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Post by panthershadow83 on Feb 27, 2005 14:34:35 GMT -8
Hi, sorry I haven't been around lately... but here's the new scoop:
At the shelter where I volunteer at, they just got four new gerbils in. They are sweeties, all female I believe. They have no where to go, so I asked my mom if I could take them. She sorta freaked. I don't blame her, because I'd have five gerbils in all... but I REALLY need the following quesions answered ASAP, or else I might not even have a chance to get these cuties.
~I know a little bit about introducing gerbils, and I have one gerbil right now. I know I have to quarentine the gerbils for maybe a week or so, then begin to introduce the new four to my gerbil, Memphis. I need to know... five gerbils-- how much space do they need? In an aquarium, how many gallons?
~Could someone tell me exactly how to introduce gerbils? I'll read up on it in the meantime.
~What if they fight? The four new gerbils and Memphis are about the same age... all of them are around three months or so. Is this a good time to introduce them?
~How much time and care will five of these critters need?
If anyone at all could answer even one of these questions ASAP, I would be VERY greatful!!
Thank you for reading!!!!
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Post by queenofthenile on Feb 27, 2005 18:09:48 GMT -8
If you were to get the 4 other gerbils I would not introduce them all together. You would need to choose one to intro to the female you already have, and leave the other three in a separate tank/cage. Groups of more than 2/3 females rarely work out. 5 gerbils would need about 35 gallons of space. You would need to split them up though, so the group of two gets at least 10 gallons, and the group of three at least 15 gallons. You can read my website for info on doing intros (it talks male-female pairs, but will also work for same sex): www.gerbilbreeding.com/intro.htm
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Post by panthershadow83 on Feb 28, 2005 4:16:05 GMT -8
Would it be cruel to split the four up? They are around three/four months old, and I think have been living together since they wre born. There were two others, but I guess they got adopted before we got the gerbils in at the shelter. My friend might be able to take one... would it be mean to split them up like that? If she takes one and I take the rest? I don't think her parents would let her get more than one. Also, one of them there is definately smaller than the rest. I'm guessing she's a runt. If I were to take all four, which group should I put her in? I think I should leave her with her sisters, right?
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Post by RyanF on Feb 28, 2005 5:00:46 GMT -8
I have 3 in a 10 gallon and 2 in another 10 gallon and they seem to do just fine.
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Post by queenofthenile on Feb 28, 2005 6:12:35 GMT -8
It would be more cruel to have your friend keep one. Single gerbils can get quite lonely as they are really social animals. Gerbils forget each other within 72 hours, so I don't think it's cruel to split the group up. Just select one of the four to pair with your current gerbil, and leave the other three together.
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Post by sweetie on Feb 28, 2005 11:45:54 GMT -8
Hey Panther,
I would only put one other gerbil in with Memphis. Queenie is right. Female gerbils are known to fight viciously.
To introduce, I would use the split cage method and change sides 3 times a day. I usually do it a breakfast, lunch, and dinner that way I get in the habit and don't forget. I would make sure each side has water and food and toilet paper for bedding. I would suggest not putting toys or houses in there. That way, the gerbils will have fewer distractions and can not hide from the other. I would make sure they had chewies though.
If they fight after a successful introduction, you may want to try to pair Memphis with another gerbil.
Introductions done at an early age tend to work better,
They will need cleanings about every week and a half if you have 10 gal, time to get outside to play (at least once a week), time to feed daily, water every other day, time to interact with you.
If I were you, I would pair the runt with Memphis. The reason I say that is that females in groups of 3 tend to declan. If the runt is in the tank, she will most likely be targeted and hurt. If it is one of the other two, they may have a easier time resisting.
I hope this has helped. Also, please don't give your friend just one gerbil. If you explain to the mom that they are social animals or print this info out from a website, she may take 2 instead of just one. I think she may be more understanding than you think.
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Post by panthershadow83 on Feb 28, 2005 13:31:49 GMT -8
Thank you everyone for your speedy replies!! I still haven't gotten a definitive answer from my parents, but from the way they've discussed it with me it seems to be a yes. I hope it will be!!
My next issue... cages. I have Memphis in a 30 gallon tank. She loves it, and I don't want to take her away from her tank and put her in a different cage with a new gerbil. What type of cage should I get to house the other three gerbils? I've heard of ferplast denus, they seem good, but expensive. Any ideas where I could get a relativly cheap one?
Last thing... how should I affix the screen to the tank sides? Would it be OK if I took a cage and put it into the tank? This way, the gerbils could see eachother and still be divided. Is that alright?
OK, the real last thing... everyone keeps saying how groups of three might declan. Well... what's the likelihood if they are all sisters like the ones I'll be getting? If there a lower chance that they'll declan, or is it just... meh?
