|
Post by bean on May 31, 2004 15:00:30 GMT -8
It was great to read about the introduction of 2 mature gerbils working out. I have still not decided if i should try to introduce my older gerbil to another older female or 2 little ones. I am thinking maybe another older one who is lonely as well. My main question is how long should I wait before attempting to introduce a new gerbil or gerils? Grace died last week on Wednesday. Faith the surviving gerbil did not do well at first, she hid and would not chew much. She seems to have perked up in the past two days and is once again chewing away, taking seeds from my hands, enjoying a dust bath and even winking at me. Is it posible for a lone gerbil to survivie? Do gerbils get more stressed in the introduction period? It is hard to decide what is best for Faith. I am grateful for any advice.
|
|
|
Post by Ritzie/Admin on Jun 1, 2004 5:59:52 GMT -8
You can introduce a new gerbil today if you want. Best to want not too long! But a introduction can be stressfull for gerbil, because they have to learn a new gerbil and they are as you know very territorial!
Mongolian gerbils are social animals that need companions to be happy. They live in the wild in social groups too! However they will not die when kept alone! But they can get bored and lonely, and that can sometimes result in steriotipc behaviour, etc. So if you can it is best to search a new partner for her. And it is easier for you when you purchase a very young female, because the introduction is easier.
|
|
|
Post by miamor on Jun 17, 2004 11:36:59 GMT -8
my question is similar to the original post.. one of my gerbils, moriarty, died two days ago and holmes is now alone in his giant three story cage and i can tell he's really wondering where his brother has gone..i let him sniff his brother's body after he passed, but i couldn't expose him to it too long because the vet really didn't know what it was that was making moriarty sick...anywho, holmes is only 8 months old, so i'd like to get him a new companion....i've found some pups that are betwen 8-10 weeks old, so i'm going to be getting another male and putting him in his own cage in a seperate room so he can take a few days to get used to the new house smells and to me...how long do you recommend i give holmes for grieving and adjustment? also, do you recommend i just place the two wire cages next to each other and let them sniff each other out that way or split my smaller cage and place them both in that one? thank you so much in advance..i'm really new to all of this and i could use all the help i can get..and dont worry, i've been reading everything i can get my eyes on about gerbil introductions thanks again!!! m.
|
|
|
Post by miamor on Jun 17, 2004 11:44:56 GMT -8
how did your introduction go??
|
|
|
Post by Ritzie/Admin on Jun 18, 2004 6:39:01 GMT -8
Yes Bean, how did your introduction go? Miamor, welcome here! ;D You might not have many problems with a 8-10 week old gerbil! Usually a male will accept a very young gerbil without problems, however your new gerbil will be on the edge. Maybe he is just a bit too old for a introduction without a splitcage. I would recommend you to use a splitcage (for about 3 days is maybe enough with such young gerbil)! Just devide ONE tank into two pieces and place each gerbil on one side of the divider. They have to accept each other as a part of their territorium, so you have to use one cage and swith sides. It is best to use a tank or cage that is unfamiliar for both! Success and keep us updated on how it went!
|
|
|
Post by miamor on Jun 18, 2004 9:11:56 GMT -8
thanks for your quick reply i picked up my new little one (dr. watson is his name) last night and i have to say he is ADORABLE! all white with big red eyes... he's been very active, running around and eating his little seeds...he hasn't been hiding too much at all which is very surprising..he's a very happy little fellow i will do the split cage method as you suggest..however, i only have two cages...a huge three level cage where holmes (my 8 month male) and moriarty (his brother that passed) live...and a smaller cage that is 2'x14"x12" where my new little one is currently residing...this is probably the cage i will be using to split as it only has one level and it will be easier to keep them seperated...once they have started to get along and i place them both in the larger cage, do you think there might be territorial problems there? i really appreciate all of your advice and suggestions..i want to make this as easy and stressfree as possible for the boys... by the way, do you know of any online retailers who sell wooden toys for gerbils? i'm interested in getting them a see-saw and i haven't been able to find one anywhere...
|
|
|
Post by Ritzie/Admin on Jun 19, 2004 2:35:49 GMT -8
You can use a small cage, and it is fine to move them to a larger cage when they get along with each other!
Just watch how they react on each other, some gerbils accept each other very quickly and with some other gerbils it can take some more time. But because your gerbils is still very young and small it shall not take very long, probably.
btw, I don't know any online retailers for wooden toys, but I'm sure some other people here will know!
|
|
|
Post by j on Jun 19, 2004 8:23:59 GMT -8
by the way, do you know of any online retailers who sell wooden toys for gerbils? i'm interested in getting them a see-saw and i haven't been able to find one anywhere... I saw this ad on another board. She makes toys herself and will even customize them.. www.agsgerbils.org/classifieds/index.php?p_days=15&p_cmd=entry&p_entry=3016 SAMS makes toys like that but not wooden.. www.pennplax.com/Pages/SmAn.pages..../SmAn04F.html(scroll all the way down) I don't think you can buy from that site.. but if you email them and ask them what site you can buy them off of they'll get back to you. Once they emailed me a site that sold every single product but I don't have the link anymore.
|
|
|
Post by miamor on Jun 19, 2004 14:04:57 GMT -8
thank you for your suggestion...i emailed that girl and she says she can make the item i'm asking for
|
|
|
Post by miamor on Jun 19, 2004 14:08:51 GMT -8
Peter... i've started my introduction today.... i got a ten gallon tank and split it in half with some wire and set everything up just as everyone has suggested.... holmes is marking everything on his side of the tank and thumping his legs and trying to smell watson through the wire.. watson on the other hand doesn't seem to care and has been eating and eating and chewing on his chew toy...probably because he's so young, he's not feeling threatened or aggresive towards holmes... in a few hours i'm going to try switching sides and then once more before bed time... i hope that holmes can find it in himself to accept watson in a few days because i really want them to share companionship...also, i feel bad taking holmes from such a big cage to such a small set up he's very spoiled and i want to keep him that way!
|
|
|
Post by Ritzie/Admin on Jun 20, 2004 8:35:03 GMT -8
Holmes will mark his part each time probably for the first days. When he shows the behaviour that the new gerbil is showing than that may be a sign that you could try an introduction, but do the splitcage at least 3 days, if possibly longer.
Another tip that sometimes worked for me: When the introduction fails, split them again and introduce them to each other in a new cage. Than the only thing they recognise is each other. Hiding places will help too! And a lot of hay!
|
|
|
Post by miamor on Jun 22, 2004 18:12:31 GMT -8
well, the boys were introduced today and so far so good! the baby seems to know that holmes is boss and is going with the flow of things..they're in the three story cage now and exploring and climbing and burrowing...earlier, i caught watson sleeping on top of holmes, but then holmes smelled me and came to say hi so i ruined it!! anywho, i hope this means that everything will be downhill from here..i went out and got them tons of new toys and ladders and houses, so they're having a ball...one thing tho, watson wants to eat his sand instead of roll in it...is this normal? holmes has never done that and just rolls around and bathes himself. thanks for all of your advice peter! the boys and i appreciate it
|
|