Introduction advice

[smp1977]

We have been using an adapted split tank method to introduce our two gerbils. We’ve done this by placing two identical tanks side by side and mirroring the contents of the tank.
We swap them over three times a day so they always end up in the opposite tank over night. We are now on day 13 of this and made the following observations and would just like a bit of reassurance that these are positive signs.
-They tend to sleep in each other’s nests, not every time but around 80-90% of the time.
-They now seem to be mirroring each other’s behaviour. If one comes up to the top level so does the other, if one climbs on top of their bridge, so does the other. If one chews the bars so does the other.
-Our new gerbil has copied specific behaviours of our original gerbil I.e. chewing the bars of the door to be stroked!
-They show an interest in each other at the bars and sniff at each other.
- both seem to have stopped scent marking so much

Do these seem good signs?
How much longer should we persevere?
I’ve kept the top layer clean and clear but I’ve not changed bedding / sawdust due to them needing to get to know each other’s smell. Can I clean out and just keep bedding from the nest?

Thanks in advance for any answers

[jewels1171]

Those are all very good signs, and I would perhaps by now consider putting them together, gloves to protect your hands If you need the break up a fight, and watch them for about 15 min. If they do good, and don’t fight, do this several times a day, and by the end of the day or next day or whatever, they should be well bonded. Do not rush the process too much, but since they are very good already, I think now is a good time to do 15 min intervals.
You don’t need to clean it until it smells strong or annoys you, as too much removal and replacement can be a bit stressful for the gerbils.

[smp1977]

So we tried and they lasted about 15 seconds not minutes. Cookie pounced on Misty and they started to roll into a ball and we had to separate them.
I’m worried now that we left cookie on her own for too long (5 months, not by choice but due to lockdown ) and now we are going to struggle to introduce ☹️

[londongerbils]

Hello there,

I’m not as experienced as others on here, but I have successfully introduced 3 pairs so far using a split tank, so I hope I can be of some help.

Firstly, out of the 3 pairs I’ve introduced, 2 have been pairs of adult females, the hardest to introduce. AreMisty and Cookie adult females?

Secondly, both times I’ve done female introductions, I’ve had them in a split for 4 weeks. This seems like forever, but that is how long it took because adult females are notoriously hard to Introduce. My male/female split took half this time.

I finished a split last week and the first time I introduced them, after 3 weeks, I only put them together for 10 minutes or so and I could tell they weren’t ready. Too much curiosity and sniffing and I could tell they weren’t at ease. When I tried them again after 4 weeks, I put them on the same side of the divider, gave them some new toilet rolls, hay and sand to focus on and they didn’t seem fussed by each other one bit. They were busy and relaxed, and they’ve been fine together ever since.

My advice is don’t give up yet. Give it another couple of weeks, and when the time comes to introduce, give them some things to occupy themselves other than each other, that way they might relax a bit. I think Cookie is probably capable of being in a new pairing if she’s been in one before. I’ve had a gerbil alone for nearly 6 months before I could find her a suitable mate and she was fine, if a bit overbearing on her new partner!

I hope that’s helpful. I’m sure others with more experience on here may be able to advise you.

[smp1977]

That’s really helpful, thank you. They seem so intrigued by each other but then it got a bit rough at introduction. I’m prepared to wait as long as it takes.
They are both female. Cookie is around 18 months old and lost her cage mate 5 months ago. Misty is around 16 months old and recently lost hers which is why we took her in!
Both seem very happy gerbils and both love being handled. Cookie does seem to ‘leak’ quite a bit when we get her out (even on us) so I’m assuming she is scent marking everything she thinks is hers, including her owners! 😂

[jojess]

Hi londongerbil I'm a new member and also trying to bond 2 young females about 13 or 14wks old. Reading your post helps alot. Can I just ask when they were in the split what signs did you see to introduce them . When you dud for a short while if it doesn't work you left for another week. Were there better sign for you to try again ? Or dud you just do it anyway thanks

[londongerbils]

When they were first put into the split, one of them was very aggressive through the mesh, but then this behaviour seemed to stop after a day or so. They were very curious through the mesh at first, but when they were becoming less interested I knew they were feeling more relaxed in each other’s company. As time went on, I saw them try to groom each other through the mesh and they would also sleep in each other’s nests. They would sometimes sleep next to each other on either side of the divider and i noticed one of them, who kept scent marking everything at first, began doing this less. This was after about 3 weeks so I decided to give them a try.

The first time there was lots of grooming but far too much sniffing and following each other to make me feel at ease to leave them alone. It showed that they werent relaxed yet and felt a little on edge about each other’s scent.

The next day, I did a second short session on the same side of the divider where they were again pretty curious and didn’t seem calm enough to be left alone.

Then 5 days after that I did a final introduction with lots of things to chew and focus on and by that time they were pretty much used to each other and have been fine since.

Their behaviour on either side of the divider didn’t change in that time, but I decided to do the intro gradually so that by the third time on the same side of the divider, they had already spent some time together and seemed to realise by that point that they weren’t a threat to each other. The introduction is always a nervy time because even if they get used to each other in the split, the reality is that they will probably feel a little stressed when meeting on the same side, since it’s the first time they will be close to each other. The less stressful it is, the more chance of success in my opinion. So small steps was my approach, since I didn’t want to leave them alone, end up in a bad fight, then have to start the split all over.

I hope that’s useful, that’s just my opinion. Your split may be easier since yours are younger females of a similar age. Good luck, I look forward to hearing how it goes.

[smp1977]

4 weeks now of split tank and tried another introduction. They sniffed each other then Cookie jumped on Misty and looked like she had pinned her down. I separated before they got into a hall fight. I feel gutted that they don’t seem to get on when together ☹️

[boysnotboys]

Thank you for this thread! It has been so very helpful, as we get ready to intro our two boys, who have been in a split cage for 3 weeks now. We really appreciate the info!