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Post by LilyandDaisy on Dec 21, 2022 6:11:11 GMT -8
I would only put the wheel in when they're supervised to begin with to see how they react.
If they both love the wheel, a second one might be good although, as you say, if Peanut is the annoying type she might just decide that whichever wheel Cookie is using, she must also use. Gerbils can argue over a water bottle even while there's a second one available. Gerbils can usually work through these minor disputes but it's best to keep an eye on them in the beginning.
Make sure to wash the wheel and any other old toys before giving them back, to reduce the risk of any old scents causing problems.
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Post by saraw on Dec 21, 2022 8:21:03 GMT -8
Yes I was thinking the same, she seems that kind of gerbil that wants to be awkward and annoying for the sake of it 🤣 bless her ! Trust me to get a feisty one for my first ever introduction 🙈 Ok, I was planning on sitting with/near them for the whole day again when I move them over anyway so I’ll see how the wheel situation goes, although awkwardly it was mainly night time that cookie did her running, she hardly ever used the wheel in the day so that’s going to be an tricky problem ! Yes, I’ve taken everything out and given it all a major clean and a scrub to get rid of any scents - hopefully I’ve done a good enough job ! A few of the cheaper things I just chucked and bought new. I was thinking of doing the transfer next Wednesday so they will have been properly together for 9 days by then, do you think that will be ok ? I was going to wait for 2 weeks but two things : the week after I won’t have the time to really watch them when I move them over and I think cookie especially is getting really bored and fed up with the small space and nothing to do and I don’t want this to have a negative effect on her ? What do you think ? I’ll wait the two weeks if I have to, I want to make sure they will be ok together
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Dec 21, 2022 16:13:16 GMT -8
9 days is probably okay, and I would say it's likely better to do it a bit earlier when you can supervise them, than when you can't. Two weeks is just a number I made up because it sounds about right. It's not set in stone or anything
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Post by saraw on Dec 22, 2022 2:40:57 GMT -8
Ahhhh ok ! Great I’ll do it next week then. One quick question- do I give them the maximum amount of bedding in the new enclosure straight from the start ?
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Dec 22, 2022 2:52:19 GMT -8
No, I'd just move over the old bedding to begin with and then top it up gradually over the next couple of weeks.
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Post by saraw on Dec 22, 2022 3:32:02 GMT -8
Ok brilliant- thank you ……. Again ! 👍🏻
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Post by saraw on Dec 23, 2022 0:56:04 GMT -8
I’m not sure if I should be worried about peanuts behaviour! She seems to be a little bully ! I’ve noticed that if cookie is chewing on something she will go over and mount her so cookie runs off then will start chewing whatever it was that cookie was chewing ! She will only chew it for a bit then leave it and cookie will resume ! Is this bullying!? She doesn’t do it with food or water thankfully. I just feel so sorry for cookie !
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Dec 23, 2022 3:56:35 GMT -8
Tilly used to do that. Why do I feel like Peanut is actually the reincarnation of Tilly?
If Cookie just waits for her to finish and then carries on chewing, it sounds like she's tolerating it so while it's a bit annoying for her, I wouldn't be too worried. This kind of behaviour will probably lessen as Peanut gets older. I'd just keep an eye on it for now.
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Post by saraw on Dec 23, 2022 4:11:23 GMT -8
Ha ha ha it’s certainly looking that way isn’t it ! She’s a little terror and even has a little mischievous face !
Yes cookie is being amazing bless her, she does something else then goes back to it when peanut has finished !
I’m finding myself creeping about when they are asleep so I don’t wake them up as I can’t handle the stress when they (peanut !!) are awake 🤣
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Dec 23, 2022 7:25:46 GMT -8
I’m finding myself creeping about when they are asleep so I don’t wake them up as I can’t handle the stress when they (peanut !!) are awake 🤣 That's funny because I used to do that too! Being very quiet so as not to wake the beast (Tilly) and unleash fresh havoc on Daisy. Fortunately, she did grow out of it.
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Post by saraw on Dec 23, 2022 9:45:06 GMT -8
Ha ha ha I’m glad I’m not the only mad one then ! It’s like having a newborn again !! Oh that’s good to hear, I’ll be able to relax loads more when they (again - peanut !) has calmed down a bit !
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Post by saraw on Dec 27, 2022 5:21:19 GMT -8
So I made the transition today into their forever home. They’ve been in there for 2 hours now and so far so good ! A lot of excitement to begin with, running round and exploring. A few ‘boxing’ matches (but nothing more or extreme than they were doing in the other tank together) and touch wood they seem to be sharing the wheel nicely 🙏🏻, they’ve both been using it but seem to be giving it up for each other when the other wants a turn ! This has really surprised me with peanut !! I’ll continue watching them for the rest of the day (I want to make sure they still nest down together)but if nothing changes do you think I’m good to leave them in overnight- with the wheel !?
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Dec 27, 2022 5:45:25 GMT -8
Yes, if they've been okay with the wheel so far it should be safe to leave it in overnight. I found with Tilly that the more enrichment they had, the better she behaved (I suppose because there were more distractions and she was less stressed) so you might find it helps.
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Post by saraw on Dec 27, 2022 6:02:42 GMT -8
Ok brilliant, thank you ! Yes I suppose that makes sense ! Peanut has been a lot less annoying ! And they seem loads happier with more room and more to do - I’ve only given them the wheel extra, the tube and the wooden bridge they had already in the other tank. So I guess I leave it a while now before adding more stuff like the coconut pods ? And I’ve only transferred over the bedding they had so I’ll keep adding a little bit extra each day for them ? The other thing I was wondering- cookies favourite thing to do was have a free run round the room (we made sure it was safe first) when do think I could start doing that again ?
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Dec 28, 2022 6:45:30 GMT -8
It might be better, if possible, to let them out in a smaller area first to see how they react. Sometimes being outside the cage can cause tension.
If they're still fine after a few more days, you could start adding the coconut pods and other stuff.
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