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Post by queenofthenile on Feb 28, 2005 17:08:26 GMT -8
I prefer tanks for my gerbils, so a 20 gallon would be fine for the trio. You can try the cage in the tank for introduction, just make sure that can't bite each other through the bars.
Your trio is much less likely to declan than females introduced from separate litters. Since they are all the same age and have been together since birth, you have the best of chances. Females are more likely to declan than males, but I've heard of female trios working fine, especially when they are littermates.
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Post by panthershadow83 on Mar 1, 2005 4:41:42 GMT -8
I'm so excited!!! My parents just agreed to let me take them!! I can't believe it!!
OK... I think they might be able to bite each other through the bars of the cage, so nix on that idea...
How should I attach the screening to the side of the cage?
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Post by lydia on Mar 1, 2005 8:28:28 GMT -8
That's brilliant news,really pleased your parents agreed . At the moment you've got Memphis in a 30 gallon tank,to fit a divider in,put some wire mesh diagonally accross the tank,from corner to corner.Have it slightly longer,so a small amount of excess wire can be bent into the corner.Then put in your usual litter,I'm sure someone will have a pic they can post........... You can get the wire from a garden centre,if you haven't already got some.Just make sure it is small gaps between the wire,and,you have it high enough in your tank,that once the lid is on,the gerbils can't get accross to each other. Lyd
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Post by panthershadow83 on Mar 1, 2005 17:04:08 GMT -8
Thanks all!! Lol, a couple more questions...
OK... three of the gerbs have blopdy and swollen noses because their previous owner had them in a Crittertrail, and they chewed on the tubes, cutting their noses. Once these guys are able to be picked up by me (I'm guessing Saturday, because I just brought them home today), how should I treat their noses? With any certain cream or anything??
Next thing... I need to keep them together for maybe another week or two... I don't want to stress one of the gerbils out so much by putting it in a tank with Memphis right away. Will the four be alright for a little while at least?
Last thing... how do I know which one is the dominant one? I don't want to take out the one that is donminant, because I'm afraid they'll fight then. How should I do this??
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Post by lydia on Mar 2, 2005 0:31:08 GMT -8
Personally, I would leave their noses alone,unless there are actual cuts or abrasions that you can see.Trying to put cream on their noses can be fiddly,with cream going up their nostrils which I think would distress them more than having a sore nose.
If all four are used to living together,keeping them together for another 2 weeks wont do any harm.Also,they are now being cared for by you,and you will notice anything that needs adjusting or altering.
Now,as to the dominant gerbil,I've never kept mongs in a group,I've only kept them in pairs.So I am not experienced with spotting which one would be dominant in a group,but,I would expect the dominant gerbil to be the first one who gets to and eats from the food bowl, likewise a dust bath,when they hear or see something new outside their cage to be the one who runs over and stands on it's hind legs,surveying what is going on etc. One of the drawbacks of being dominant is to protect your family group.
If you are planning on removing the smallest,to pair up with Memphis,as long as she isn't the dominant one,I wouldn't expect you to encounter any problems.
Someone else may be able to answer,who is better and more experienced at spotting the dominant gerbil.
Lyd
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Post by panthershadow83 on Mar 2, 2005 4:58:02 GMT -8
I can already tell their personalities are different. This is so amazing!! I never thought I could tell the personality of gerbils!!
I believe the dominant one is one of the brown ones. This morning when I opened up their cage to put their wheel in (I had to take it out last night... I had two gerbils running on wheels, one chewing, and one digging.), she ran right out of the igloo. I think the others are still asleep. She's also the one going on their little shelf a lot. She periodically comes out of the igloo and looks at me or runs in the wheel.
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Post by sweetie on Mar 2, 2005 11:32:29 GMT -8
Hey Panther,
Congrats on getting the 4 gerbils!! You must be excited ;D.
It sounds like you have it pretty much under control. I agree with queenie that your chances of keep 3 sisters together is greater than putting 3 unrelated gerbils together. Please make sure you look for signs of aggression as they mature just in case.
As far as a cheap house, you could get a rubbermaid bin (about the size of a 20 gal), cut the top screw a wire lid on it and voila, you have a big house that is cost effective. Of course if you can afford it, you can just purchase a 20 gal and make a wire lid.
As far as dominance, keep watching them. If one is mounting the others, that is a clear sign of dominance. After tha, like lyd said the one who explores or eats first.
Good luck and keep us posted.
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Post by panthershadow83 on Mar 2, 2005 13:14:06 GMT -8
I think I've narrowed it down to either the brown one or the gray one for donmiance. They are both active a lot. The other two hide in their igloo. I can't tell the brown ones apart very well though... >_< I got them a pretty nice cage... its a little smaller than a 30 gal. aquarium, but larger than a 20 gallon. ^^
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