>
>Solitary gerbils do get bored and become less active. He needs company,
>or a lot more exercise.
>
>--
>Julian
Most gerbils seem happier if you can get them successfully introduced to a
new cagemate, but there are exceptions. I have them at both ends of the
spectrum.
I have two older males (Spunky and Prince) I am introducing that have both
been alone awhile, one of them a long time. I tried introducing each of
them to other gerbils unsuccessfully. Why it didn't occur to me to put
these two together I don't know, my husband suggested it last week when I
commented that they both seemed lonely and depressed. I felt really stupid
that I hadn't thought of it sooner. Anyway they have both perked up
enormously, it's amazing how much difference it has made. I have a feeling
they are going to get along fine. I also have 2 females that have been in
a split tank for a couple of weeks (I am paranoid about female
introductions), one adult (Blanche)and one 7-8 week old (Trixie). Blanche
has been alone a few months and has resisted all the other introductions
I've tried, but this looks promising. They have managed to chew enough
space in the barrier that they can just barely reach each other. When I
came home from work today the Blanche was grooming the Trixie's tail that
was sticking through the opening slightly! A few minutes later Trixie was
grooming the Blanche's face right above the nose. Blanche seemed to be
enjoying it, she sure was pushing her face into the opening as much as she
could. I'm removing the barrier in a few minutes.
On the other end of the spectrum I have a few singles that absolutely
resist any attempts at pairing. One male (Snowy) flies into an absolute
rage at being put in a split tank with another gerbil, any other
gerbil. I've never really noticed a gerbil's fur sticking up when angry
but boy he sure gets puffed up. He won't take any time exploring, just
throws himself at the barrier over and over, biting and clawing. OK so
he's obviously a loner! He loves human attention, though, and jumps up on
me the minute I open his tank, sometimes before I get the lid completely
off! Another example is my little sapphire Elita. I made the mistake for
quite awhile in thinking that her odd squeaking behavior was due to
loneliness for a cagemate (she sits on her wheel and squeaks!). Every time
I tried to introduce her to another gerbil, though, she behaved almost as
bad as Snowy. I finally noticed something one evening during my feeding
rounds. Her behavior increased the closer I got to her tank. She didn't
do it while I played with her, though, and she didn't do it after either (I
spent more time with her than usual). I finally concluded she simply has
an odd way of saying "Hey! Come play with me!". Now when she does it I
give her some extra attention and it seems to make her quite content. I
have to say I've never before seen a gerbil express a desire to play by
squeaking! She's a rather unusual girl.
Tana and The Little Rascals
http://thesanctuary.tripod.com
http://gerbils.freehosting.net
http://www.geocities.com/tinypaws68/
ICQ #: 44846928
