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Post by jojess on May 12, 2021 9:44:57 GMT -8
Yes I did check and nothing. Now they both been trying to put noses through and I think grooming each others noses but where the younger one wasnt over bothered , she seems more so now and is there sniffing alot and climbing. I'm half thinking they maybe split fir good but may try another meet up in the next week as think will be 3 wks on Sunday. Will see . I will probably chicken out on the day haha
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Post by jojess on May 15, 2021 6:44:48 GMT -8
Was ready to try introduce again today after 1st try ended in a ball a week ago. They been in the split cage for 3 wks now. However last nite the slightly elder saffi had her nose through again as much as she could and seemed happy being groomed. And almost looks like they kissing Haha. But then there was a tiny squeak. I assume this was from saffi and again no blood. The younger one then went off and didnt bother. saffi came back for more and was very eager to see the other who wasnt interested. She eventually came and sniffed and groomed a bit . It's always saffi nose through the bars and the other one grooming. Never the other way. Does that mean anything re who will be the boss ? I can see the younger one finding her feet a bit now and being quite adventurous I'm not sure in the gerbil world if this will mean there will possibly be a face off and both now will want to be the boss. In the original 2 I had saffi was definitely the boss so I think she will want to keep that title but has become very skittish the last week or so. Any thoughts on maybe having another go together or maybe leaving another week . I was trying to get them sorted asap while they were young but the more I read the more I'm thinking better to leave apart as long as you can and let them get to know each other even if they are getting older very quick. It's such a shame as we havnt got either out for my daughter thinking better to leave them both to be with each other and focus just on that.
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Post by jojess on May 17, 2021 13:28:50 GMT -8
Not sure what to think. Am I over thinking all this ? Saffi the dominant gerbil seems to have become quite skittish . Shes the one who showed her dominance on the one and only meet up . Now 3 weeks in the split she gets groomed but has squeaked a few times. My daughter said tonite it looked like the other nibbled her feet through the bars. She was quite outgoing when we got her but hides all the time now and although still takes treats no problem wont stick around when we open the cage. Have I left it too long in not introducing them again? The no toys isnt helping me or them. They do nothing as have very little but still only have a small amount of interaction together with saffi now being the one who runs away eventually. They both clump all the time as there is nothing else to do. I feel that I just want to put stuff in and maybe leave them split. Feeling that we arnt bonding with them like we should as we are trying to get them both to bond first. Any advise. Are we still doing ok?
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Post by teambenji543 on May 17, 2021 17:22:17 GMT -8
Hmmmm. How long have they been in the split cage now? Is the Saffi scared of the younger gerbil? I think that if Saffis not deliberately terrified of the other gerbil then you’re going on the right path. Maybe you could do brief introductions?
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Post by jojess on May 18, 2021 12:12:37 GMT -8
Hi teambenji543 I had saffi 4 weeks now and got the smaller one a week after and they have been split ever since so 3 wks now. When I got saffi she was the dominant sparki one of the two. Then the other died s day after getting her. Saffi has been introduced once to the younger one when she pinned her down after a few mins and we separated them. That was poss 2 weeks ago now I think. Saffi has become skittish when we go close but will take food and hide to eat. This seems to have developed over the last few weeks. I'm not sure what to do for the best. I think I'm overthinking that the tables will turn and the younger will try to dominate saffi and I dont want her to be even worse with us. It's so hard trying to sort a double whammy. Trying to bond 2 gerbils and trying to bond with 2 gerbils too.
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Post by jojess on May 18, 2021 12:19:21 GMT -8
Sorry forgot to add saffi doesnt seem to avoid the other she still goes to the divide and sits to be groomed and sticks her nose through but it's just she seems to be letting out little squeaks which makes me think the others biting a bit . I maybe wrong as you cant see can you but why would she squeak and run off. Also I'm linking this behaviour with her getting more frightened when we go near. Or is it that we have left them so long not getting either out for play that shes just not used to us after so long
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Post by jojess on Jul 2, 2021 1:28:12 GMT -8
Hi thought I would add to this thread instead of creating a new. No success in bonding the two girls. They straight into a ball when they see each other. Dont give them enough time to see if they come out of it. Never drawn blood. I think I will always be worried even if they did bond eventually that one day I go in and they have drawn blood. So I think I've made the decision to keep them apart. Maybe I keep putting them together to ever see if they get on but never leave them un attended together. So that means 2 new cages as the one they have now is fine if they lived together but too small with a split. Am I being selfish here? I feel awful as gerbils should be in pairs but I feel from reading all the comments very few stay friends and dont fall out. Help before I go get the two cages and they live separately for ever. They will still see each other through the bars upstairs . Thanks
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Post by betty on Jul 2, 2021 15:32:45 GMT -8
It is one of those things with gerbils - you never can tell who they are going to get on with and when they aren't?
There is always someone out there for a single gerbil. I have only ever had one gerbil who well and truly didn't get on with anyone - we always managed to find a friend for everyone eventually - even if it took a few attempts.
However, if you don't have enough space, money, or infinite resources, then this isn't always possible and we need to make compromises. Ususally this ends up with a single gerbil whether we like it or not.
There is the option of buying a larger enclosure for a permanent split rather than 2 separates (like in a gallon sale) but then it takes up more room on its own - where two seperates can be more flexibly stored. However, the giant enclosure allows constant gerbil conversations even if they don't like each other?
And don't think all gerbils split up - it is just that we only write about the ones that declan. Noone starts a thread to say their gerbils are just dandy together - so it looks one-sided.
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Post by jojess on Jul 6, 2021 13:10:18 GMT -8
Hi Betty. I've changed the cage to 2 smaller ones. Cant say I'm happy. They cant sniff or groom each other at all. Feel very sad. They have more room but I can't help but think they will be lonely now. It's not cost. I'm silly when it comes to spending on my pets. But space They can only go in one area in my daughters bedroom, sitting on the top of a chest of drawers. I know of someone who makes glass aquariums with shelves going up. I could possibly mesh the middle but I dont think it will be big enough. What would you say is a minimum area . It would have been fine for the 2 gerbils living together but halving this space is really hard. Someone said just return these two and get 2 bonded ones but I dont feel that's an option , we are attached to these two now.
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Post by teambenji543 on Jul 6, 2021 16:15:44 GMT -8
You could add a topper made out of mesh onto the tanks. This way the two could still sniff each other through the bars.
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Post by jojess on Jul 7, 2021 1:36:28 GMT -8
Hi team benji. My 2 cages have wire toppers from pets at home. So they see each other but putting the tanks right next to each other still leaves a gap so they try putting their noses thru but cos of the gap in the middle they dont reach each other. I'm going to stop stressing myself. It's done now. I will get them out as much as possible and can put them in a large box with a divider mesh they used to have in the old cage so they can sniff again for a bit and will keep putting them together to see if anything changes. If it does I can go from there but at least they both have 3 levels now and lots to do .thanks
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