Having 2 sets of gerbils in the same home

[porphyrogenita]

Hi everyone.

Me and my partner have had a couple of female gerbils since last September and were thinking of getting 2 males - not to breed or mix or anything - we just want to have another two gerbils.

Before we do it, we are researching about whether this would have any negative effects on our existing pair e.g. would they be stressed, frightened etc? Would having males in the house effect them when they are in heat?

So we wanted to ask if it is an issue having 2 separate sets of gerbils in a house and is different genders a problem? In particular, we have a run set up where our existing pair can get some exercise - would it matter if both sets used the same run (obviously not at the same time, but would it bother them that there was the smell of other gerbils who had been there?)

Thanks in advance for all your help and advice!

[sandybadlands]

I would say it's not a problem as long as they're not running around on the same surfaces. I house my tanks next to each other without issues, but I put down different sheets/blankets for each pair when I take them out for playtime so they can't smell each other's scents. Some of my gerbs have gotten close to fighting when I'm not careful about keeping them on their own blankets (especially the girls), so I gotta be careful.

And definitely wash your hands in between handling the different pairs too, so they don't get mixed up by the smell of other gerbs.

[betty]

Yep porphyrogenita - in the same rooms they are usually totally fine - you just need to find out their threshold for 'sharing' with other scents.

I used to use a shared run for most of my gerbils but would have to put the gerbils in there in only a certain order depending on who they were - and sometimes only one of a pair even - as both of them in the run would cause a fight (?).

Otherwise, absolutely what has been said - seperate surfaces inside the run should reduce inter-clan squabbling.

I'm not sure if males before females or vice versa would be best - I suppose it depends on the pairs?

[porphyrogenita]

Thanks so much for the advice, really helpful!