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Post by Allison on Nov 27, 2004 21:27:08 GMT -8
Hello. I wanted to ask some things about introducing another gerbil to my current one. When I first bought him I asked the lady if they like company or no, and she said no, then I came home and looked up stuff on the internet and every ones saying they need company. I don't want my gerbil to be sad and lonely for ever. I have a male not sure its exact age but I'm guessing almost 10 weeks old if not already. I already know I should get a same sex gerbil and that it would help if the new guys younger than 10 weeks old. So here are some of my questions:
1. I have a half wire, half plastic cage, the plastic thing is going
fine, he's not biting or scratching at the walls or tubes. But it's
sort of small....should I buy another cage and connect them?
2. Do I HAVE to do the split cage thing? Because of the small
wire/plastic cage, that might be a problem. Any ideas? What are the
risks to just put the new guy in there, after cleaning the cage and
putting things in new places of course. (Don't have the funds to buy a big fish tank)
3. If because of my little problems here I might not be able to get
another gerbil. How will this effect my current one? Will he be
depressed and start acting weird, or will he be ok?
Thanks alot!
Allison
ps. wishing I looked into this more before I bought him. I figured the pet store people knew what they were talking about....guess not.
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Post by paws on Nov 27, 2004 23:07:08 GMT -8
Same me, but I got a baby to go with my two adults. ALlison, if you introduce them in the bathtub, the will get to know each other. likely they will not hurt each other, but to be on the safe side, use a laundry basket with holes, or wire cage to introduce the in the tub. I did this, and they held hands (SWEEEEEEET  ) Get him before the end of this week! Otherwise, your gerbie will be in tranisit to adulthood almost! I was stupid and got a baby to go with the 7month olds....... whoops! |
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Post by doomgerbiluk on Nov 28, 2004 1:45:26 GMT -8
get a pup
the nearer to 5 weeks the better
males are suckers for small pups
rub the pups with sawdust from the older lads cage and hopdfully theyll be fine
you'll get some power grooming, maybe some crying (some pups are real cry babys) but as long as you don't get blood or injury they will settle.
This is not 100% but does generally work with males
good luck
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Post by queenofthenile on Nov 28, 2004 5:23:44 GMT -8
You may just be able to put them together as paws and doom said. Since your current gerbil is still so young, it is likely that no fight will occur. I was actually able to put 5 - 5 week old pups with an older male with no split cage (as they were awaiting new homes).
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Post by allison on Nov 28, 2004 17:51:36 GMT -8
Thanks for the ideas. Well I went today to get a baby boy, but they only had one left a female, and about 3months old, so that's no good. I'm going to try a different pet store tomorrow. I'm also going to get another cage and connect the 2 with tubes. But for the intro I thought of a good idea to just put the cages face to face so they can see and smell each other but not fight. And every day I'll switch cages so they can smell whats up in the other cage. I'm not sure if it's because he's getting weird about being lonely or what. But he's been a lot more skitish lately....I was doing well taming him, he was going in my hand and sometimes I'd pick him up and when I put him back in he wouldn't run for cover he'd just turn around and look at me. Once he even ran up to the cage opening and started squeaking to come out a little longer, I think thats what he was doing anyways. But around yesterday afternoon, he started to run away and always hide in the same corner. He still goes in my hand but he's on gaurd. I dunno whats wrong all of a sudden. Was I going to fast and freaked him out by picking him up too much, or is it because he's starting to get sad and lonely?  ? |
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Post by sweetie on Nov 29, 2004 11:27:56 GMT -8
Okay, couple of things.
1) if you are going to get another cage, don't!! I would use the money to get a tank. I started with cages and ended up switching to tanks. You can find a 10 gallon for $9.98 at Walmart and use a home made lid. They are cleaner and they don't cause such a mess. I started with cages and they gerbils could not burrow since there was not a lot of room for wood shavings. Seriously think about a tank. It may be cheaper in the long run.
2) I would think that you would be able to put the 2 of them in together right away as long as the new one was a pup. I put a male pup in with my 5 month olds on the first day! The little one squeaked alot but they never hurt him. Also you may want to keep him separate for a few days to make sure he is healthy and has solid feeces. You want to make sure if he is sick that you find out before you put him in with the other one and get him sick too.
3) Consider getting your pup from a breeder. They are no more expensive but hopefully a lot healthier and friendlier. You can check this Forum and then you can check AGS website and NGS depending on where you live.
4) I imagine that the little one you have may feel lonely or it may be that he needs to adjust a little more. It could be that he is being handled a little too much.
5) Good luck and keep us posted.
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Post by allison on Nov 29, 2004 18:26:56 GMT -8
Thanks. Unfortunatly or maybe not, I bought the other cage today. (Before reading the reply) All the stores I checked out today all have females. One store said they're getting babies on Thursday or Friday. So I'll check back there. There are no breeders here. I live in a very small town.
I don't mind the cages, yeah they are messy but it doesn't bother me, I just sweep it up and put it back in or throw it away if it's dirty. The new cage I got has a deeper bottom so I can put alot more shavings in it. I'll post a pic of my cage arangement, I have a feeling you guys wont approve because it's a cage with tubes....but he looks happy to me.
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Post by allison on Nov 29, 2004 19:01:33 GMT -8
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Post by queenofthenile on Nov 30, 2004 5:33:12 GMT -8
At least they will have lots of space. I prefer the tanks myself, but if you are willing to deal with the mess, so be it  . If you find that the gerbils aren't friends at first, you could always shove a piece of wire mesh to block off the tube that connects the two cages. If certainly isn't as effective as a split cage, but it may work. |
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Post by j on Nov 30, 2004 6:49:02 GMT -8
One store said they're getting babies on Thursday or Friday. . That's your best bet. Get a baby about 4-7 weeks old. You'll be able to just put the baby in with your other and they'll get along instantly. ;D Set up doesn't look too bad. They can't dig or make their own tunnels but at least they have a lot of room. |
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Post by allison on Nov 30, 2004 8:38:30 GMT -8
I was thinking that if they don't like each other right away I could separate the cages and put them up against each other sort of like a split cage....I can't wait to get my other gerby!
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Post by paws on Nov 30, 2004 8:50:31 GMT -8
post pics as soon as you get him!
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Post by j on Nov 30, 2004 15:28:53 GMT -8
I was thinking that if they don't like each other right away I could separate the cages and put them up against each other sort of like a split cage....I can't wait to get my other gerby! That won't work as a split cage. They'd need to be able to see, smell and feel eachother through the splitter. Seriously, just get a baby and you won't have to worry about split screens or anything. ;D |
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Post by allison on Nov 30, 2004 16:04:27 GMT -8
Well just in case as a last resort I was going to do that. They will be able to see, touch, smell, ect each other......putting the 2 wire cages face to face....
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Post by annie on Nov 30, 2004 18:18:12 GMT -8
Good luck when you get your baby. Looks like you got alot of good advice. I do want to tell you though, that I got both of my 20 gallon tanks at garage sales, but if you have a Meijers store, they have the 20 gallon tanks for under $25.00. I would not put mine in anything else. I also built the tops that I have for them and they are very nice, and cost so little to make. I am also in waiting for my new 4 males that will be housed together in a 30 gallon tank. i have not had gerbils for about 4 years now and can't wait to get them. Good luck to you and your gerbils!
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) Get him before the end of this week! Otherwise, your gerbie will be in tranisit to adulthood almost! I was stupid and got a baby to go with the 7month olds....... whoops! 
?
. If you find that the gerbils aren't friends at first, you could always shove a piece of wire mesh to block off the tube that connects the two cages. If certainly isn't as effective as a split cage, but it may work.