Introducing a second Gerbil - Split Cage question

[bgsatx]

We took in a gerbil from school over the summer. Upon reading about gerbils, we realized they should not be alone, so we found a single same sex gerbil at a pet store. We built a wooden separator to follow the split cage method. 

The wooden separator left enough of a gap on one side that it allowed the gerbils to chew a hole big enough to get through. This happened overnight. 

We got the second gerbil yesterday and this morning I saw them running around on the same side. They were not fighting at that moment, but I immediately separated them again and closed up the hole. Not sure how long they were together or what had happened up to that point since the hole was chewed during the night. 

My question is now, given that they seemed fine together, am I just lucky and they won't need 1-2 weeks of split cage process? Or should I go back to keeping them separate for the usual 1-2 weeks before putting them back together? 

Thanks for any insight. 

Benjamin

[LilyandDaisy]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

I'd recommend continuing with the split tank as planned. The reason is because when strange gerbils first meet, there tends to be a "grace period" of around 30 minutes where even if they're not happy with each other, they don't necessarily fight. Gerbils generally prefer to avoid fighting if possible, so this might be because they're hoping the problem (i.e the other gerbil) will just go away.

Around the 30 minute mark, there tends to be a change in atmosphere where the gerbils realise they need to actually deal with the situation. At that point, they will either come to terms and settle down together, or start to become aggressive and eventually fight. Because you don't know how long the gerbils had been together, you don't know whether you found them during that 30 minute grace period or not, and maybe they would have fought given a bit longer. If you had found them sleeping together in a nest, that would have been different. The fact that didn't fight immediately on meeting is certainly optimistic but I think it would be best to give them a week or two in the split before another introduction.

Please do keep us updated on how they do

[bgsatx]

Thanks for the feedback. Day 1 update: I created a little play area in our bathtub and let them play there for 5-10 minutes under constant supervision. No signs of fighting. Then I put them back into the split cage. Tonight, we repeated this for another 30 min or so. No fighting. They did show some signs of grooming. So that was encouraging. We will keep giving them supervised play time daily for the week and see how it goes.

[LilyandDaisy]

Some people do like to try regular "mini meetings" during a split cage, but I don't recommend it personally. When they're only together for 5-10 minutes, especially in a neutral territory, that fits within the 30 minute grace period I mentioned before, meaning that even if they're not fighting or showing signs of aggression, it doesn't necessarily mean they're getting along, and they may still be finding each other's presence stressful. Sometimes I think that these regular stressful meetings might actually prolong or complicate the split cage process. At best I don't think they're very helpful but at worse they could be harmful. That's just my perspective on it though.

I'd recommend giving them a least a week in the split, with no playtime either individually or together, with 3 swaps a day and very limited enrichment or things to do, before considering an introduction. In the couple of days before a planned introduction you can potentially increase to 5 swaps a day, though it's not essential.

[betty]

Yes indeed - taking it slow and steady usually has the best results long term for the gerbils.

Mine don't have individual or group playtimes at all during a split intro as I want all their focus being on each other - no distractions - as this can often mask their true feelings.

Distraction can sometimes help during the actual final introduction - but only once the full split intro has reached it pinicle and they are both at that nearly 100% ready to go.

Good luck though - and thanks for keeping us updated!

[bgsatx]

Looks like for us the playtime was helping or at least did not hurt.

We had some issues with the separator at day 3. Before I spent time fixing it, we gave it a shot and tried to leave them together in their cage. We observed them for about 2 hours or so with no issues whatsoever. Since then, absolutely no fighting. Its has been 3 or 4 days together so far. They still seem to sleep separately at night, but I see them frequently during the day to take breaks together in the same hide out.

I don't think we can call it a success just yet, but so far very promising. We will keep monitoring.

[betty]

Yes, this is why we mentioned 'long time success' - because gerbils (especially males) often tolerate new additions for some time.

I have ALL my fingers crossed for your little guys - let's hope they do remain friends permanently. You didn't say the ages of the 2 gerbils - but if one was much older and/or one was very young - this might well be ok.