Post by butsam on May 21, 2004 18:58:47 GMT -8
I found a good way to introduce...at least so far First things first, what is the warning that they are not getting along? No ball fights yet...but they do chase each other and squeak sometimes...seems normal. No blood, no balls...so far it seems good
OK, so the two other new gerbils (Lev and Wilhelm) look tiny as can be...probably about 6 weeks old would be my guess...they can't even break sunflower seeds apart in a couple bites yet...takes them a lot more chewing
I tried the clean-cage-eliminates-scent method that I thought would work well...again they were young, so that may explain why it worked. But anyway, I completely cleaned out the cages (I have two cages joined together, easy to do a split-cage method if I have to) and put fresh bedding in the cages. It turns out all 4 of them (Bosco and Finch seem pretty much full grown, Lev and Wilhelm are ~6 weeks) were running around frantically. I had the cages split at this time. Once Lev and Wilhelm got somewhat used to their surroundings, I removed the separater (after about an hour). No fights at all. Neither scent is on the bedding, so they don't know who the rightful owner is, that's my guess That and they don't want to pick on young gerbils
I am not completely sure on age...never seen pups at 6 weeks...but these gerbils are tiny...the body is no longer than my thumb, and I have average-sized hands...the tail is about the same length. Does that sound like ~6 weeks old? Regardless, they are younger than Bosco and Finch when we got them.
All gerbils are male, by the way.
Thoughts? Ideas? Anyone else try the completely fresh clean then separate for a very small amount of time method? It seemed to work well...but it could also be the age of the pups. How old do the new gerbils sound, roughly? And comments on this possibly new method?
Sam
OK, so the two other new gerbils (Lev and Wilhelm) look tiny as can be...probably about 6 weeks old would be my guess...they can't even break sunflower seeds apart in a couple bites yet...takes them a lot more chewing
I tried the clean-cage-eliminates-scent method that I thought would work well...again they were young, so that may explain why it worked. But anyway, I completely cleaned out the cages (I have two cages joined together, easy to do a split-cage method if I have to) and put fresh bedding in the cages. It turns out all 4 of them (Bosco and Finch seem pretty much full grown, Lev and Wilhelm are ~6 weeks) were running around frantically. I had the cages split at this time. Once Lev and Wilhelm got somewhat used to their surroundings, I removed the separater (after about an hour). No fights at all. Neither scent is on the bedding, so they don't know who the rightful owner is, that's my guess That and they don't want to pick on young gerbils
I am not completely sure on age...never seen pups at 6 weeks...but these gerbils are tiny...the body is no longer than my thumb, and I have average-sized hands...the tail is about the same length. Does that sound like ~6 weeks old? Regardless, they are younger than Bosco and Finch when we got them.
All gerbils are male, by the way.
Thoughts? Ideas? Anyone else try the completely fresh clean then separate for a very small amount of time method? It seemed to work well...but it could also be the age of the pups. How old do the new gerbils sound, roughly? And comments on this possibly new method?
Sam