gerbil introduction please help!

[pixytwinkle]

:-/I have got a female gerbil called molly who is about 1 year old maybe less and i have had her for about eight weeks. She was starting to look very lonely and depressed so today i bought another female gerbil who is only 7 weeks old. I want to introduce them as i would like molly to have a friend. Do you think this will work?

Any replies would be greatly appreciated!
thanx jessica

[pixytwinkle]

oh yeah i forgot to add:
i put the new 7 week old gerbil in with the older one (molly) and at first all was ok molly just sniffed her and the young one just lay there and then molly started getting a little rough and the baby was squeking she is very tiny so i took her straight out. I dont have a tank as they are in cages so i dont know how to introduce them any ideas please help!

[Kenshin]

Well if she was ALONE w\o a mate for A YEAR she is probly not going to get used to another gerbil\ or it will be extremly hard to get her to accept a pal, Gerbil's are meant to be together if they are isolated then they become Anti-Social :-\ I had to get my Male gerbil another Male gerbil cause he was getting depressed but that was in 2 weeks... they are now cuddling and alway's playing but one year... I dunno you may have to stick with her being alone unless.. You could try that weird fill tub with water and then make a lil raft so they relie on eachother to not fall in the water therefore attaching to eachother.. never tried it though

[sandy2]

Females are funny that way but it should be possible to introduce them by split caging them...you should find out how to do that by looking at some of the other threads around here, basically put a sturdy gerbil proof wire divider between the 2 and then switch them to each other's sections several times a day. That way they get used to each other without having a chance to get rough. When they are sleeping against each other through the partition you can take it out and see if they get along.

[queenofthenile]

You can take a peek at the information on my website:
www.gerbilbreeding.com/intro.htm

I think you have a very good chance that the two will get along. When you put the baby in, she was frightened, but the older gerbil did not attack her. You could either purchase a very small cage that will go inside your current one, or you can get a tank and make a divider for it. Keep us updated on your progress.

[pixytwinkle]

well i have managed to split the cage in half but the youngest one who is now called misty was able to fit through the bars which are very small. I have managed to fix this problem. At first molly just watched misty and then they both went to the bars and were sniffing each other there wasnt any signs of aggression i dont think. Molly was sniffing her only she wasnt bitting the bars or anything. At the minute all is ok both are asleep, they havent really done anything else and they have been in the cage together for about two hours. I had a real problem at first molly escaped in my bedroom and went under the bed so it took and hour to fing her lol. but everything is fine now. Is this a good sign as this is my first introduction and i am not sure. Do you think a week is long enough before removing the divider?
thanx jessica

[queenofthenile]

It sounds good so far. I would try it for a week and remove the divider. Wear thick gloves so that if they fight, you can separate them.

[pixytwinkle]

everything is going ok i think molly keeps on digging at the bars but it doesnt look aggressive or anything just digging. Is this a bad sign. I might move the divider on saturday or sunday do you think this will be long enough.

[gracie]

I think moving the dividers on Sunday is an ok idea. There could be no sign of aggressivness because the gerbs are in different parts of the cage. why dont u try takin the divider away for about an hour or so and see if anything bad happens. if nothing bad happens then it is probably safe to keep the divider away, but if something bad does happen, then i think you should wait a couple more weeks.

[paws]

They want to be together!!!!!!! So sweet! ;D If you exchange scent with tissues until sunday they will get used to it, or use a new cage and change the location of the cage and the bedding, then they will both be a bit shocked, and will both make a home together.

[pixytwinkle]

thanx i appreciate all advice

[pixytwinkle]

everything seems to be going ok they still keep sniffing each other and molly is digging at the bars. Molly however does seem a little upset just lately i dont know why. Could it be the stress of introducing them? Do u think if i take out the divider on saturday that they have had enough time? How do i know if any of them is showing any signs of aggression?

[pixytwinkle]

when i do actually remove the divider what sort of things should i be wary of? At first will molly still be a little ruff with her but not actually atttacking her? Sorry i know i am asking alot of questions but i really want this to work

[pixytwinkle]

well sunday is the big day. Everything seems ok but they still dont slepp next to the divider though. They are showing no signs of agression i dont think. I am really nervouse for my gerbils and really hope everything goes ok. Can anyone give me any more information?

[pixytwinkle]

please please reply someone this is my first ever introduction and i really need ur guys help!