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Post by mandabee07 on Jun 24, 2020 16:13:18 GMT -8
We adopted a male gerbil about a month ago and is probably 4-5 months old. We bought a younger male gerbil a few days ago. We are doing the split cage method with a Plexiglas divider. I drilled some holes in the Plexiglas so they can smell each other. Is this an ok divider to use or should I get something with chicken wire? I try to switch them a few times a day. They are both now trying to digging around the divider. Is that a good sign? They don’t sleep next to one another but today they slept in each other’s nest. I took out the wheels and only have a cardboard house for each side. I gave them both a willow ball to chew on. Should I put things to occupy them while we are doing the split cage or will that just distract them for getting to know one another? Any tips on introducing two males gerbils would be helpful. The older was alone at the pet store and very skittish. Just started getting used to us prior to buying the new gerbil. Still doesn’t want to be held. The new gerbil is young and has no problem being handled. Has been very chill until today where he is trying to get thru the divider. Yesterday he was not interested in the divider at all.
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Post by monkeygerbils on Jun 24, 2020 23:26:56 GMT -8
Plexiglass is fine but when they start getting more used to each other chicken wire or something like that would be better so they can communicate a bit better. I suppose you are already switching bedding and toys. And you don't want to put much enrichment in because they will get bored and focus on the other gerbils. Maybe switch them into each other's sides so they can sniff around and explore.
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Post by mandabee07 on Jun 27, 2020 8:00:22 GMT -8
The older one is actively trying to get thru the divider but the younger one on the other side tries to stay as far away from the divider as possible. Does the younger one feel threatened? It’s day five of being divided. I don’t know if it’s going well at all.
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Post by betty on Jun 29, 2020 6:48:09 GMT -8
Hey mandabee07 - how is it going? If you are using the plexiglass still this may be the issue? What else is happening in the set-up - how big is each side, how often are you swapping and what is in each side as these factors can make a difference too. It could just be that the older one is just wanting more space and the younger one is rather aloof - it might not be anything serious, but we need to make sure you are doing the split intro the best way so that when you DO go to intro, you have given them the best chance to be friends. It may be that if all the above is going well, that you may need to distract the older one with something to chew temporarily every day so that the younger one has the chance to just watch them chewing rather than always feeling the focus of their attention. Do update us when you have the chance. |
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