Brothers Fighting. Advice required please?

[maxthegerbil]

Hi Everybody. I have four young brothers just under four months old. They are all housed in a three foot long glass aquarium with wooden shelves, deep shavings and plenty of stimulation such as cardboard tubes. Yesterday afternoon at 5:00pm, I went into my room to find both Berti and Dibble had been fighting badly. They had blood around both their shoulders and faces. I immediately seperated them into another glass tank that I have spare and have put one each in with one of the other brothers who were not causing any trouble.

Today, they are full of beans again, no blood stains and you would`nt think they had even been in a fight. Now my question is this: I am gutted to say the least because all four were so happy together and I wanted to keep them together. Have they declanned? Or would you say that these two have taken a real dislike to one another and will never be able to be re-introduced again safely? I fear I will have to keep them in pairs now, but if there is anyone with experience who may be able to give me some advice as to whether because of their young age, I `may` be able to introduce them again? Or would this just be tempting fate once more? The last thing I want is another fighting match, but if there were ANY way I could get these four back together safely, I would love to try. They have been apart now for exactly 24 hours and are very happy. Any advice will be much appreciated. Thankyou.

[lizzy]

I don't think its a very good idea at all to re-introduce them. Chances are that they will fight again. Are you sure it is Berti and Dribble fighting not one of the other two attacking them? You are better off keeping them in pairs.

[whitmoregirl]

I agree with Lizzy, sounds as though there was a declanning and it may be best to keep them apart now.

[maxthegerbil]

Hi lizzy & Whitmoregirl. Thankyou for both your replies. I totally agree with both of you that I should now keep them in pairs. I had a quick look at how they might react to one another last night when I had two of the brothers out on the bed playing. The other two wanted out to play aswell, so I carried them both over one at a time. Barney was introduced first and nothing much happened. A little chasing around and communal sniffing! BUT.... when I introduced Berti to the other three, Dibble went straight over to him and they seemed fine to begin with. A little ear licking and that was it. But within one minute, the two of them were having a bat at each other. Dibble started teeth chattering at Berti and then stamping his hind feet! That was it, I just picked Berti up and took him away with his brother Barney. I thought I would try, but it now looks as though these two really do not like one another, so they will not now be re-introduced. I still think it strange that four siblings should`nt be able to live together? I know females should be kept in pairs, but I did`nt think males would be so territorial with each other. I`m sure Berti has either injured or broken a tooth in this fight because he is`nt making any progress at chewing a toilet roll tube and he was always able to cut through it like a knife through butter. He`s eating okay, manages to break open sunflower seeds and is drinking and playing fine. I tried to have a look at his teeth yesterday but he just would`nt stay still! I`m happy that he`s back to normal health wise, but still concerned that he`s lost a tooth. I will check this again later today. Do gerbils teeth grow back at such a young age? I only ask incase he has indeed lost one! Many thanks once again for your replies.