Gerbil aggression?

[Theas18]

Had the girls ( sisters) probably nearly 10 months now. I'm aware I am not usually at home so maybe this happens often?

Today they are intermittently flying round the cage - up the walls the lot. Often you can't tell who's chasing who , but I guess it's the ( significantly ) large chasing r smaller. Smaller drumming at times and was hiding in a tube till the larger just chased her out just . Smaller looks terrified. Larger wary but tootling anout digging/ eating cardboard at times. There has been squeaking.

They spend time frozen side by side/ nose to nose too.

Not sure how long to let them carry on. No reason why they should de clan. Not even been cleaned out recently.

They have 2 food bowls and I sprinkle food on the litter too so small can't be prevented from eating and ive seen her drinking today.

I'd hate to have to separate them but I'd you think I should i will

[Anjelica27]

Hello Theas. Been there... Like you had two sisters and after living together happily for months suddenly started with exactly the same behaviour. We ended up having to separate them - one day the bigger of the two mauled her smaller sister - loads of blood but no major injury thank goodness. We did take her to the vet just to be sure and he said to separate them - which was a pain, didn't want two cages and had thought (been told) they liked company and would live happily together. No!!!! I really think the bigger one would have killed the little one eventually. Having said that, they lived quite happily on the their own and didn't seem to miss each other. Hope that helps x

[Theas18]

Anjelica thanks for your experience. I shall keep an eye. All has settled now. Smaller training for a marathon in the wheel and big mooching around. theyll sleep tonight as they've been up most of the afternoon.

[DayLillie]

We had two males in a large fish tank for 3 years. They had loads of woodchips, straw, hay to burrow through, logs to sit on, cardboard boxes to chew through. I even bought them posh grasses to nibble at the petshop.

One day they just went for each other - a mass of fur and teeth and squeals. I think one was unwell (died about 6 weeks later)l. We had to separate them