Fighting Getbils.... Dealing with the injuries

[frogbubbles]

So we have 2 male gerbils, born of the same litter and have lived together for 2.5 years. Few months back they had to be separated for fighting, nothing major. Kept having a go at reconciliation, but no avail. Today they have had a real fight with blood. Separated as quick as possible both have bite injuries which have drawn blood, smoky on his arm which doesn't appear too bad. But sossy has a nasty looking bite on his cheek. Both eating and drinking ok, and they are warm. Im worried about infection, anyone dealt with this before? Needless to say reconciliation will never be tried again, which is a shame and both are now housed separately in their own cages.

Aww. That's sad. But you did the right thing. I've had this issue before. I would take them to the vet to get advice.

I think your right, I think sossy might need a trip to the vets, spent awhile last night reaching gerbil injuries. Just going to keep an eye on him and will get him seen if there's an inkling of infection going on. He had a stroke last year and I don't want him stressed with a vets visit

Can you put the whole cage in the car to minimise stress, and just get him out when you get a call to your appointment? I've done thsi with hamsters before, as the scent of cats etc in the vet can be traumatic for them.

Our female gerbs have been fighting. I read there is less chance of infection than, say, a cat bite, and to leave wounds a lone unless gerb not active, eating, etc.

But one of ours had a stroke earlier this year and I separated her from the others for extra tlc. This turned out to be a mistake because it declanned them and they fought tooth and nail if reunited. Was going to try split cage method to reintroduce but sadly she died after 2 days.

Hey sunflower the cage they have is home built it's huge fish tank then there is a cage on top, we melted parts of the bottom to attach pipes leading upstairs and around cage and the actual cage is 2 levels. It's the gerbil equivalent to trumps towers

I've checked them out today - smoky is being unusually bitey. I'm certain he is the culprit he has such a robust personality for such a little fur ball.

Sossy has a fairly laid back personality he loves being handled and having his head tickled. He's been hiding out in the gerbil shack.

I tried coaxing him out with a piece of broccoli but he turned his nose up at it , he soon zoomed out when I changed tact and offered up a piece of rich tea biscuit.

I made him stretch up for the treat. The bite doesn't look m so bad now, but I'll keep an eye on it. I did notice though his paw is really swollen, like a clenched fist. I've done some research and Dr Google says if it's a bite to use a little Manuka Honey as natural aantiseptic.

There's a possibility it could be a break, gerbil society says to leave them if they are eating as drinking so I'm going to leave him and monitor the situation. Coax him out a few more times and get his confidence up and stress levels down. Then I can have a little look and see what's going on. Poor old sossy.

Issynoho your completely right, it's best to leave them to heal naturally. Sorry to hear about your girly gerby z

Would love to know more about your tank topper. Ours are in a fishtank too but haven't found a robust catproof way to add a cage topper.

We had the same problem , two males lived together for 18 months then decided to try and kill each other ! We never tried a reconciliation, both looked quite battered and scraggy afterwards, but are now happilly living in seperate cages and after a few weeks look much healthier. Very upsetting at the time,no one warned thsi might happen ! Hope they improve.