lonely male

[bettybob]

confession....i just got my first gerbil, without knowing enough about gerbils.
one thing i wish i had known when i bought my Tibbon is that gerbils do better in pairs. Tibbon was all alone in his pet store...and i didnt think to ask if there had been other gerbils in there or if he had always been alone. Now i want to buy another gerbil to keep him company, but i don't know if i should. i don't know if he used to live with other gerbils...or even how old he is. (there isn't a way to tell how old an adult gerbil is is there?)
From what i have read, even though it might not work to introduce another gerbil to Tibbon, i should at least try rather than leaving him alone.

My question is this:
would i be better to introduce a male or a female? and would it be best if the new gerbil is younger than Tibbon?

most everywhere i can get a gerbil always seems to have very young gerbils. but if gerbil hierarchys are anything like cat's....then i would asume it is best to introduce a gerbil that is younger. or does it even matter? i can't find any sites that say anthing about that.
i also read that two males will fight...is this really true? because i would hate to end up with a non stop flow of baby gerbils....which is what i asume would happen if i got a female.
(actually i really wouldnt HATE having gerbil babys...but i asume once you put them together they just keep making babies...)

anyway...sorry for the really long post. thanks to anyone who actually reads all of that. hehe.

[j]

Better late than never. ;D


Actually males are a lot easier than females, less likely to fight and it's easiest to introduce the youngest gerbil you can get. Under 8 weeks, best is around 5-6. Regardless of his age.

Then clean out the cage really well and put them both in it at the same time, but use the split cage method to introduce them..
www.agsgerbils.org/Gerbil_Care_Handbook/adopt.html#split

If you find a baby, like about 4-6 weeks old, then you can just clean out the cage and put them in together and watch them for a while to make sure there are no signs of aggression. (squeaking, chasing, boxing..highly unlikely during that age though,) But unless you're sure of the age, then better off with the split cage method.
Also make sure you get it somewhere that CAN sex them, and learn how to sex them yourself by looking at pics online so you don't end up with babies. A lot of petshops can't tell the difference, especially in younger gerbils.
male/female pics..
www.gerbilbreeding.com/sexing.htm

[queenofthenile]

I just want to agree with what J said. Introduce a very young male and you should have no problems. I'm glad you are doing the research now, your gerbil will be much happier for it!

[bettybob]

thanks guys

i got new male ;D havnt come up with a name yet.
he is siamese colored and i think is about 6 weeks old.

so far he and Tibbon are ignoring each other....but i can't wait till they are friends and i can put them together!