amy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote
>hi.. i just signed up to this list because i have a problem with my
>gerbils. about two weeks ago, i bought a gerbil from a pet store. i
>wanted to get two of them, but the salesperson said they were solitary and
>cannibalistic, so i only got one. i later found out that they are in fact
>social and definitely not cannibals. i felt bad for the one gerbil i had..
>i didn't want him to be lonely. so just this past sunday, i went back to
>the store and bought another male gerbil, from the same batch even. i took
>him home, and when i held the two up to eachother, the first one froze
>while the new one sniffed at him, and then the first one swatted him in the
>face. so.. i decided to use the split-cage method. i've been using it for
>about 5 days now.. the two gerbils sniff at eachother through the divider
>now and then. yesterday i tried to introduce the two again. i put them
>both down.. and they sniffed at eachother a little.. but then the first
>gerbil froze up for a few seconds, then turned around and attacked the new
>one. i immediately separated them and haven't let them come into direct
>contact since. this is my first time owning gerbils.. and i feel so bad
>because the new gerbil is so passive and gentle, but everytime he tries to
>get near the first one, he jumps at him. i'm attached to both of them
>now.. i really don't want both of them to be alone.. i'd feel so guilty.
>i'd really appreciate anyone's advice.. i want this to work so much. thank
>you...
>~Amy
I would try the split cage again. The gerbils may remember they have
fought but if you swap them round several times a day for at least
another week, it might work.
--
Julian
************************************************************************
* Jackie and Julian *
* [EMAIL PROTECTED] *
* National Gerbil Society *
* http://www.gerbils.co.uk/ *
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