Unusual Gerbil Housemates.....

[Chris]

Been wondering.....
What do you think would happen if you took a small group, of small mammals, at a very young age, and bought them up as siblings in the same cage?

I mean for example, a mouse, a rat, a GERBIL, and er maybe a chipmunk!!
Obviously I have no intention of trying this but it would be interesting wouldnt it! What a strange family that would be.

Maybe it would be like keeping dogs and cats together, A couple who traditionally dont get on, but can if bought up together.

Has anyone ever had a strange housemate living with their gerbil?

[doomgerbiluk]

I have heard of some unusual combinations but personally I think it's cruel and unnecessary EXCEPT in exceptional circumstances. The problem with speculation is SOMEONE will want to experiment.

For instance Jackie Barker (an NGS judge) once put an abandoned gerbil pup to a rat mum for fostering. The pup did very well and was able to be returned to live with gerbils after weaning.

The pup was not left with rats after weaning, nor would or should such an experiment have been attempted.

[Ritzie/Admin]

I know sometimes rats are known to kill mice (seen it myself), so that might happen to gerbils too! I would never recommend it! They show different behaviours, etc.

I know that a Dutch breeder has placed an abandoned Mongolian gerbil pup to a Fat-tailed gerbil (Pachyuromys duprasi) with nursing pups! She accepted the new pup! And he lives now with other Mongolian gerbils.

[RitzieAnn]

My boyfriend's rat and his sisters hamster play together in the little play-pen. They're super closely watched, but usually they just don't care. They sniff noses and that's it. They each have their very own tank though, and they only play sometimes.

I've also know of a gerbil pup and a young mouse living together. They were great friends, and played together and even slept in the same nest. They were very close!