Gerbil Fights?

[Michaela]

I bought a female gerbil 2 weeks ago and she is 6 wks old now. When I learned that they shouldn't live alone, I bought her a cage mate (female). I am intruducing them using the split cage method but I dont know how to tell if they are play fighting or for real fighting. How will I know? And any other advice on the subject would be welcome...

 

[BranwenUerchLlyr]

I think one of the general rules are if they curl up in balls, separate them. Play fighting is usually just chasing around and batting with paws, something similar to a boxing match. If you see anything that just looks odd, the safe thing to do is just separate them and search around for information about that behavior.. There are many gerbil sites around the net. Try http://www.gerbils.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/gerbils/intro.htm for information on introducing gerbils. Good luck!

 

[Dagna]

How big is the cage you have? You want to make sure that they both have their own space. There willbe some fighting for dominance. I have dwarf hamsters which also "shouldn't live alone". I've had to seperate them and have a couple that just couldn't live with others. While the general rule is that most of them enjoy a cage mate, some don't. Watch them carefully and if one gets hurt, seperate them.

 

[Key Of David]

For a second there....I thought this thread was going to be about someone running an underground gerbil fighting ring.

 

[Miss Mayberry]

For a second there....I thought this thread was going to be about someone running an underground gerbil fighting ring. :roll eyes:

Have you seen that "racing vaccuums underground" commercial? Why not gerbils?

 

[Michaela]

lol, Key of David. Dagna, I have 2 Crittertrail One's connected by tubes, as well as a few lookout towers. I haven't started the introduction yet, as my newest one has become a little sick. Seems to be feeling better today though

 

[Dagna]

Ok, sounds like you have plenty of room. Just remember, there are going to be a few squabbles over dominance. it should settle down, but you'll have a few fights every now and then. You'll most likely just hear a couple little squeeks and then it should settle down. Any fight longer than that, if they fight multiple times a day after the first week or two, or if either one of them gets hurt, seperate them.

 

[Michaela]

My new one has all the symptoms of Tyzzers Disease now... I think I am going to have to return her. Sunny does NOT Enjoy the company anyway it seems. I feel so guilty taking her back but there's nothing else I can really do. I don't want my other gerbil sick...Am I doing the right thing here?

 

[Key Of David]

Have you seen that "racing vaccuums underground" commercial? Why not gerbils?

No...but I saw someone racing a bar stool the other night (yes it was on tv and no I wasn't drunk). I also used to go to a cichlid (a type of fish) forum where this character would come on there and post all these posts about how he would pour ammonia in the water to kill the fish and held staged cichlid fights in his backyard for money and kicks. He'd get the whole forum so riled up, lol. He obviously wasn't serious and was finally banned....but I couldn't help but think of him the time I read the title, "Gerbil Fights". LOL