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Post by milly on Aug 16, 2020 13:41:10 GMT -8
my gerbila are nearly 2 years old and have always got along without any problems. However today sapohire is chasing Ruby around the cage. Ruby is also not allowed in the bed area. Is there anything I can do to stop it? Will sapphire stop having a go at Ruby or are they at risk of declanning. The 3 are sisters.
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Post by catnut on Aug 16, 2020 13:55:04 GMT -8
i would watch for other signs like bullying and if it stops. Does it look like Ruby is scared? if she is, i'd separate them for sure before it turns to biting. I'd give them afew days to calm down and then set up a split cage.
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Post by milly on Aug 16, 2020 14:03:49 GMT -8
Thankyoy. Sapphires gone to bed now so im hoping in the morning it will be ok. Ruby definitely looks like shes not hapoy. Who would you put separate. Sapphire or Ruby. Topaz,seems to be fine with both.
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Post by milly on Aug 16, 2020 14:40:26 GMT -8
We've separated the ferbils. It looks like ruby's tail has,been bitten. Whats the chances of getting them back together and how long should I give it. Tgey are in a split cage at the moment so sapphire can see topaz and ruby but not get to her.
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Post by betty on Aug 17, 2020 2:23:54 GMT -8
I'm sorry that your girls have finally started to declan - it is one of those things.
For the safety of the gerbils, I always stick with the rule of once blood is drawn on purpose, aim to keep them apart - but some people have attempted to reunite trios, but from what I have read it isn't all that successful long term however some people have managed it without issue. Perhaps Search back on some threads on here for tips/outcomes.
If you ARE going to keep them apart, then you need to take Ruby out of contact with the other two asap so that they can settle down as a pair in peace. Having them all still in contact could most likely keep the tension up between them.
Obviously, only you can see how they are acting together, so it is up to you going forward. But do consider your time and space as well as your gerbils needs.
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Post by milly on Aug 17, 2020 6:10:19 GMT -8
Thankyou. It appears taking them out of the cage stopped the problem. I lifted the split after 30 minutes as they seemed more interested in the corners and digging. Ruby was nervous of sapohire at first but by midnight they had decided to go to sleep together. At one stage sapphire was sleeping on top of ruby. This morning they were fine and we have seen sapphire grooming Ruby which im hoping is a good sign. Is it likely it won't last then?I'm giving them a day in the smaller cage before returning them to their larger one. Will it help to clean it out or woukd that make things worse? I didn't expect this so anything will help. Ill look back on the older feeds,too incase I can get any information there. Ive only done a split cage to introduce gerbils once. That was a adult whose mare had died and two young gerbils. Looking back on it it wasn't that successful as Lucy didn't like one of the babies at all and kept chasing her. So any information woukd be helpful.
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Post by Markpd on Aug 17, 2020 11:34:23 GMT -8
Cleaning cages out in itself can cause issues between Gerbils, so I don't think it would be a good idea to clean it out atm.
To my limited knowledge it seems risky to have them back together again, I hope you're keeping a razor sharp eye on them and not going out for a while (how long I don't know, you'd have to ask the others).
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Post by milly on Aug 17, 2020 12:01:09 GMT -8
I hadnt thought of that it seemed a good idea yesterday as there had never been a sign of any problems with them and they are almost 2 so I thought it might be ok.They are being watched all day at the moment as its school holidays. Plus my son has them in his bedroom at night. Can anyone give me an idea of how long they need to be watched. At the moment Ruby is being groomed by Topaz and just before that was,asleep on top of sapphire and next to Topaz.
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Pim
Member
Posts: 346
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Post by Pim on Aug 17, 2020 14:27:11 GMT -8
If there is no sign of aggression for 48 hours they should be ok. otherwise put them back into the split
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Post by betty on Aug 18, 2020 3:02:45 GMT -8
Unfortunately there never is any sign of a declan until there is a declan! When you read back through the past threads you will see that is a common statement made throughout.
Hopefully your spat was just related to a heat pattern perhaps - in which case it may be fine after their cooling down period, but it isn't a matter of just watching them for now - all gerbil clans need to be 'watched' for certain signs throughout their time together - so it is ongoing - especially in a female trio.
So, make sure you scatter feed and have more than one water source (one of which always on the main 'ground level' of the enclosure) - and that your main sleeping nest has more than one entrance/exit and isn't somewhere restricted (like on a ledge). Also make sure you don't mix up their scents with any other pets and keep the enrichment levels high inside the enclosure (ie a handful of hay/straw/paper/cardboard every day at least). All these things help to reduce the chances of a declan by keeping the occupants as even as possible and entertained. There needs to be a 'boss' in the enclosure so there will always be a bit of pushing and shoving - food snatching, random humping and head pinning down, but you would have taken away most of the pressure points for them.
Thing to make note of for not going well include: one gerbil sitting up top or on a ledge alone more often than not; unexplained bangs against the sides of the enclosure; and excessive chasing away or persistance in attention from one to another.
Gerbils are amazing in their little clans - and watching their dynamics is very interesting - but it is great that they are almost always happy to create another clan (after a split intro of course).
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Post by milly on Aug 18, 2020 5:44:06 GMT -8
I do always scatter feed. I have since we got out first gerbils 11 years ago. The gerbils usually make their own nest with tissues although im changing this to straw. They usually make it under a ledge but it was on a ledge when they fell out. The water bottle is on a ledge so I will get the second one I have and put it at the bottom. Thinking about I have noticed Topaz not letting ruby drink from it around the time sapphire was having a go at ruby. Unfortunately after a while the bottom layer builds up and then the spout will get covered. Would it be ok to move it to the opposite ledge? I have a top shelf and 2 ledges in the cage. They have tunnels in with them(all chewable) and a bamboo tube. I also put in cardboard tubes and boxes. They also get oat hay and orchard hay plus herbal treats sprinkled in occasionally. They get taken out daily where their sandbath there is,also a wheel tunnels and they like running up my sons arms. Is there anything else I can do/should do?
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Post by betty on Aug 18, 2020 5:58:00 GMT -8
Sounds like you have it all under control - and of course you can move their water bottles around to avoid them getting buried!
One thing I would also watch out for based on your comments is how they react after being out of their enclosure - and whether most of their squabbling happens within an hour of being put back in the enclosure. Might be nothing but I had one female who really didn't like her sister coming out for playtime - and it always started a spat.
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Post by milly on Aug 18, 2020 7:58:55 GMT -8
I will definitely keep an eye out but usually they are out for a good hour and fall asleep when back in. What I have noticed is it used to be Ruby running up my sons arms and Topaz and Sapphire staying in the box. Now its the otherwise round. Ive presumed she just preferred the wheel so I will keep an eye on that. Hopefully thats the end of it but I will be keeping a good eye on them. If the worst happens in the future and they Declan should I separate the aggressor or the one being bullied. Which woukd have more of a chance with another gerbil? Thanks
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Post by milly on Aug 18, 2020 10:37:24 GMT -8
Ruby has,been bitten again. Just need ti know if its better to take ruby or sapphire out.tgankyiu
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Pim
Member
Posts: 346
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Post by Pim on Aug 18, 2020 11:50:32 GMT -8
I would think ruby should be taken out as sapphire seems to be getting along with topaz.
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