Gerbil help needed

[nsweezie]

Thanks for the advice- I'm going to take it!
It was lucky that I was in the room when the fight kicked off, I'd hate it for the girls to get back together and then possible kill each other fighting when I am at work.
I've done the split cage thing before, but only with male gerbils, and have had a lot of success, I assume that the same idea applies with females. Will keep you posted!
Louise

[Miss Z]

I think it's best to keep the gerbils apart. I used to have three female gerbils in a cage together, and whilst we were away and they were in the care of someone else, Ebony turned on Nightshade and gave her quite bad wounds on her tail and back. We separated Nightshade from her sisters and at first were concerned that she would get lonely, but she never looked back. In fact, I would say she is much happier on her own, as before she was quite a quiet gerbil. Since having her own space, she's really come out of her shell and is now very friendly and inquisitive.

At the opposite end of the scale, Ebony too is now on her own since she lost her sister and cage-mate, Twilight, a few months ago. We were afraid she would pine for her, as they were quite close. Yet Ebony also seems to have adapted well to living alone. She too changed personalities, starting as a fiesty and jumpy girl who is now a lot gentler and takes to handling much more willingly. With enough attention and love, I don't think your gerbil will have any problem adapting to living on her own. I hope her wounds heal well!

[cali]

miss Z, in you case I think a major factor was that you had 3 females together. this is fine for males, but you should never house more then 2 females together. there are exeptions of coarse, I once had a cage with 5 females together and they were totally fine, but that was an exeption to the rule. I house my females very carefully according to temperments and age.

the right temperment is key here, when you choose a cagemate for a dominant or aggressive female, you want a larger cagemate who is calm and good at giving calming signals. you know how some dogs just get along with all dogs, no matter what aggression problems they have? its because they know how to use their body language to diffuse the situation, as opposed to getting mad back, or getting scared, and just aggravating the issue. its the same with Gerbils, some Gerbils are simpley very good ad readng other Gerbils, and diffusing situations. these gerbils make GREAT companions for dominant or aggressive gerbils.

[Miss Z]

miss Z, in you case I think a major factor was that you had 3 females together. this is fine for males, but you should never house more then 2 females together.

Yeah, we didn't plan on getting three together, but as they were all the last remaining in the litter, we didn't want to leave one alone. Seeing as they got on very well to begin with, we thought we'd be lucky with them. I think maybe the change of environment probably triggered the behaviour as they'd never been outside of my brother's room before.

What you said about a good companion for a dominant gerbil was interesting, because that was Twilight completely. She was larger and placid. Nightshade, I suppose, was just quite flighty and prepared to let Ebony bully her.

Still, I think my gerbils are very happy to live on their own now.