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Post by vividarium on Dec 15, 2005 15:08:05 GMT -8
So, Im really worried about Baby (my gerbilboy) being alone. We have been talking about this friend-finding for Baby for about a year, since Bror died december the 14th last year. How will a approx. a year old gerbil work out with a younger gerbilboy? Should we get him a friend? Should the friend be a girl or boy? (we really dont want pups... :/ Love pups, but that is maybe a little bit too much responsibility for us now..) and should we get two boys, brothers, just in case Baby dont get along with them? So they wont be alone... My bf has not been positive to the thought of getting him a friend until now, and Im really excited. What should we do!  |
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Post by whitmoregirl on Dec 15, 2005 15:23:21 GMT -8
You could get him one baby boy, or two boys if you don't want to constantly buy them companions when the seniors pass on. Males love babies, so unless Baby is a real exception he should adore some sweet little boys  Around or under 8 weeks I think is a good age, not quite sexually mature so the males take on the role of "dada", so to speak |
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Post by doomgerbiluk on Dec 15, 2005 15:44:57 GMT -8
He's been on his own a while now so he's used to his own company.
Two things may happen, he may decide to do the 'grumpy old man' and hate the newcomers or he may be very excited and eager to have company.
I would say two 6 week old pups. Be prepared for him to reject them, if he does you will need to either have a new tank for them or have arranged with the breeder for their return if that happens.
I had a lovely lad, Ronbo, on his own for some time. He came of worst in a declanning and I paired him with dad in a split cage. The result was serious injuries to both gerbils (throught he split incidently). Ronbo being a lovely natured gerbil I eventually tried split caging him with two lads, a young male called Tizer and a young adult called Tubby (now renamed Joe...anyone make the connection?). Tizer took to Ronbo immediately but Joe loathed him.
Joe was then paired with my new light DEH (got it?) and Tizer and Ronbo now adore each other.
So gerbils who have been alone a while can be successfully paired up in some cases. Ronbo looks younger, fitter and has a lovely coat now (before his coat became thick and dull with dead hair as he had no companion to groom him).
BUT Ronbos dad (now 4 years old) will not accept a male companion and as I do not want more pups from him now lives alone.
The moral is...you really can't tell till you try.
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Post by vividarium on Dec 22, 2005 12:22:55 GMT -8
Aww! Reading these stories made me even more interested in finding Baby two friends  We are now planning to get them in January! Well, gotta find where to get them from first, do you reccomend a pet-store? Or a breeder? I dont know if there are serious breeders anywhere here anyway :/ So, I should fint two boys, in the age 6-8 weeks? I hope for the best, its worth a try anyway. We will keep the two if it doesnt work out too, in their own cage. So, step by step, HOW to introduce gerbils to each other? in the most slow and friendly way... |
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Post by RyanF on Dec 22, 2005 14:29:47 GMT -8
I will move this the "Introducing" because it deserves more attention there!  |
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Post by RitzieAnn on Dec 23, 2005 0:26:28 GMT -8
how big of a cage is Baby in right now? I just have a ten gallon cage to do splits in. I did a 3 way split in it once... Iknow it's small, but they got play time EVERY day! I usually only use it for a 2 way split... it forces them to make their nest next to each other. The breeding pair i just made... I had them splitin a small plastic bin for a few days, and because of where the waterbottles were, they moved their nests nex to each other the next day.... (they're sleeping together right now, without the divider) Look up the thread started by Andreas15. I think it's titled Perminate Split. It's super easy.
I'd say get 2 gerbil and not just one more because Baby is older, and of course death comes with age... this way when the time does come, your new gerbil won't be in the same istuation that Baby is in right now.
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Post by malabui on Dec 23, 2005 2:27:46 GMT -8
It doesn't really matter where you get the little gerbils from, petshop or breeder. Try introduceing them on neutral ground (like in the bath tub) and if they seem to be getting on well, fully disifect the cage so there are NO gerbil smells and put them in there and keep an eye on them. Also make sure that there isn't as deep woodshavings as normal or toys without 2 entrances so you can see how they get on. (best do this in the morning so you have the day to keep an eye on them)
Also I wouldn't try it this way if they babies where older than 8 weeks
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Post by AndreaS15 on Dec 23, 2005 10:43:29 GMT -8
I personally would locate a breeder to get them from, this way you can see the rest of the breeders stock (see if they are healthy and happy), they WILL give you the correct sex (pets stores always have a way of making that mistake) and a breeder will have them the ages you want, while a pet store usually has no idea how old they are. This will just help make things smoother. Here is a link to the AGS "Split Cage" section - www.agsgerbils.org/Gerbil_Care_Handbook/adopt.html#splitGood Luck! Can't wait to hear how everything works out! |
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We are now planning to get them in January!
