If an old menopausal female is left after its mate dies. The best replacement
for its companion, is another lone gerbil of the same age. Younger gerbils
might decide to fight with the older one for dominance months later, as its
health begins to decline. If both gerbils are old, it evens them out.
If the one left is male then two male babies can be placed with him. However,
I would observe them daily to make sure no dominance issues are occurring.
Another factor that one should consider is the hierarchical status of the new
gerbils, try to pick those that are groomed, by most members of the tank they
are in, don't choose one that grooms all others. These will be the most
submissive ones.
Keeping gerbils is not an exact science something can go wrong even when you
take precautions. Last week my Two Black pied males were on their wheel and
every time they jumped off they were chased back on. I also noticed a little
blood on the glass. Immediately, I removed them and made a solid divider
splitting up my tank of 4 males into 2 each. Red fox and lilac pied on one
side and the two black pieds on the other side. They are a little over 2
years old.
Gary.
