3 years old brothers declanning, need opinion on strategy

[alexs]

Hello everyone!

We have a pair of brothers, who just got 3 years old! They've gotten along extremely well all there life, but they have recently shown some signs of declanning:

- More intense fights after waking up

- Chasing each others

- Very tense staring contests lol

- Woke up one day to both of them in a corner of the cage, one squeaking loudly and the other clacking it's teeth next to him, then followed by chasing, multiple times

Both are healthy (we recently did a vet check up), the dominant had a slight injury at the foot recently but its healed now. I wonder if that played a part in i.

Right now it's not too bad, but I don't want blood to be drawn. Here is my theory: It's looks like the one that used to dominate is getting overthrown (probably his health declining faster than the other), and the other wants wants to take over.

They are still sleeping next to each other in the cage, so it's giving mixed signals.

Not 100% sure of what to do but what I'm planning:

- separate them for a few days in new fresh enclosure

- put them in a much smaller enclosure with a split, and swap 3x a day for a week or two.

- see how that evolve, and hopefully the one who wants to dominates will be the new head of the clan, and we can put them back in their bigger enclosure

Do you think that first step necessary? Any ideas on the how to best approach the situation?

Thank you!

[LilyandDaisy]

Hi,

I'm so sorry to hear this. Declanning is never nice but especially not after 3 years together. I would consider the possibility that one gerbil may be developing an illness, and that this could be disrupting the balance of power. Even if a vet did deem them healthy, there's only so much a vet can see. It is also possible that the foot injury just tipped the balance enough to let the subordinate gerbil get his foot in the door (so to speak) and now the door's open, it's not going to close again.

Declans can sometimes be delayed or averted if caught very early, but unfortunately in your case it sounds like there's quite significant aggression already, based on the chasing, staring contests, and teeth chattering. I really think these two are a boiling cauldron of tension just waiting to spill over at literally any moment and personally would be separating them permanently without a view to reintroduction.

Also, in these cases where the dominant gerbil has been overthrown and is now being bullied, it's really immensely stressful for them and the kindest thing you can do is separate them from their bully.

Sorry to be pessimistic but I unfortunately can't see a situation where reintroduction would be a good idea here

[alexs]

Thank you!

Well in the end, we spent the whole day upgrading the enclosure for a permanent split cage.
We did this for an older pair and they lived very nicely, with the occasional playtime together (under close watch)

It's a compromise for them to still have some social interaction but avoid any blood! And if they really can't get along, then they'll get their own separate cages

As they are old already, even if it's sad, split them before something bad happens!

[betty]

Yes, absolutely - as it won't be sad for them.

As you have done, it is always recommended to split before any serious injuries - as they are usually super-stressed leading up to the final battle anyway - and you can often see the pure relief in their faces when they realise they are in their own enclosure and are no longer under threat.

Pairs can get on just fine in a permanent split - it really changes the dynamic and they both settle in to their new life - even if sometimes there is a bit of tension on the challengers side.

Great work.