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Post by panthershadow83 on Apr 10, 2005 9:29:09 GMT -8
Well, I'm currently introducing Milan to Memphis. I think it's going well. Memphis was freaking out at first, gnawing on the divider bars and trying to climb it. Then I put Milan in and for about an hour, Memphis was gnawing on the bars and whenever Milan bobbed her nose against Memphis's, Memphis would freak out and jump back, only to start gnawing again. She then turned climbing the divider into a game. Milan seems to like it also. Its kinda cute when they climb. They climb the one foot to the top, and there's a one-inch piece of wood separating the top of the divider from the screen, and they can just barely not reach the screen, and they fall right down into the soft Carefresh below, only to climb up again. My dad sat there for an hour and a half, just watching the gerbils climb and cracking up every time they fell. (don't ask... he said they looked like a potato... ) This morning I switched Memphis and Milan's sides. When I did, I held Memphis up to Milan's nose (they were in my hand so they couldn't hurt each other.) Milan just sniffed Memphis and kinda got bored, but Memphis wanted to sniff every single part of Milan. I parted them, and Memphis bit me! Was that because she was so curious as to who Milan was? How does the method seem to be going from my description? Do you guys think it'll work??
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Post by RyanF on Apr 10, 2005 9:58:33 GMT -8
Ok. This has happened to me many times unfortunately. If one gerbil smells another one, and they are not "buddies" yet, they will bite anything. It is almost like instinct takes over and their mouths just open and clamp on anything in their way. My gerbil, Battle, got her name from doing that (short for Battle Axe ) but now she is a little sweetheart.
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Post by panthershadow83 on Apr 10, 2005 14:59:54 GMT -8
Do you think that they'll be able to be introduced to each other?
BTW, both Memphis and Milan are sleeping kinda in the middle of their cages... not in their hideouts but not right next to each other... hmmm (this is my first introduction, I'm worried it won't work out...)
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Post by RyanF on Apr 10, 2005 15:22:36 GMT -8
How long have you been doing the split cage method? Sometimes it takes a few weeks or longer for them to become comfortable with each other.
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Post by panthershadow83 on Apr 10, 2005 16:03:36 GMT -8
Only since last night... I think they're making progress lol.
I'm gonna have the divider in for a week minimum I think. I really hope it works!!
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Post by RyanF on Apr 10, 2005 16:40:07 GMT -8
It will definitly take some time.
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Post by gerbil on Apr 10, 2005 16:50:44 GMT -8
how are things going now? are they sniffing anymore?
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Post by panthershadow83 on Apr 13, 2005 14:11:56 GMT -8
Even better!! Today, I put them both on Milan's side while I stood there with rubber gloves. I left them together for five minutes, and Memphis started sniffing Milan. Milan laid down and closed her eyes while Memphis... get this!! ;D... Memphis began to groom Milan!! It was soooo cute! Milan looked totally relaxed and Memphis just kept on grooming her. This is a good sign, right?
I left the divider in and separated them because I want to be around all day once I leave them together. I guess this method is working well!!
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Post by RyanF on Apr 15, 2005 16:28:02 GMT -8
Yes, that is a great sign, great job!!!!! ;D ;D
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Post by gerbilsrgreat on Apr 15, 2005 21:35:01 GMT -8
Sounds great!!! I remember when I put my two gerbils together... My first Nibbles I'd had for a little while and then I adopted another one, Cloud. He was said to be too mean. Well I put them out in my hallway so neither one would be in the other's territory. They came up to each other and sniffed each other under their necks for a few seconds then balled up in a vicious fight. I instantly seperated them but when I was holding my Nibbles, he took a chunk out of my finger, I think he thought I was Cloud. So I can't keep them together, Next time I'll get two young ones from the same litter and keep them together. -Jeremiah
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Post by panthershadow83 on Apr 16, 2005 17:34:43 GMT -8
I put the together today, and they began to fight a little. I seperated them. I'm kinda upset over that, but maybe another week or two it might work out?
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Post by sweetie on Apr 21, 2005 12:53:54 GMT -8
Hey Panther,
When you said that they started to fight do you mean *boxing* or rolling into a tight ball? I think that if they were boxing, it is normal and probably just the female trying to evade the male. Mine did this when he tried to mount her.
You are right to wait for a day when you can be around the whole day. Are you swapping sideds with them? You should change sides 3-4 times a day so that thier scent is similar. They have an opportunity to smell the other gerbil with out contact. Also they do not have to be sleeping next to the wire near each other. If they sleep in the same nest the other one built, it is a good sign.
Good luck and keep us posted.
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Post by panthershadow83 on Apr 21, 2005 16:09:23 GMT -8
Sweetie: Its actualy two girls. They've gotten used to each other pretty well, and now when I swap sides (three times a day^^) I put them both on the same side for a minute or so. Usually Memphis starts grooming Milan, or Milan looks annoyed and runs into the nearest hiding spot while Memphis finds the food dish... lol...
The one time they were fighting I heard a lot of squeaks and saw them kinda rolling... not in a tight ball. I freaked out and quickly seperated them. It hasn't happened since...
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