|
|
Post by sherri on Jun 20, 2005 14:29:54 GMT -8
So, today I brought home Carl. I am using the split cage method of introduction. I am hoping it won't take too long, since they are both still quite young. Lorraine is 7-8 weeks old and Carl is 4-5 weeks old. Their first sniff.  Carl cleaning himself.  Carl trying to dig his way to Lorraine.  Lorraine looking for Carl.  Carl trying to get to me. hehe  After about a half hour of lots of sniffing thru the wire divider and no signs of aggression, I switched them around so they were in the other's side. Carl did a lot of rubbing around on everything. Lorraine did some sniffing and digging thru the food and then went in one of the tp tubes to sleep. Carl seems lonely. He went to the wire and squeaked a few times. Lorraine poked her head out of the tube. Carl got excited to see her, but she went right back in and went back to sleep. Carl is now sitting on top of the rock sleeping. I'll update later. Not sure how long I should keep switching them and leave them split caged. |
|
|
|
Post by sherri on Jun 20, 2005 14:41:22 GMT -8
Well, already updating. The sleeping didn't last long. They are now running back and forth along the wire, thru the tubes, popping out on the ends and sniffing each other. They are jumping around, kicking bedding up. Carl has twice now tried scaling the wire divider. They seem to be playing.
|
|
|
|
Post by sherri on Jun 20, 2005 15:44:12 GMT -8
Yet another update ~ I just switched sides on them again. I can see that Lorraine is going to the spots Carl spent a lot of time at and doing lots of sniffing and rubbing around. And they are both burrowing underneath the bedding and kicking bedding up and about a lot.
I think I may leave them split over night. However, I'm a little nervous about leaving them unsupervised with the metal divider. It is 1/2" hardware cloth. Of course, I would also be nervous about leaving them unsupervised with no divider. *shrug*
|
|
|
|
Post by squeaksister on Jun 20, 2005 16:05:37 GMT -8
Oh I love the pictures ;D How cute are they trying to sniff eachother through the mesh and him trying to climb over lol
|
|
|
|
Post by reallybes on Jun 20, 2005 17:25:55 GMT -8
I love those pictures, Carl & Lorraine look very sweet and it looks like you have a really nice setup there with lots of cardboard tubes  I bet they're pretty happy |
|
|
|
Post by sherri on Jun 20, 2005 18:39:25 GMT -8
So, about an hour ago, after Carl fell asleep right next to the wire divider and we watched Lorraine clean him and nuzzle him thru the wire, we decided we would try to put them together and see what happened. So, when Carl was up and about again, about 5 minutes later, we put Lorraine on Carl's side. I was very nervous every time they came near each other. I was so afraid they would start fighting. My husband was standing there wearing a heavy black glove, just in case he had to seperate them quickly. They sniffed each other and Carl did a lot of licking and cleaning Lorraine, especially her ears. Then Lorraine got Carl down and he rolled over on his belly and she seemed to be cleaning him and checking him out. They did a lot of running around together and just sitting next to each other. We removed the divider and then they did quite a bit of independent roaming around the cage. I added the wheel and Lorraine checked it out, but Carl is the only one who has been running in it so far. I put the 2 story wooden house in and they both explored it, jumping in and out of the holes. They spent time running thru the tubes together. A few times now I have caught Lorraine, what appears to be grooming Carl, and I hear Carl squeak a little. Then Lorraine will run away and he will chase after her and jump on her and then they go about their business. I haven't seen them sleeping together. Carl has went to sleep in a corner a couple of times and Lorraine sleeps inside a tube. Some new photos ~     |
|
|
|
Post by annenrob on Jun 20, 2005 19:47:25 GMT -8
They are so absolutely positively adorable ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by gerbilsrgreat on Jun 20, 2005 22:00:56 GMT -8
Sounds like a successful introduction! Congratulations!!!
Bows to master of introducing gerbils!
-Jeremiah
|
|
|
|
Post by sandy on Jun 20, 2005 22:03:54 GMT -8
They are both so young that I'm sure you would have been ok with a supervised intro together right at the start. Are they both under 8 weeks of age? Then I'm sure it would have been ok. But you were able to read their body language pretty well and got them together quite quickly!
|
|
|
|
Post by sherri on Jun 21, 2005 6:51:05 GMT -8
They are both so young that I'm sure you would have been ok with a supervised intro together right at the start. Are they both under 8 weeks of age? Then I'm sure it would have been ok. But you were able to read their body language pretty well and got them together quite quickly! Everything I read said that at their age, which yes they are both 8 weeks and under, they could be introduced without going thru the split cage method. But, I'm a worrier  and was too afraid to do it without the divider. Even after the split cage time, everytime they got near each other I was afraid they would start fighting. The good update for the morning is that I checked on them when I got up and they were sleeping together. They came out and ate and ran around a bit and now they are back in their little house all cuddled up. |
|
I bet they're pretty happy
and was too afraid to do it without the divider. Even after the split cage time, everytime they got near each other I was afraid they would start fighting.