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Post by annie on Nov 30, 2004 11:20:45 GMT -8
I have had many years of experience with gerbils, but only the females. I would like to get some males (4) that are young and that were raised together. Is this a good idea or will they tend to fight as they hit puberty. The charts I have seen on the # of gerbil and the amount of space shows that I could get about 6 in this size cage. Does anyone out there have any experience with putting this many males in together or were they talking about putting pairs in this size tank? Thank you very much in advance...gerbils rule!
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Post by allison on Nov 30, 2004 11:28:01 GMT -8
I don't have experiance personally with this, but from what I've read on this forum and on gerbil info sites. You should be very successful with this set up. Males get along easier than females. Im trying to introduce a baby male to my almost adult male, and every ones telling me that it will go good and because they're males it will be easier. The fact that they already live together makes thing easier aslo, you wont have to do the split cage thing. They already know each other and each others scent.
If that thing you were looking at says 6 can fit in you tank then it more than enough room for 4. Although you might want to take the advice of someone who knows more about that.
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Post by j on Nov 30, 2004 15:15:34 GMT -8
I have 7 boys in a 30 gallon tank with no problems ever. (well 1 got sick and I had to reintroduce him..but nothing serious) Father 1 1/2yrs old 2 sons 10 months old 4 more sons 8 months old. I've never followed any of the gerbils per tank rule. Not even with females. So I think the "puberty" rule is a joke too because I was supposed to have problems a long time ago.  Just make sure to put enough things in the tank. I think the reason I get away with it is because they have a 30 gallon that's more than half full of shavings and cardboard to dig into. I've seen other people with like 50 gallon tanks and the only thing they put in is an inch of shavings with a wheel and plastic house on the bottom.... that's retarded and the gerbils will probably fight because they're always in eachother's faces. If you're going to spend the money on a huge tank, fill it up so they can get some use out of it. Gerbils need to dig, not run back and forth from side to side. |
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Post by callimico on Nov 30, 2004 17:03:06 GMT -8
That should work out good, they'll love all the space.
I used to have 4 males living in a 30 gallon, but I added on a 10 gal to it because I was so busy I didnt have enough time to play w/them as much as I used to. They made the 10 gal their nesting tank and played in the 30. ;D
What color are the males are you getting?
Wow 7 boys? That's awesome. I've found the same thing, as long as you drop something new in the tank every day they're happy, even if its just a toilet paper roll or manilla folder. I try to put in something big and interesting once a week or two plus the usual toys ;D. I only put in 3 inches of bedding but in a week they've chewed so much cardboard that it's up a lot. Mine seem to like levels more then digging, even when I had a foot or more of bedding they'd shift it around the tank but couldn't dig too much in it(they have a 55 & 5 gal tanks)
HOw many females have you grouped successfully? I had 3 girls living together but never more then that. I'd always heard more then 3 was a risk, but then I heard of people who had 5 or 6 living together.
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Post by annie on Nov 30, 2004 18:07:31 GMT -8
First I want to thank you all for your advise on housing 4 males together. I am surprised that there are so many people out there that know how wonderful these little pets are.
I have housed 3 females in the same tank successfully, have not tried more than 3. I have introduced quite a few with a separator and never had any trouble. I did this if I had one that lost a companion and didn't want them to be lonely.
I have requested to have 4 young males that have been housed together. I have asked for a black and the rest of them different parti colors.
Also how do you put tanks together; I am assumming you are talking about fish tanks. I also have 2 20 gallon tanks and a 10 gallon. I also have tons of thing for them to do and we (my kids and I) like to take them into our carpeted bathroom or hallway and let them run free. When the kids were younger they enjoyed building waffle blocks and watching them scurry around it those. Thank you so much for such quick replies and wonderful support. Good luck to all of you with your gerbils. I really like this site and will enjoy checking it often.
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