Goldie and Zooty are now thoroughly introduced! We just started them in the split cage Thursday, but Goldie got impatient and climbed the divider! I found her on Zooty�s side yesterday when I went in to check on them. They weren�t fighting, so I watched them closely for some time and they didn�t show signs of aggression. I took the divider out of the cage to give them more room. They sniffed each other, explored the cage, and sniffed each other some more. Then Zooty started chasing Goldie around the coffee can (their hideaway). It did not look like a fighting chase. Even tho it�s been ages since I�ve seen gerbils mate, it looked like a mating chase to me. At first Zooty wasn�t quite catching on; he would catch up to her, sniff her, but not mount. I left them alone for a while, since they didn�t seem to be fighting. When I checked in on them again, Zooty had clearly figured out his role! He was mounting her. They kept it up for hours. I�ve heard people say before that mating goes on for some time, but that�s not the same as seeing it. I couldn�t believe their stamina! Hard to believe a 3-year-old male gerbil could have so much energy! It was funny. . . towards evening, Zooty would curl up in the coffee can as if he wanted to sleep. Then Goldie would walk by, and he�d rouse himself and start chasing her again! They started looking pretty tired, but they still kept it up. This morning they were cuddled up together in the coffee can. Looks like it was a successful intro! They both seem happier now that they have company. When they have pups, as I hope they do, I�ll introduce one or a pair of boys to my lonely Pippin. ===== Julie & Michael Alex P. Kitten & The Little Rascal Zooty & Goldie (the Newlyweds!) Pippin (The Loner) Sparky & Norman (the White Boys) Bossy & Baby (The Slate Spot Twins) __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/
