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Post by Andrea on May 8, 2006 19:43:19 GMT -4
Hey Everyone, I need some thoughts. It has now been two months Chevy & Jimmy have been split caged together. Though things started to look up, they sleep beside one another in the split (except Jimmy did not last night), Chevy tries to groom jimmy when they meet and through the dividers. Every night I let the two of them have the run of a couch or the livingroom floor and everytime Jimmy chases and sometimes fights his poor old Dad. They get into ball fights, but not once has they ever actually bitten or shed blood. Chevy is depressed, He has been in a Split cage since the end of January when his brother died. I'm starting to loose hope in this split intro. They went from the 50G split, to the 20G split and now are in a 10g split. They have nothing to do in them but sleep and dig at the glass Chevy is two and a half, and a super social gerbil. Seeing him sad and sleeping away his days is heart breaking for me. So, am i giving up to soon? Or am i on the right track that this will not work out. Should I continue for another month? Should i let him live in a 10G alone for the rest of his days? Should i let him live in a larger split the rest of his days? Or do i do what I said i would not do, and get two 5 week old male pups for him to live with? Here's the Chevy Man
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Post by hamwolf89 on May 8, 2006 19:48:51 GMT -4
Aww poor little guy. I say you can put him in a larger cage. Or maybe you can try and put him in the cage with the other 2 pups and see how it goes. Cute picture by the way
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Post by Die Fledermaus on May 8, 2006 19:54:15 GMT -4
>> They get into ball fights <<
One of those and they would never meet again. Just one.
I posted about little Marge, Polly, and Doreen in another thread. There are other examples. And what I mean is you never can tell with intros and gerbil-to-gerbil chemistry. Sometimes even with all the care in the world and lengthy time in the split screen an intro fails; other times, I put different ones togther in neutral terrtory - while watching constantly and closely - and after a little nervousness they got along fine.
I would say try a younger male whom he does not know. MAYBE the "chemistry" will be right. You just never can be sure with them.
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Post by Andrea on May 8, 2006 20:01:29 GMT -4
I should also mention I belive Chevy is deaf too. Could this have something to do why the intro's haven't been working?
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Post by Die Fledermaus on May 8, 2006 20:09:56 GMT -4
That issue I never have heard brought up. Smells are most important, but maybe little submissive squeaks (some too high for us to hear) are significant. I have read thosuands of gerbil posts and never heard that one. Personally, I doubt it.
And how do you know (or think) yours is deaf? I assume you've tested with sudden noise when asleep, for example.
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Post by Andrea on May 8, 2006 20:26:19 GMT -4
Yes. See when i come into the room (open the door), most of the gerbils will wake up. He dosn't. If i talk into his cage the other gerbil split with him will be awake, but he will keep sleeping. I can sometimes remove the lid without him waking up, i usually have to tap on the tank, or even nudge him. He also spooks if he can't see you and ur behind him. When the two boys are running around, BOTH squeek alot, Chevy also thumps. Chevy is a pet Store gerbil, his brother died @ 2 years of age, and well chevy is skinny and looks 'funny'. Do you think it would be wrong to let him live alone? Most of my gerbils live to 3 or 4 years old, Though Chevy's brother died at 2. So i really don't know how old this guy is goign to live, and i want him to be happy, but I also don't want to keep adding to my numbers
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Post by Die Fledermaus on May 8, 2006 20:31:47 GMT -4
>> Do you think it would be wrong to let him live alone? Most of my gerbils live to 3 or 4 years old, Though Chevy's brother died at 2. So i really don't know how old this guy is goign to live, and i want him to be happy, but I also don't want to keep adding to my numbers << That dilemma we all face with gerbils. I would say letting him live alone would not be inhumane if there is no other viable choice, and if you give him extra attention and toys, and groom him yourself with kisses, and keep him near you where he has your company, but can have some privacy when he wants it in a hide box in the tank. That is what I would do. I posted elsewhere about Polly; after her failed intro with Marge (doing great now with Doreen) she is still alone; I have had no time to do an intro. But very soon I will as I separate a rescued mom from her male pup. Sometimes the ideal situation is not acheivable. or practicable. We do what we can.
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Post by deana on May 13, 2006 11:42:55 GMT -4
No I don't think it would be wrong if he can't get along with anyone or vice a versa. If I had a lone gerbil I would just give him more attention. When I got Nibbles she was the only one for a night. But the next day I went and got Skittles I just didn't want her to be alone:) I have heard that some gerbils prefer to be alone
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Post by Andrea on May 13, 2006 15:15:30 GMT -4
Well Jimmy is alone for now. I'm not sure if i will split cage him permenent with a female that I have as a loner, or just leave him alone. As for Chevy is is SO happy with his 2 little buddies Monte & Carlo. I'm so glad i made the choice to get him these guy's as buddies, as he looks alot happier and healthier now
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Post by andromeda on May 13, 2006 16:40:43 GMT -4
Gerbils communicate by sound LOADS. Most of it is above our audible level so we can't hear it. Communication through sounds is vital in gerbil society. So yes I suspect a deaf gerbil would be at a big disadvantage. And yes gerbils can live alone happily. Certainly older females who declan or lose a partner are often happier that way and intros of these often fail.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on May 13, 2006 17:58:19 GMT -4
Very good points above from andromeda. I will however give Polly another try at a friend; her split screen intro with little Marge failed, but Marge and Doreen got along fine right away without a screen. I watched closely and could tell right away. They are sleeping in a heap right now. Gerbil chemistry, like people chemistry, is hard to figure.
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Post by deana on May 13, 2006 21:37:52 GMT -4
In Nibbles 3 and last litter I got to see nature in action When we first moved into this apartment the babies were just about 2 weeks old, but crawling everywhere they were in a tank and the water bottle broke so every morning I would take a water bottle from the others and stand there and let them drink for what seemed like forever I bought one of those high rises for the tanks don't like them, you cannot get the gerbils when you want too, when I want them I do, so got rid of that thing. But anyway that is what I had to do. one day everyone was in the igloo all safe and sound except for lucky, she was on the other end in a corner. she appered scared and all of that, nibbles stuck out her head and said something to her because Lucky made a beeline straight to Nibbles and Nibbles just let her in. It was so amazing to me, because I did not hear anything at all but I saw mommy calling baby that day And these babies too drank from the water bottle very early, I would hold it down there and Nibbles would try to drink and those babies would try and make her move, they were squeeking and finally when she was done they would have a turn at it:) They were just barely 3 weeks old just barely had thier eyes open Lucky is name dLucky because before we moved I was going to clean out the cage, I know I shouldn't have but I did, and lucky some how fell onto the floor. I got finished with the cage and was done with it. I kept hearing crying, and I would check to see what was wrong couldn't see anything, went to watch tv still heard it, so I got down on the floor and looked to see if one was down, didn't see her, and it kept up, so I got back down there and she was wedged in between a box and the stand the tank was on. I picked her up and she was extremely cold, could have died and that is why I named her Lucky, because she was . I'm glad she kept crying
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Post by Die Fledermaus on May 13, 2006 21:42:47 GMT -4
Well that's a good ending for Lucky! It turned out well.
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