I might watch out for aggressive behaviour. Females are, supposedly, less stable than males in groups of more than one pair. Worst case scenario, with aggression, I would think you might end up having to seperate one of them from the others. But, then, you'd have a lonely gerbil. You could split cage the aggressor but I would think they might be able to fight between it. If you ended up having to seperate one, then you'd have to consider getting another cagemate (as you know, gerbils are very lonely without gerbilly interaction), splitting cages anyways, etc etc.

Most people will not recommend bringing in a new gerbil to an already established colony. However, I think I have seen folks bring in another gerbil when the lone cagemate (in a pair) for another has passed away. I brought in our third gerbil when Rota was recovering from her stroke (she still walks funny but is the sweetest one out of the three!) and did not have a problem. I did have to do introductions but it only took a couple of days and then they were all living together in the same habitat harmoniously.

If you see them rolling in a ball and/or drawing blood, get gloves, immediately pick them up, and seperate them because they are trying to kill each other. *Very* rarely can they be reconciled.

http://www.v-e-t-s.co.uk/gerbils.htm
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/P...9792/care.html (for reference!)

BLAH! NOW! If they are not aggressive towards each other, it could just be an accident. Maybe allergies? I called my vet on the subject (one of the only four out of fifty six in town that work on gerbils!) and they didn't have much to say beyond if it's not SUPER messed up then don't worry about it.

All three of my girls only have half a tail. I don't know why, I have never picked them up by their tails (which is usually the culprit of deglovings). I just scoop them up when I want to pick them up (or when they want it! ). I would just come in and see that they had degloved their tail. However, I just put neosporin on it (per vet advice) every day and they eventually dried up and fell off (the exposed parts). The tail looked dark, almost black while it was healing. Then, after a little while, the skin grew over, lightened up, and hair grew back on it. Their long tails are beautiful but I think their nubs are pretty cute too.

Overall, I think the worst possible thing that could happen would be you ending up having to have a tail amputated and seperating someone. However, I think that is pretty unlikely. I would just watch them and, for now, chock it up to an accident.

Now, MORE PICTURES. I think PTs gerbil population is very small so we need more pics from each gerbilly parent. (I'll have some of my three, playing in the bath tub, soon!)