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Post by dpfoib on Jan 7, 2005 5:14:14 GMT -8
I am fuming after visiting Pets At Home, to be told by some cretin that no way can I introduce my three year old male (recently bereaved) to two male pups can someone give me a definitive answer?
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Post by andrea on Jan 7, 2005 5:17:31 GMT -8
it will not be easy, you will need to use the split cage method, even then it maynot be successful. I have a male living along becuase he will not accept a friend. Have a look at this about introducing. home.studenten.net/~petermaas/gerbils/introducing.htmAlthough him being on his own is not ideal, it maybe the way he wants to be. Males are easier than females, but you will need to be cautious. I did have one female killed after I tried to put her teenage female pups back with her, they had only been seperated for 7 days, unfortunately one bite to the gullet was enough and it was a nasty horrible experiance I wouldn't wish on anyone. On the other hand I have had straight forward intros when I have just put them in a pen together and away you go, this usually only seems to work if they are all under the 12 weeks stage. Whats everyone elses experiances?.
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Post by dpfoib on Jan 7, 2005 5:47:58 GMT -8
He has been alone since Christmas night, when his pal of almost three years died. He looks miserable. We have given him lots of new play things. He was very affectionate with his companion and thats why we thought he might be ok. I don't, however, want to end up with dead pups. I was so annoyed at this persons attitude in Pets At Home. She obviously knew very little about gerbils and was rude and aggressive. I have been reading the postings on the site and other areas and I always thought that males were more accepting and not as aggressive as females, but Pets At Home Site recommend females, or keeping groups of equal numbers of both sexes?
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Post by Ritzie/Admin on Jan 7, 2005 5:58:49 GMT -8
I have had one (4 years old) male that keep fighting with other gerbils. No introduction worked.
But normally a male will accept very young male pups quite good. But it need to be pups as young as possible (5-8 weeks) old. It won't see it as a threat.
I have done it myself and it worked very well, and I know other have done the same thing and also that worked well.
What you can keep in mind that introduction get more difficult as gerbils get older. But I cannot guarantee that the introduction will go well, sometimes it won't! So if you decide it to do, keep in mind that it might be necessary to have an extra cage to house the two new pups.
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Post by dpfoib on Jan 7, 2005 6:06:44 GMT -8
Thanks for the info - I'm not sure whether to just leave him alone or just keep two more in a cage right close to him so that he can see them? Would this make him any less lonely do you think - without the risks?
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Post by Ritzie/Admin on Jan 7, 2005 6:38:04 GMT -8
I think it does, but..... sadly enough I cannot read gerbil minds. ;D
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Post by dpfoib on Jan 7, 2005 7:02:38 GMT -8
Many thanks Dr Doolittle - I will keep you posted!!!!
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Post by doomgerbiluk on Jan 7, 2005 9:26:26 GMT -8
Warning Whail mainly adding young pups to males or male colonies works nad I do it all the time it may fail. Example: Bailey he's a lovely gerbil, great dad and very tolerant but on the two occasions he has been seperated from mates as I watned no more pups from the pairings he has refused to have a companion. The latest incident..a week after seperating him from his partner I put a 5 week son in, he attempted to murder it. Bailey only wants FEMALE company!!! So strong gloves and something to seperate them tih is necessary JUST IN CASE.
Please don't think I'm saying NO, I'm just warning you it may not work.
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Post by dpfoib on Jan 7, 2005 10:56:03 GMT -8
Thanks - it's all very worrying! I was treated like a total moron/evil pet hater today in the pet shop for even mentioning introducing pups to an adult (almost 3). From all I have read in replies etc.. it appears to be pretty much dependent on the individual gerbil. I was saying earlier in my reply to Peter, whether it would be safer to house him very close to another pair so that he can smell and see them but without the danger. The only thing I was thinking was, will it be frustrating for him to be so close? It's a shame because, in all time he was with his pal (Hobb's) I don't think any of us witnessed a proper fight between them. They were very lovely dovey - even though they were both male! I would hate for him to injure or kill the pups as a result of my poor judgement.
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Post by doomgerbiluk on Jan 7, 2005 12:54:51 GMT -8
He sounds the dependant type who'd benefit from new companionship
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Post by dpfoib on Jan 8, 2005 7:16:05 GMT -8
Yes - that's what I'm thinking....I will keep you posted.
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Post by sweetie on Jan 9, 2005 19:40:37 GMT -8
Hey Dp, I would suggest introducing them after a proper split cage. I think that it is worth a shot. As long as you are cautious and aware of aggressive behavior signal that precipitate fights, you should be okay. If you see the behavior after the face to face separate them with gloves and then leave them in separate tanks. It is better to try and fail than not to try at all . P.S. I don't mean to tell you to blindly introduce them but I think the pros out weigh the cons as long as you are adequately prepared!
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Post by dpfoib on Jan 10, 2005 7:07:53 GMT -8
Hi, he is definitely in need of company...Last night for the first time ever, he made a dramatic bid for freedom by scaling the cage and escaping out and down on the floor (waking my daughter with the loud scraping noises)!!!
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RW
Member
When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure. Puppy 6/6/07
Posts: 530
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Post by RW on Jan 11, 2005 6:04:18 GMT -8
dpfoib, I just did my very first adult male/male pup intro and I'm very happy to say it was successful.
After the recent declanning of my boy trio, Ollie (9 months old) was left on his own. I got a young male pup, Foster, and after three days in a split tank, switching them from side to side twice a day, I introduced them Sunday. There were several hours of excitement, but in the end, all was well. They've been together since noon on Sunday, they're both uninjured, and right now are together in their nest, with little Foster sprawled across Ollie's back, sleeping with gerbil abandon. ;D
This is just my own personal opinion, but I've found that most gerbils who are used to having the company of other gerbils, especially males, are much easier to re-pair than gerbils who have been alone for a long period of time.
RW
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Post by dpfoib on Jan 11, 2005 9:58:50 GMT -8
Hi - Lovely story, glad everything has turned out so well for your two! My real problem has been finding pups young enough for the intro. At the beginning of the thread I mentioned that I was actually 'refused' a sale of pups, with the assistant being totally horrified at my plans...
Calvin has now been alone since Christmas night and we are still trying to get pups. The shop where we bought him and his late pal, only sell them from 10 weeks onwards - from the info I have gathered here, the general opinion is that is a little on the mature side!!
I am going to try again tomorrow and also, to get a suitable tank. I am still a little unsure on my ability to make the 'split' and just wish they sold them ready made.
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