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Anyone successfully bonded adult male gerbils?

3 replies

SockFluffInTheBath · 25/11/2021 12:52

We’re currently gerbil-less following the recent deaths of our last elderly pair. We get them from our pets at homes’ second chance rehoming station (DH calls it the nearly rotten counter Hmm ) and they don’t currently have any pairs/ trios, but have 2 single males. We’ve had many pairs over the years but they’ve always been ready-bonded. We have a huge tank so could separate and rotate them per the theory of introducing them. Has anyone actually managed it though, or is it just a nice idea?

OP posts:
Annabelle69 · 28/11/2021 09:51

Hello. I volunteer in animal rescue (fosterer until we can find animals forever homes) and I specialise in Gerbils Smile

We bond all the time, and we never let Gerbils be rehomed as singles, or owners come forward with their own singles for bonding. As ever, I'm highly dissapointed that the dreadful Pets at Home continue to split bonded Gerbil families and leave singles, thank you for trying to save them.

The success rate is about 70%, and its really important to follow the split cage method. It sounds like you have plenty of room in your current tank. Some people will ignore split caging, and claim success by just putting them together, and while it "might" work in the short term, chances are it won't and result in a nasty fight.

SPLIT CAGING
Separate the tank with a wooden frame and mousewire.

Setup about an inch of substrate (finacard etc) so they can't burrow. They must focus on each other.

No toys, nothing they can be territorial over.
Likewise, no food bowl, scatter feed (which is the best way to feed them anyway as it encourages natural foraging).

Fix water bottles to the glass with industrial strength velcro.

Swop them over to a different side 3 times a day ,(always an odd number so they sleep on a different side each night).

No interacting as they are very scent based, and leave for about 2 weeks before raising the barrier.

At which point, hopefully you've made two lonely gerbils very happy.

Annabelle69 · 28/11/2021 10:04

This is a very good link on split caging. It does makes some of the combos sound harder than they really are in my experience. Ill also dig out some split caging pics later if useful.

www.crittery.co.uk/index.php/geb-splitcage

Annabelle69 · 28/11/2021 10:25

SPLIT CAGING
I should have included in the above;
Add 10+ sheets of white, plain, unscented toilet roll sheets to each side of the split cage (and top up as needed) , so they can construct their own nests. Ideally they'll nest side by side.

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