SuperGirlH
Member
Are you lookin' at me punk?
Posts: 299
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Post by SuperGirlH on Jun 6, 2005 13:56:31 GMT -8
Okay, I have a male 7 week old gerbil, and an older (not sure how old, but adult) female. I've just started introducing them... They seem to be okay, there was one scuffle, but not serious. I was wondering what this behavior means. When my female walks towards the male, he puts his paws on her face. She submits and lowers her head and closes her eyes for a few seconds, then he moves his paws off her. What does this mean? Is he trying to show his dominance? or is he trying to protect himself from her trying to attack him or something? I'm confused... anyone know? And also, how do you know if they are fighting for dominace, or fighting to kill each other? They rolled around a bit, but there arent any bite marks or anything, and after it happened everything was fine more or less.
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Post by tirilliel on Jun 6, 2005 14:06:33 GMT -8
It depends how she approaches him, I see my gerbils do this occasionally and I think its just a way they let one another know they are don’t want to be bothered. One reason why this may be happening is because she telling him she inst ready to mate quite yet, When my female acts this way she usually makes this squeaks. Sometimes I see them do the same behavior and the male is sort of "preening" her in a lovey kinda way. Iv also seen pups do this to their parents.
Maybe someone else has an explanation but that’s my thoughts.
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Post by gerbilsrgreat on Jun 6, 2005 23:22:55 GMT -8
My thought is, sounds cute!
-Jeremiah
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Post by sandy on Jun 7, 2005 10:35:11 GMT -8
Actually, I've seen submissive gerbils do that with dominant gerbils. It's their way of saying, hey, it's ok, I'm not going to fight you. They also do it when they are scared the other gerbil is getting aggressive. I see it a lot when gerbil intro's are taking place, just for the first couple days, then as they get used to each other it subsides.
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SuperGirlH
Member
Are you lookin' at me punk?
Posts: 299
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Post by SuperGirlH on Jun 7, 2005 11:25:32 GMT -8
Thanks Sandy. After watching them for a while, I think that's exactly what it is. It seems like Loca (my female) likes him, and may be in heat or something, because she approaches him, and will roll over in front of him showing him her belly and stuff, and he just seems scared of her, lol. Sometimes she will approach him a little too fast and he gets spooked and runs, and she chases him, but there is no biting, I think she just wants to sniff him, but he's too scared to let her. He thumps his foot on the ground too, its pretty funny. He must think she's trying to kill him or something. She is twice his size. Every time she comes near to him he does the "paws on the face" thing.. I took a picture of him doing it: I think once things settle down they will get used to each other and he won't be so freaked.
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Post by queenofthenile on Jun 7, 2005 12:33:29 GMT -8
This happened during one of my intros, as well. The little baby would squeak and place his paws on the older male's head. I read it as "Back off, I'm not ready to get to know you, you big lug!"
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SuperGirlH
Member
Are you lookin' at me punk?
Posts: 299
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Post by SuperGirlH on Jun 7, 2005 12:36:00 GMT -8
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