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Post by queenofthenile on Oct 20, 2004 6:09:07 GMT -8
I've got a similar question to birchmoon. I have a female gerbil in with a neutered male. She really likes to push him around, and likes to wrestle him to the ground. She is really very pushy! Every time he leaves the nest, she gives him his morning beating  . Once they go their seperate ways, she leaves him alone, but everytime they run into each other on the ground, she beats him up. I'm really not sure what to do. The behaviour doesn't seem to be escalating, and there is no squeaking. I'm not sure if the situation warrants splitting them up, or whether she isn't bad enough to remain by herself. I'm going to monitor them closely over the next few days. Does anyone have an opinion? |
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Post by doomgerbiluk on Oct 20, 2004 7:19:23 GMT -8
My first breeder female Disorderly regularly 'beats up' her partner.
Drunk adores her and she him, its all very good natured but very bossy .
Personally I think he's just henpecked...the gerbil equivalent of nagging.
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Post by sweetie on Oct 20, 2004 18:04:15 GMT -8
Wow, Sounds to me like they need some counselling LOL ;D. I think that gerbils have thier own personalities!! I think that she is being the Dominant female. Is she older than the male? It could be that she had to "teach" him things and has never gotten out of the "mothering" role. My two pair Bandit and Honeymunch are similar is some aspects. She won't tolerate him mounting her or pinning her to groom. She on the other hand needs to be the one on top. Bear and Squirt are also similar in that Bear litterally noses Squirt out of the way and is pushier but not aggressive. Shockingly  I don't think Squirt even notices. It may just be her way of interacting. As long as the other gerb is not getting hurt or does not seem to be bothered by the behavior, I would leave them as is. |
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Post by queenofthenile on Oct 21, 2004 5:16:16 GMT -8
The only thing, is I think he *is* annoyed by the behaviour. Everytime he sees her, he braces himself for impact. He arches his back and pushes her away with his sides. I swear, they're giving each other grey hair . |
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Post by sweetie on Oct 21, 2004 12:37:06 GMT -8
Do you know any good gerbil pairing councellors?? If he is stressed out, then maybe you can try some behavior modification techniques. Like when she is pushy, blow on her and say no. Also if she is being good to him, give her a treat. Hey maybe there is assertiveness training available for gerbils  !! (I am not trying to lighten the topic just the stress  ) |
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Post by j on Nov 7, 2004 21:16:03 GMT -8
I'm noticing the same with a couple of my gerbils..mostly my Nutmeg. It's like they can't be out of the nest together or the dominant one has to beat the other up and the other will go another way, or hide in the nest untill the other falls asleep. It's pissing me off. I'm seeing it way too much with him lately, gotten to the point of chasing now. I'm almost to the point of making him a loner.  The only thing, is I think he *is* annoyed by the behaviour. Everytime he sees her, he braces himself for impact. He arches his back and pushes her away with his sides. I swear, they're giving each other grey hair . I'm seeing this too with my dominant female. Food and the wheel seem* to trigger it. She starts with the others by arching her back and slamming her butt into the other, then there will be a stand off box with the stare and head tilt/neck lift.. then they go their seperate ways. and she chases anyone else away who comes near her. I make her eat by herself now, working so far. Try letting her out by herself for a while each day.. see if that helps. Seems to help my female get some of her energy out. When I let them out together, she chases and boxes everyone. I haven't tried it with my male. If I were to breed her wtih my Nutmeg .. I'd get some evil killing gerbils. |
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Post by queenofthenile on Nov 8, 2004 6:35:37 GMT -8
I've had some success with filling their entire tank with shavings (about 10 inches). I guess he can just burrow to get away from her now . I just think it's very funny, because both gerbs are at the age where they are getting white hairs (black and lilac). They didn't have the white hair before I introduced them . |
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Post by sweetie on Nov 8, 2004 12:24:43 GMT -8
Proof of the old wives tale eh!! Worry lends to grey hair LOL |
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. Once they go their seperate ways, she leaves him alone, but everytime they run into each other on the ground, she beats him up.
I don't think Squirt even notices.
!!
)