I'm considering separating a pair of males in the future if/when I want to breed. I'd
be using one of them to pair with a female, but wondering if that's okay, since my two
males are best friends/brothers.
Amy
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Amy C.K.Wong [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2001 2:55 PM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Is it cruel?
>
> Hi,
>
> Is it cruel to separate a mated pair? Will they have problems not being with each
>other anymore and not flourish as well with another gerbil?
>
>
>
> I've never bred gerbils, so I can't speak to the male/female relationship, but I
>would suspect that it's similar to pair-bonds they form with the same sex. I would
>say it depends on the individuals. I have re-paired a few gerbils - sometimes it
>works out extremely well and they seem to bond better with their new mate than with
>their old one. I've always re-paired for extenuating circumstances though - like
>fighting. I don't know what I'd do with a pair that seemed to be closely bonded. I
>might be difficult to break up a closely bonded pair- there are definitely pair-bonds
>that seem stronger than others. But in the case of a male-female pairing, you have
>the babies to consider, too. If your problem is that you can't find good homes for
>all the babies, then I would say the welfare of the babies definitely outweighs the
>perfect happiness of the two parents. It is likely that these two will accept other
>gerbils, even if those gerbils never get as close as their first "!
true love", particularly if they spend a little time alone first. But perhaps that
second gerbil will be their "soul mate" - you never know! I have a pair of boys (one
who was with his brother until his bro. attacked him, one who was adopted from the
shelter to be his mate) who seemed to bond with each other at first sight (or smell).
I know that Rubin is extremely happy with Gus, his second mate. It is heart-warming
to see how comfortable they both are with each other and the world; all because of
their good relationship.
>
> What is the reason you're considering splitting your two up?
>
> Molly
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