How to keep males acquainted? Breeding question.

[TJ's Rodent Ranch]

Hi there, 

I'm about to breed my sweetest male to my sweetest female, which I'm really looking forward to. Anyways, the male is currently one of a clan of three. They all get along well, but I'm worried if I take him out and breed him (he'll probably be gone a month) they'll forget each other and I won't be able to put them back together easily. 
I'm wondering, if I let the male play with his buddies every day for a little while, will they remember each other and be easier to reintroduce once I'm done with the breeding process. Besides that, my other potential hazard about that I've been considering, is how the female (who is very laid back, if that helps) would react to him being put back in with her with the scents of the other gerbs on him. Besides that, if they didn't spend the nights together, would the males eventually start to fight in the day anyways? 
I understand it may just be a fact that I'll have to split the boys, but I just wanted to ask before I went along with anything. I'm also okay with keeping the mom and dad separate for the breeding process beyond him impregnating her, in which I would put him back in with the clan he was with before. The only reason I wouldn't do that is because I understand the mom's generally need the dad's help with raising the babies, is that true? 

Anyway, sorry for the jumble of questions, thanks for any replies in advance.

[betty]

I find the main issue is the males. They have one job in life and that is to fight for rank - and then females - so when they smell a female - they can start to fight.

I personally wouldn't want to put a single mated male back in with 2 other males as I wouldn't expect it to work. Trios are hard enough as it is without ading in the scent of another gerbil.

The female herself might not be too bothered with multiple male smells - especially if you did the normal 2/3 day split intro each time as she would assume that that was just 'his' smell.

Females are the bosses in a relationship - but they really do appreciate the help from a male after the birth of the first litter (he keeps them warm while she has a break). Other than that, he tends to stay out of her way most of the time eating as much food as he can get his hands on! This is why gerbils are often seen to have 2 litters together as they mate on the night she gives birth - this allows him to stay and help with the first litter with her - and then taking him out before the 3rd litter means that his eldest daughters can help raise the new pups.

At least that way - he gets to live with a few of his sons afterwards. Breeding really does multiply enclosures too - not just gerbils...

[TJ's Rodent Ranch]

Hmm, I was hoping to be able to put them back together after he was done with the breeding process. Would these three males never be able to go together again?

So, would that mean that if they smelled a female on him, they could possibly fight? Would this still be true if I did just put him in for the initial mating process, and then put them back together right away? Would it also be possible to reintroduce him to a single male, rather than two?

Apologies, I feel like I'm just flinging questions at you one after the other.

[betty]

There is no way to tell really as all males bonds are different. Sometimes things that aren't recommeneded can work short term however some things are just destined to go wrong eventually - it just depends how long you are able to give it.

I have only ever had one male pair declan and it was becasue I accidently put in a bendy bridge from the run after some females had been in there - and it was an instant declan. I never made that same mistake again and have never had an established male declan since. Perhaps I was just unlucky - but I haven't ever wanted to try it again really.

However, although I would never recommend it - it doesn't mean that it won't work of course - and alwasy a pair is better than a trio on introductions as it reduces the 'reasons' to squabble of course.