She hates him, should I switch them?

[callimico]

My honey cream male has been alone for about a month now, I bought him from a breeder at 5 weeks who said he was a she. After a month and a half I separated him from Fate to pair with a male, but during split cage realized she was a he. He's been alone because my nutmeg female was raising her last litter of pups, with an older daughter. I planned to pair the older daughter, Pepper with him, Taffy. Today I placed both on opposite sides of a split cage, tank neither has been in, thick bedding, new toys. He was interested and friendly (wasn't with the other male) and thumped the ground a little (she was born sept. 25). But I've never seen a reaction like hers she tried to attack him repeatedly through the divider, lashing her tail and biting madly. He had jammed his nose as far as he could and she bit the tip. When he pressed up against the divider she tried to bite him. He went from being friendly and inquisitive, to both of them enraged fur puffed up and snapping at each other.

So my question is, since I've never seen 2 gerbils hate each other more, should I try to instead pair her litter sister with Taffy? The little sister was born Nov 3, 2004. So the pairing might be easier, and she'd get along with him, but I'm worried she's to young to breed. Also, I wanted to pair the older sister since she helped raise a litter already and has some experience. The little sister has a great personality, really friendly (but big sister is more so both love to be held and shoulder sitting) but is a little on the small size (wasn't a runt, just stopped growing as much after 7 weeks- but all her siblings did to)

But I want a successful intro, so I don't end up with both gerbils on their own, should I try to pair the big sis or little sis? Both are same color and genetics (Tuxedo black- both selected for larger bib- going for better spotted pups aaCchEeGgP-) I'll leave the girl I don't breed in w/mom, also the big sis and mom are really close to one another, it's so cute to see them together so that's what made me delay splitting the pair up for so long. Maybe I should just try to intro the little sis to Taffy? Thnx for any help!! ;D

[queenofthenile]

I would try popping the little sis into the split cage just to see the reaction. If you get the same arguements, then choose the big sis. If the introduction is easier, I would just pair the little sis with the honey cream. If they have the same genetics, then you might as well stress them out as little as possible, IMO.

[sweetie]

My experience was that when Bear and Squirt were introduced at the breeders, I got the same reaction. The problem was that Bear lashed out because she was put into a different environment with different smells. It is a normal reaction for any gerbil. It does not necessarily mean that she hated him. The split cage was only for a day after that and now they are a breeding pair.

If I were you, I would try the split cage after cleaning the split cage, adding new bedding. Then give each gerbil a sand bath and place them in the tank. This cuts down on the scents.
I would suggest trying this before I send the younger female pup in with him!! If you don't see any aggressive behavior, then do a split cage for up to a week changing them a few times each day. Then the intro should be successful and you now have an older female pup who is a little better prepared to have pups herself!

[callimico]

Well I cleaned the tank originally, with all new bedding (aspen, alfalfa w/some timothy hay on the sides), waterbottle and toys, and gave the female took a loooong sand bath before ( he never bathes). I put him on his half, her on hers. I've only paired 4 breeding pairs besides them, but they sniffed curiosly at each other or ignored one another, I was worried because she was so agressive in her reaction, unlike any pairs I've seen before. She's been in strange tanks before and never had a problem sniffing through mesh lids at other gerbils homes. Yesterday in the split cage, after 5 minutes she hadn't stopped trying to attack him so I put her back with the girls, and him in a large plastic 30 gal bin for the night, so the tank wouldn't be considered "his territory".

This morning I placed the young female and him in the split cage, (thnx for the idea) and reaction was normal, interested sniffing, but I placed her back with the girls and him in the bin because I wouldn't be home for awhile.

I'll try the intro w/the big sis again, it's reassuring that you've had the same reaction w/your pair and it all worked out. She didn't react to the new split cage, but ran on the wheel and chewed the cardboard until he came out of the jar (on his half) as soon as she saw him she charged the divider and began trying to bite him, but myb the new environment did have her jumpy. I'll try her in the split again, and swap sides every few hours, but by the end of the night, if she's still relentlessly trying to attack him, I'll try to pair the younger sister up with him instead.

Thanks for the all the suggestions!!

[sweetie]

I agree that you should not stress them. It is not good for either of the gerbils or you!

Did you take her from a litter? Is she currently in helping to raise a litter? If she is, perhaps that is an explaination to her aggressiveness. It could be that she is just not going to pair with any one other than who she is with. The smaller pup would not exhibit such aggressive behavior regardless of clean tank or not.

Bear is such a sweet, gentle gerbil. When I saw her viciously attack the wire, I was shocked, hurt, upset, and was questioning if I should breed her. Then I stepped outside the situation and looked at *everything* involved.

These are your gerbils and only you can decide. I think that giving it a day is a good choice. If after a day, she is still aggressive, then perhaps it's best to separate. Also, if she is that way with all gerbils, perhaps she does not have the best temperment to breed anyway. You might try putting a few of the shavings that was in her old tank in with her to ease her a bit.

Good luck Cal. Thanks for the feedback.

[callimico]

Thanks Sweetie, I decided not to breed her since she may not have the best temperment, though it's funny she's fine sniffing other gerbils through mesh lids and only seems to have a grudge against this paticular male.

Her little sister (I call her a pup but she's 13 weeks, and a couple days old ) I placed with the honey cream and he began to groom her- the intro went great but I put them back in the split cage because I don't have time to keep an eye on them for a little bit. I don't want her to mate for at least another month (so she'll be at least 5 months by the time she has pups) so when she's in heat I can place her in the split, hopefully I'll prevent any pregnancies for a bit.

The older female is currenlty living with her mom and another younger sister. SHe and the mother are so close to one antoher, I'm glad I didn't split them now- your right she probably didn't want to bond with anyone else. They're always together and grooming one another, both are really attached to each nother. lol, I guess she made the choice for me, she'll be happier with her mom. Her sister is just as friendly (these 4 girls are the friendliest gerbils I've ever had) and has the same genetics, plus seems to be more accepting of intro's with strange gerbils.

Oh, and I finally got an account with photobucket ::)lol, only took forever, and posted some pic's of my gerb's in the photo section. ;D