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Small pets

my gerbil died, will her sister die of loneliness?

5 replies

Titsalinabumsquash · 26/01/2016 16:16

My white gerbil died today, she was about 2.5yrs and was fine last night but died today.
Will her sister die now too? I heard they have to live in pairs but id rather not get into the cycle of buying a new one every time one dies and o know introducing a new one might cause stress to the old one.

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Seoulsister · 30/01/2016 11:07

One of my daughter's gerbils died, but the other lived on for several months. This was a long time ago but I seem to remember she gave it a little more attention. They had been very close, one hugging another when it had been ill in the past. She must have missed her but survived.

I bought my son a chinchilla after his AS exams; they live for ever; how crazy was that?

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QueenofLouisiana · 30/01/2016 18:53

It is pretty difficult to introduce a new gerbil- they aren't keen usually. Gerbil 1 died about a year ago, Gerbil 2 still going strong (must be about 3 1/2 now). In fact we often seem to have one that goes on quite a while after it's chum dies.

Just make sure you give it company, we sit and chat to it while it looks hopefully for extra sunflower seeds digs and chews.

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Jollyphonics · 04/02/2016 20:15

I've got this situation too. One of our two gerbils died yesterday, age 2. His brother is already behaving differently. I don't know what to do. I can't face risking getting another one, in case they don't get on and kill eachother. But I hate the thought of watching the surviving gerbil live such a lonely life.

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Helenluvsrob · 17/02/2016 22:16

We have a lone surviving sister gerbil. If anything she's happier. Other one died in August. Thry used to fight - in a way that Google suggested was " play" with no blood / bites or flying fur ball but there was serious chasing up the walls and drumming of feet.

Just realised I haven't heard drumming of teeny gerbil feet for months.

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rookiemere · 17/02/2016 22:22

I'm glad this topic has been brought up.our brothers are doing fine but they are 2.5 so I'm guessing the day work come in the future when one goes.

Could be worse woman at work told me that her two suddenly decided to fight to establish dominance again after 3 years as one bad been ill. Did each other so much damage they had to be put down at the vets.

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