't really have a scent to them.. so nothing to fight over.

[minnesota2121]

Thanks. I think I'll go with two because my gerbil is very calm and passive. I'll try the split cage also.

[dpfoib]

Hi - and sorry about your gerbil...We are going through the same problem at the moment. One of our two (Hobbs) died on Christmas night and we are about to buy his surviving partner (Calvin) two male pups. We have had to wait as all the shops were closed because of the hols. We are due to pick two out on Wednesday and, as of yet I'm not exactly sure what to do about the cage. We have two largish tank type cages, joined by tubes. It is probably going to prove difficult to split them, and so I might have to buy a new one. The problem of the two youngsters ganging up on Calvin later on has only just occurred to me after reading some of your messages...mmm not easy is it?Anyway good luck, and keep us posted!

[minnesota2121]

dpfoib-
I have a tank so splitting it up was no problem. If you don't have one i would definately recommend it. It was only $9.98 US. I don't know where you live but in the US wal mart has them cheap! I am currently doing the split cage thing and, so far, it is working. I think I will be able to put them together soon! So get a tank, you'll be glad you did.

[dpfoib]

Hi - how is the split cage going with your new pups? How old were they when you got them, and how long had your older gerbil been alone. I have had trouble tracking down young pups, and today was refused a sale at Pets At Home when she heard what I planned to do...she had never heard of keeping older gerbils with pups, and had no idea of the split cage method!!! Two pet shops have been a bit 'funny' about introducing them, though the first one said come back when her newborns were older. I am really unsure, and am scared that one or more will end up dead!

[minnesota2121]

The split cage went very well. I was able to put them together after only three days and they became good buds! I am not exactly sure how old they were when I got them, but I am guessing about 6-8 weeks. My older gerbil, who is about one year old, was only alone for about a week. I would suggest getting your gerbils as soon as possible. Hope you find some pups soon! Also, were you able to find a tank? Keep us posted.

[minnesota2121]

;D