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Post by LilyandDaisy on Sept 1, 2020 12:14:19 GMT -8
I had Rocket and Storm in the playpen this evening and it seems to have triggered more arguments. Rocket was in heat and she's always stroppy anyway when she's in heat. They do this thing where they stand side to side and push against each other. This is the video: youtu.be/hrMQZxOj5Vc. The key moments are at 2:07 and 3:52 but I've uploaded the full video for context. After the second incident I put them away since the playpen seemed to be causing problems and they didn't seem very happy in it anyway. What are they doing when they push against each other like that and what does it mean? Storm also does this leaping thing at 3:52 which I have seen him do twice before. The first time seemed to be triggered by seeing light reflecting of the glass of their tank and the second time it was light reflecting off a shiny plastic cage base which they were in for exercise. I think he does it when something unnerves him? (Edited to add: Rocket is the black one, she's female. Storm is the grey one, he's a neutered male). |
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Post by londongerbils on Sept 1, 2020 13:34:22 GMT -8
Hello  I also have a female and neutered male, you’re the first person I’ve met in the same position. I adopted my male gerbil in June. Whilst they don’t get to the extent that your gerbils do, my pair also seem to press themselves together. Mine then have a little box and then go their separate ways also. I’ve only had females before this, and sometimes it seems to me like there’s a similar struggle for dominance between male and female. However, neither seems to bother to get into a “real” fight. I’m interested if anyone else has an opinion on this. |
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Sept 1, 2020 14:00:51 GMT -8
Hello I also have a female and neutered male, you’re the first person I’ve met in the same position. I adopted my male gerbil in June. Whilst they don’t get to the extent that your gerbils do, my pair also seem to press themselves together. Mine then have a little box and then go their separate ways also. I’ve only had females before this, and sometimes it seems to me like there’s a similar struggle for dominance between male and female. However, neither seems to bother to get into a “real” fight. I’m interested if anyone else has an opinion on this. That's so interesting that yours do the same thing. Mine aren't usually as bad as in the video. Once I put them back in the tank they were fine. Like with yours, it never escalates. I've had females too and while they do argue, I find it always ends in one gerbil being groomed. So there's always a clear winner. With Rocket and Storm, they just stop arguing but it never seems resolved. They just go their separate ways. |
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Post by betty on Sept 2, 2020 10:33:38 GMT -8
It looks like what they do when they are excited - usually seen when putting in a fresh sand bath with pups.
I wouldn't be worried about it - just a bit of fun from what it looks like - bearing in mind how long they AREN'T doing anything like that in your video. Just some fun I think based on that video at least anyway.
Just like a normal husband and wife maybe?
Great run set up by the way - but why do they always look for a way out still though when they have so much inside?
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Sept 2, 2020 10:50:35 GMT -8
It looks like what they do when they are excited - usually seen when putting in a fresh sand bath with pups. I wouldn't be worried about it - just a bit of fun from what it looks like - bearing in mind how long they AREN'T doing anything like that in your video. Just some fun I think based on that video at least anyway. Just like a normal husband and wife maybe? Great run set up by the way - but why do they always look for a way out still though when they have so much inside? That's a relief if it isn't a prelude to fighting. I worry about them a lot because they aren't as affectionate with each other as Lily and Daisy but maybe that's normal for them. They sleep in the same nest but otherwise avoid each other and I never see them grooming except on 2 or 3 occasions when Rocket has pinned Storm down to groom him. Never the relaxed type of grooming. When Storm leaps around 3:52, is that excitement too? It reminds me of guinea pigs popcorning. It seems like it was triggered by him looking in the tissue box. Then it looks like he bumped into Rocket which set off their little tiff. |
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Post by betty on Sept 2, 2020 10:53:18 GMT -8
Yes, that was the main thing I was looking at. They do sometimes overreact when out in a run.
I had those two girls of mine though that never got on both in a run at the same time - always ended up with chasing and heavy grooming. I think just some partnerships are a bit different to others. I've had plenty of male/female pairs that acted quite aloof of each other.
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Sept 2, 2020 10:59:48 GMT -8
I might try having Rocket out alone. She's a very anxious and intense gerbil and being in heat only amplifies that. I thought putting them in the run might help her calm down but it did the opposite (she was so wound up when I put them back). I think she's easily irritated by Storm, and independent by nature, so maybe some exercise time alone might be better for her. Storm might like a short break from her too because he's naturally quite laid back and chilled, the complete opposite of Rocket really.
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Oct 14, 2020 7:20:45 GMT -8
Update: Rocket and Storm have improved quite a bit. They still bicker but much less and I think that's just a feature of their relationship now rather than a sign of anything amiss. A lot of the problem at the beginning was that Rocket wanted to boss Storm around but he never seemed to give off the right submissive signals that she wanted to see. Whether that was because he didn't want to be bossed around, or just didn't know the right body language, I'm not sure. Now he seems to be gradually learning his place. Rocket used to have a nasty habit of peeing on Storm which meant he was constantly smelly and damp but thankfully she has almost completely stopped that. I'm very happy with their progress and hoping to move them to a bigger tank in the next month. Hopefully the move won't cause any problems, as I find they are quite sensitive to change.  |
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Post by Markpd on Oct 14, 2020 12:29:20 GMT -8
Good to hear they're getting on better . Re cage change, I guess you'll be sectioning off a part of the new cage and then slowly opening it up? (IIRC you suggested that to me before I got my Gerbils? Btw I had meant to do that, but just forgot  ). Btw I had Avon pin Blake down on one occasion and then he groomed him, Blake was squeaking occasionally, is that anything to worry about? (I've got a video here if you're interested). |
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Oct 14, 2020 12:48:12 GMT -8
Well it's never a bad idea to section off part of a new cage, which is why I suggested it. It can never do any harm.
However I have thought very carefully and decided to take a slight risk and not do that with this transition, due to the fact that the new tank has an in built shelf along the back which would make building a partition awkward. I'm going to move them over with all their old bedding, and initially I won't add any new bedding or new toys to minimise new scents. If there are any problems, I'll move them back and build a partition. I have a gut feeling that more space might help to not wind each other up so much, rather than causing problems, but I guess I will find out.
I don't think that grooming is anything to worry about, as Blake isn't fighting back at all even if he doesn't look completely happy. It does seem more like a dominance type grooming rather than the relaxed type grooming, but that's ok, it reinforces the hierarchy, as long as the other gerbil accepts it. I think they can get a bit rough when grooming and Blake is just making that known by squeaking.
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Post by yeti218 on Oct 14, 2020 23:47:23 GMT -8
Lilyanddaisy - nice playpen set up. that toy with the different ramps looks like fun - whats the brand / where did you get it?
Markpd - poor blake looks more disheveled after that grooming session haha
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Oct 15, 2020 6:07:52 GMT -8
www.zoo-bio.co.uk/elmato/82511-mice-racetrackThis is the link but it's out of stock currently. If you sign up to be informed when it's in stock and also subscribe to the newsletter, you get a 6% discount to be used on any future order.
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Post by Markpd on Oct 15, 2020 12:01:07 GMT -8
Lilyanddaisy - nice playpen set up. that toy with the different ramps looks like fun - whats the brand / where did you get it? Markpd - poor blake looks more disheveled after that grooming session haha Lol, yes he did rather, bless him  |
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