Are females in heat more or less friendly?

[sparkbubble]

my gerbils don't really pay attention to each other except after swapping in the split tank. However, today they were right next to the grate, sniffing around and socializing. After letting one out for playtime, I put her back and they both sniffed intensely and tapped at each other, which they usually don't do. Doesn't this mean they're in heat? Is this a positive or aggressive behavior? I'm going to wait a few more weeks before introducing them, but should I put them together on a day they are in heat or wait? how often does the cycle happen anyway?

[LilyandDaisy]

If they're thumping lightly and turning their backs to each other, they're probably in heat. I wouldn't read too much into their behaviour at this time because their hormones are raging and they're not quite "themselves". I would consider the behaviour described to be neutral really. It's not aggressive.

As to whether you should attempt to introduce gerbils in heat, assuming they also appear ready when not in heat, that's a question I've seen come up once or twice but never with a definitive answer. The idea in favour of introducing during a heat cycle is, as you've described, that they may be more friendly, sociable and willing to interact. I've noticed this is especially the case when both females in a pair are in heat. When only one is in heat there can sometimes be some tension if she winds up her friend too much.

I considered an in-heat introduction with Tilly and Wispa, because Tilly is so much more uninhibited and sociable when she's in heat. However Wispa's breeder advised against as she thought a female in heat might see another female as competition and that could be dangerous.

I've also seen concerns that while females may be very friendly when their hormones are raging, they might not feel the same way when they emerge from the hormonal haze. And since gerbils come out of heat during the night, you might go to bed with everything looking great and wake up to bloodied gerbils. In other words, the heat cycles may just delay the point at which gerbils "come to terms" and decide if they're going to accept each other or not. Whereas normally you can start to relax after the first couple of hours of an introduction, if they're in heat I would want to watch them closely until they come out of heat to be safe, and that could take many hours, and involve a very late night. You would need to start the process later in the day anyway as gerbils don't start coming into heat until at least the afternoon.

I definitely don't think it's a good idea to introduce gerbils in heat when they don't appear ready the other three nights out of four. Gerbils typically go into heat every fourth day, but it can occasionally be three or five days between a heat cycle. If all the signs look good every day - not just during heat - and you think they're ready to be introduced, you could try an introduction during in heat in hopes it will further boost your chances, but be careful, and be prepared for potentially a late night. And of course we'd be very interested to hear your feedback if you try it.

[sparkbubble]

All right, thanks. Yeah, they're not too cuddly yet but I understand that this will be a multi-month process. I'm hoping for a change around month 3, but I'm willing to go half a year if need be (we're on month 2 right now).