Re-trying split intro but gerbils basically just sleep

[sparkbubble]

Hi, haven't been on in a bit. so a while ago, I put a mother daughter pair in a split. All's well until one gerbil chewed through the wire (never buy craft wire!) last time this happened (yeah, I thought the first time was just an anomaly) the pair did fine in six days and even ended up mating...but those were an opposite sex. So I foolishly put the gerbils in the tank and chaos ensued. I waited about a week and then tried putting my hamster cage in and 'split caging' that way for two weeks. They fought again. THis time, I waited two whole months so that they could forget each other (hopefully) and made another, guaranteed rodent-proof divider with wire-cutter worthy wire. They've been in for over a week and I plan on waiting three more. I'm going to remove all toys on the last week (except for maybe a block of wood or something quickly consumed, like a TP roll). That way, all they can do is stare at each other. However, all they are really doing is eating and sleeping. Maybe a little toy chewing. I wasn't originally going to, but I'm taking them out for individual play time now because I think that they are putting on weight. They're sleeping in the same nests, and sometimes right next to the divider (but only one at a time). After the month is over, should I wait if they aren't sleeping next to each other? they're ignoring each other. Is that good or bad? One of the most prominent effects that the split had, however, is that both gerbils are significantly fluffier looking. THey were both greasy and weren't grooming themselves very much before then, so I take it that they are less lonely than they were, at least. 

[tanzanyte]

My two are mostly sleeping which I've been told is perfectly normal. We are 4 weeks in now I think. It's not going so great despite the fact that they have been sleeping in each others nests from the get go. They climb the divider together and sniff noses occasionally but largely ignore each other as well.
They have only managed seconds on intro and then they are in a ball fight. I'm just trying them each week now in the hope that they will have chilled out more. To be honest each time I intro them I find I'm calm more with it. I'm hoping that helps as I'm sure they've been picking up my stress having never done this before.

I haven't added any toys and I'm pretty sure my two are putting on quite a bit of weight, but I'm trying not to worry too much about that unless they look super hefty.
I know Lily and Daisy did an intro with toys in to begin with and then she removed them so it's worth looking at her post.

[sparkbubble]

Ok, thanks! Is it pinned, or what is the title? Yeah, my updated plan is:
1. Leave them in for four more weeks with toys and things (that will be a month and three weeks)
2. On week five, take away all toys and have them stare at each other.
3. once week 5 is over, put them in a small bin that's been their shared play area (so their scent is all over it) and hope for the best. if this doesn't do anything, eh....I don't know.

[LilyandDaisy]

If the signs are good I would be inclined to start removing the toys and things now in preparation for an introduction in 2-4 weeks. I doubt they will benefit much from another 4 weeks as they are. Sleeping next to each other doesn't often happen and isn't necessary for a successful introduction.

It's ok if they sleep most of time, as long as it's not because your split tank is huge and they're able to avoid each other. If they're in close proximity but very relaxed, that's good.

They should be relaxed when you swap sides too, ideally just settling down straight away in the other's nest. They shouldn't be scent marking or rearranging everything or acting stressed (if they are, they need more time in the split).

You could give them things to do at the divider so you have an opportunity to see how they interact, e.g food scattered along the divider. When they meet at the mesh it's good if it's just a brief greeting and then back to what they were doing rather than too much sniffing and investigating. Not that sniffing is a bad thing per se but by the time you're considering an introduction you ideally want them at the point that the other gerbil is "old news" and they don't need to keep interrogating and investigating them.

Weight gain seems to be a common side effect of these long introductions but should resolve once they are in a normal enclosure.

I wouldn't do the introduction in the play bin. It's best done in the tank where the split took place, with the divider removed to form one space.

I talked about my introduction with Tilly and Wispa in these two threads:

gerbilforum.proboards.com/thread/35772/gerbil-updates

gerbilforum.proboards.com/thread/35810/introduction-reading-right

And I posted a summary of the introduction in this thread: 

gerbilforum.proboards.com/thread/35804/contribute-split-tank-experiences

[sparkbubble]

Thanks, I appreciate it. There's still an amount of scent marking, not as much from the older female as from the younger, so I'll wait it out a little longer (a week or two) before removing the toys for two weeks. I'm recycling the bedding but I'm changing out the houses every now and then because the gerbils are still exhibiting their possessive behaviors on them. Are they recognizing the houses as 'theirs' from the last time they were in them, or do they just not like that the other gerbil's smell is on them?
One interesting thing I saw last night is that my older female took a casual sand bath in a ceramic dish and dug a little in it. When I switched the gerbils over, my younger one (the more territorial one) sniffed the sand and then started doing this weird jumpy popcorning thing. Once she settled down, she proceeded to rub herself (face, stomach) all over the sand (marking it, I guess.) I have a strange one.