They are fighting!

[Simira]

I have three gerbils -
Felix 2 years old, and Fivel and Phantom who is almost a year now. They have never fought before (other than playing), but for some reason they have don it now. A friend looked after them while I have been a few days away, and today she noticed the oldest one, Felix, have gotten a few scratches on his nose and right by his eye. It appears that he is fighting with the other two (he seems to bethe aggressive one). The brown one of the youngest, Fivel, also have a lot of scratches, mostly on the lower back and around the tail.

May it bebecause Felix is getting older, and needs/wants more space, or quiet? Does anyone have any other ideas why they are fighting?
They have enough space, fresh water, food, sand to bathe in, hay, and everything they are used to. And a lot of blood on the walls in the aquarium I use for them....

[whitmoregirl]

The younger two or most likely, one of the younger two, is trying his luck at becoming dominant. Felix is probably dominant at the moment, being the oldest, and either Fivel or Phantom is having a go.
Best thing is to split the boys - the aggressor will need removing.

[Simira]

That is one of the things I expected. The strange thing is that it seems like he's been fighting Fivel, which is a month younger and smaller than Phantom. But he might be more ambisious, then.
Thanks for your advice, I will try to put Felix with a younger boy I keep alone for now. If it doesn't work, he will be alone, but I guess he's all right as long as I take good care of him.

[Simira]

Strange thing.
Now, a few days later, the two youngest also started to fight.
Phantom, the black one, had a few quarrels with Felix through the netting-part of the wall I put in to separate them (Even though Fivel bears the mark of being the one fighting with Felix the last time).
Yesterday morning, Phantom and Fivel fought seriously and more blood was made. I separated them as well. Now I suddenly have three gerbils where none of them accepts each other.
The only reason I can think of, is the space. They have a 80cm x 40cm x 40cm terrarium/aquaruim, and I thought that should be enough. They have lived there in peace for a year soon. Pic: tellus.err.no/gallery/cats/IMG_0348

[Kara]

I am not an expert, but as far as I have heard, gerbils are better off if they are all the same age, especially when the animals are male. It is also recommended that only two are kept together at the same time.

[doomgerbiluk]

Age, at least with males, shouldn't be a problem once a colony is established, EXCEPT where a young adult challenges the staus quo or a dominant male succumbs to illness/age.
Also it is always easier to introduce an immature gerbil than an adult.
Sexes should only be mixed in breeding pairs OR if the male has been neutered. (Yes I know soem people breed in threesomes and colonies but as a general rule pairs are safest and most successful).