Odd or Even Number?

[penguin]

I currently have one 8 month old with two 4 month olds, four 11 week olds, and four 6 week olds. They are all males and I am debating if I should keep the 3 oldest or if I should keep the 3 oldest and the 6 week old runt with them. I ask because I have heard that if you keep 3 that 2 might gang up on 1 and I definitely don't want that to happen. So does keeping 4 change that? They will be in a 20 gallon long aquarium. Any help is much appreciated.

[sweetie]

From what I have read here and other places - it is easier to keep more males than females. Males tend to be less aggressive toward each other. It might be beneficial to see who gets along better before making a decision. Are you in a rush to get rid of them? Do you have time and the space to keep them a while and see?

Also older gerbils get along better with younger ones so maybe it would be best to keep the youngest. Especially if there has been no aggression from the older males on the runt.

[penguin]

We currently have 19 gerbils; 11 boys and 8 girls. We don't have the time or the finances to take care of that many now that they are getting bigger (Petco gave us the wrong gender and so we never planned to have more than two). We have asked everyone we know if they would take some for free, but we are finally using our last resort which is a nice little local-owned pet store who said they would buy them. A friend is taking two gerbils and our 10 gallon tank tomorrow so whoever is left that we will not be keeping is going to the pet store tomorrow. I wish we could keep them all but we can't. Now I have the heart wrenching task of choosing who to keep and who to sell.

[GerbilCrazy]

I don't understand why people think gerbils are so expensive and can't afford them.

I spend $10 a month on 16 full grown adults.
I buy my food from stores that sell it in bulk, where you pay by pound. Much cheaper then in bags.
Their bedding I get in bulk as well. A HUGE bag for about $10 and it lasts a couple of months.
Toys and houses are OPTIONAL. Cardboard keeps them just as amused and they easily sleep in a cardboard box or even a coconut. Or just a pile of tissue in the corner if you're out of cardboard which happens easily with that many.
Tanks are about $10. Covers you can make yourself. And once you get the housing sorted.. you just have to worry about food and bedding.
Or you can go to any depetarment or dollar store and buy a few huge bins and put them in that for $5!

I would NEVER put any animal in a petshop. It does not matter how well the petshop takes care of the gerbils. What about the new owners?
MOst petshop gerbils end up as pets for little kids. They have to live in a small tiny crappy plastic cage because it has fun colors and shapes OR a nice wire cage! And most likely it will have to live by itself. It will probably have to live on PINE shavings because it's cheap, or CEDAR because parents like the smell of it and will hide the dirty smells of urine.
Gerbils will probably escape from the kids hands or chew their way out of their junk cage and get killed by a cat.
And most likely they'll end up without a tail because kids pick them up by the tails.
But all of that is OK because the petstore took care of them! I don't know how anyone can stand having that on their conscience.. wondering if they have a good life or if they're even alive.
Anyone that sells to a petshop can't care too much about their pets. Money is the most stupid excuse ever. I personally would work at Mcdonalds if I found myself jobless and broke. I would rather flip burgers if I had to rather then get rid of my babies.

[j]

penguin said:

free, but we are finally using our last resort which is a nice little local-owned pet store who said they would buy them.

Why don't you try putting out ads?
You could post on the classified section on the AGS site.
You could search google for other gerbil forums and make a post on all of them.
You could put an ad in the classified section on your state's homepage.
Could post on petfinder.com (slow for classifieds though)
Could search google for classified ads/pets and post on those.
Post fliers in petshops. Maybe even your vet's office.

Just some suggestions.

I agree about the pet stores. There are much better ways to find homes for gerbils other then selling them to a petshop. At least meeting the new owners personally, you can educate them about the care and feel better about it. Even give them your email incase they have any questions.

[penguin]

I just wanted to let J and sweetie know that I appreciate their advice. I do agree about pet stores but I feel that even strong opinions can be expressed in a proper manner. Also I thought you should know that I know the owner of the pet shop and he is VERY picky about who he sells his animals to, even fish. It almost makes you wonder how he stays in business because of it. He doesn't run a typical petshop. That is why they are going to him and not someplace like Petco.

[sweetie]

First: Gerbil Crazy I think that you are thinking of worst case senario!!! I also find your retort upsetting I have two children and the gerbils love them. As a matter of fact, they don't try to run away from them but they run on them. My kids are 2 & 4. I also have a cat who is not really bothered by them and ignores them. The cat loves to bring me specimens from out side the house but leaves the gerbils and the cage alone on the rare occasion that he's in. Please be careful how you respond!!! I realize that you are ultimately concerned for the gerbils. I think that penguin was asking for suggestions and not judgement!!!!! Penguin also indicated that time is an issue. Would you rather they be kept and filthy because they are not properly maintained. Penguin knows what limits with time and money exists in her situation. Penguins concern is also for the gerbils!

Second: Penguin Your welcome. I hope the suggestions J gave you will help you. I trust you will do what is best for both you and the gerbils.