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Post by doomgerbiluk on Jan 11, 2005 10:53:20 GMT -8
they do I bought a split cage designed for hamsters for my gerbils
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Post by dpfoib on Jan 11, 2005 11:07:40 GMT -8
Where did you buy it from, are you UK based?
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Post by doomgerbiluk on Jan 11, 2005 11:23:39 GMT -8
yep I'm in the UK I can't remember tbh
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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 13, 2005 20:17:52 GMT -8
dpfoib, I have been trying to get a shot of Ollie and Foster together for two days (Foster's not too keen on posing for the camera), but here it is, proof that you can introduce a pup to an adult successfully. Do either of them look unhappy? They have been together five days and are getting along fine, not even a hint of a squabble. Feel free to print out this photo to show the Pets At Home folks that it can be done. How's the pup search going? RW
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Post by dpfoib on Jan 14, 2005 0:32:41 GMT -8
Gorgeous pic! - Your adult is the image of our very own Calvin! Glad to see they have settled down together....Do you think it would be as easy with two pups? Only because if Calvin dies (almost three years) the younger one will be left alone.
..Since my visit to Pets At Home, I wrote a letter of complaint and they have appologised, and accepted that the split cage method is viable....just not with their pets! Their live stock managers have the discretion to decide whether a pets health will be compromised apparently, they more or less said that if I lied and said that they were to be housed apart that would br fine....hypocrites!
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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 14, 2005 5:44:58 GMT -8
Thanks. I'm somewhat the Queen of Failed Introductions, so I'm always happy and excited when one works.
I've only done one 2/1 intro, so I'm not an expert. My three gerbils were all young, though. The oldest was 9 weeks, the other two were 5 weeks. I followed the same routine as with Ollie and Foster--three days in the split tank, switching sides twice a day, and that intro was one of the easiest I've ever done. There was never any behavior that even came close to resembling a squabble, the boys all seemed to just accept one another almost right away. This is my trio that declanned, but they lived happily together for 6 months before they did.
I certainly agree that pet store employess can be total numbskulls when it comes to gerbil behavior--or much of anything about gerbils at all. Most of the ones I've run into could all combine their (accurate) knowledge of gerbils and not have enough to fill a thimble. I hardly think the NGS and AGS would endorse the split cage method of introduction if either felt it would compromise gerbils' health! Yes, there's an element of risk in any introduction, but IMO it's a risk worth taking if your gerbil isn't dealing well with living alone.
RW
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Post by dpfoib on Jan 14, 2005 5:58:20 GMT -8
-My sentiments exactly! I have just had news of two pups available - five weeks old, so it looks hopeful. i will post when I have picked them up!
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Post by dpfoib on Jan 14, 2005 12:38:05 GMT -8
Hi, We have just picked up Ted (white,red eyes) and Dougal (siamese) 5 week old pups. Both look cute and healthy. They are currently in a small cage next to Calvin and are running around madly - Calvin has sniffed the cage and then gone to the other cage (furthest away) and gone to sleep....in a huff or uninterested?
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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 14, 2005 15:46:59 GMT -8
Oh, congrats on the new boys! I've seen all sorts of reactions when gerbils were put in close proximity, from violently attacking the divider, with tail lashing and teeth chattering, to just a quick sniff and on about their business. Thinking back, none of the gerbils involved in my successful intros spent much time mooning around the divider and sometimes didn't even sleep very close to one another in the split cage. I wouldn't be discouraged by Calvin's apparent lack of interest. He didn't exhibit any aggression, which is good, and, if he went off to take a nap, he must not have been too upset. I've never had a gerbil sleep when it was agitated, so take that as a good sign, too. I wish you best of luck! RW
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Post by dpfoib on Jan 15, 2005 1:43:06 GMT -8
Hi, Just checked them this morning - they look so tiny next to Calvin (he is a bit on the plump side). They seem to be fine and active. I tried to encourage Calvin to come closer to the other cage and he had another sniff and then went back to sleep! He is being very mellow at the moment - lets hope you're right about this being a positive reaction.
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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 15, 2005 7:12:12 GMT -8
Mellow is always good! My Ollie isn't a very big gerbil at all, but even so, Foster, who wasn't quite 5 weeks yet, looked minuscule in comparison. I spent the whole week before their intro worrying that Ollie would hurt this tiny little guy or that Foster would be totally intimidated by Ollie's size. Boy, did I ever get that wrong--the first thing Foster did was leap onto Ollie's head and start chewing his ears! And Ollie's reaction was to lie down flat as a piece of paper and let Foster chew! It really was rather funny. Gerbils...they never do quite what you expect... ;D I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that thing work out as well for your boys. RW
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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 16, 2005 8:05:50 GMT -8
I thought you might enjoy this photo of Foster and Ollie. It's a little hard to see, but that black thing underneath Foster is Ollie and Foster is grooming him. They will have been together a week tomorrow. ;D RW
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Post by dpfoib on Jan 16, 2005 10:37:07 GMT -8
Hi, and thanks for posting the photo - cute!! We have been keeping a close eye on the three of them and Calvin is still being quite cool about the set up. This morning I allowed him to get a little closer to the pups in the next cage by removing a plastic cover and letting him put his nose right up close to the bars. Dougal (the siamese) jumped onto the bars and they were nose to nose for a moment. At this point I'm not sure whether Dougal nipped at Calvins nose. He was not at all put out and commenced with some vigorous shredding of paper. The good sign, I thought, was that soon after, he slept for a bit close to where the pups are. After a while he returned to the other compartment and continued to sleep.
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Post by dpfoib on Feb 3, 2005 7:25:49 GMT -8
Hi, I thought you might like to know what happened with the pups and Calvin. After a long trial, (with nightly episodes in the empty bath) I decided that these three would not be housed together. At first, Calvin was behaving in a very positive way. As time went on he appeared to be becoming increasingly distressed - The pups where becoming frightened (squeaking madly and running from him at every opportunity) He tried a few nips at them, so I cleaned out the respective cages and he relaxed as soon as he could no longer smell them. It is a shame, as they are now living side by side (the two pups in a tank, and Calvin in a two storey concoction). Even now, if he gets a sniff of something that has been anywhere near them he frantically marks everything in his cage!! The pups are growing nicely and developing personalities of their own.. Dougal, the siamese, appears to be developing a 'stripe' running from his head to his tail, is this true of all 7 weeks + pups? The fur, on the area is darker than that on the rest of his body.
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Post by sweetie on Feb 3, 2005 12:04:40 GMT -8
Hey dp,
The squeaking is normal!! I introduced a 6 week old male pup to 2 - 5 month old gerbil males. At first, there was a lot of running and squeaking and then it settled down. I think that they may be approaching him because he is perhaps a *dad*.
Did you see any aggression? The nipping is also normal to keep them at bay until all are adjusted. Are you going to try another intro?
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