----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Noddin" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Saturday, November 11, 2000 10:38 AM
Hello Gerbil lovers,
We need help! My son and I wanted to purchase male and female gerbils. But
when we went to the store they only had one litter and of course could only
purchase the female. We have had Julia for a month now and have now
purchased our second gerbil Ricardo and we are not sure how to introduce
them to each other. If and when we do how should we do this? We were not
sure if we should put them together so what we did was put them in the same
cage but separated the cage in half with screen so they could at least smell
each other. My husband suggested to let them be together for just a minute.
WOW! It was hard on us for that 3 seconds they were together. Julia went
after him like a bullet in the cage. Do they do this? Hope you can help us.
We love Julia and want to mate her.
Thank you
Linda and Tyler
parents of Julia and Ricardo
Hi!
It is best to keep the divider between them for about two weeks. (During
this time, do not change the bedding. The idea is, you want the bedding to
smell like both of them.) About one to two times a day, switch the gerbils
from side to side. Do this for about two weeks. This way they become
familiar with eachothers' smell. After about two weeks, remove the divider
or put them both on the same side, which ever is easier for you. Do not
change the bedding! When you do finally get them together, keep an eye on
them for a few hours to make sure they accept eachother. It would be fine to
change the bedding a few days after they accept each other IF the tank needs
it.
It is not good to clean the cage too often. More than 3 weeks is too much.
It is upsetting to the gerbils if their home is cleaned to often.
good luck,
Ann-Marie Roberts
T&T Gerbils, member of the AGS
Pup Count Project creator and maintainer
Please visit my website and pup count project at:
http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/Reserve/1928/
The American Gerbil Society
http://www.geocities.com/amergerbsoc/index.html
