Now single gerbil

RedSky · 06-07-2014, 07:07 AM

So you might remember me posting a while ago about the passing of Marshmallow. Well this morning Bournville was rushed to the vets and long story short, Fudge is going to be alone. It's cancer and she is in pain and having sezuires.
I am going to collect them now, so hoping for replies for when I get back.
I am terrified that Fudge, while she appears healthy at the moment, isn't going to survive long as an only gerbil. I nearly lost her after Marsh passed, and it was only with time and Bournville that she managed to get passed it.

Does anyone have any tips for helping a single gerbil?

I don't really want to get a baby as I don't want to be in this never ending cycle. But if anyone local has a 2 year old female that I wouldn't need to quarantine then that might be an idea to look into.

Thanks

racinghamster · 06-07-2014, 09:00 AM

Hi RedSky, really sad to hear this and healing vibes being sent your way. I know how it feels to deal with a single gerbil having either lost one to illness or age, or due to separations/de-clans. Fudge should adapt to being on her own as female gerbils are not known for their hospitality of newcomers, so chances are you would just be placing yourself in a position of having a permanent tank splitter in place, or having two single female gerbils if they don`t bond. It depends how you want to go forward.

If Fudge was mine and knowing that females don`t really accept new company, I would be inclined to just give her more attention when you can and accept that she may go downhill if she can`t adapt. I don`t mean that in a negative sense, just meaning that she has to because introducing a new female could pose her and you issues. It`s entirely possible that Fudge could accept another female if she`s always been laid back/subordinate, but you may not know the temperament of a newcomer, so sparks could fly, or they may just gel, but it`s unknown territory.

How is Fudge now?

RedSky · 06-09-2014, 06:20 AM

She seems to be fairly okay.
She has eaten although not as much as normal, and she is coming up to the topper and interacting with us. She is still chewing as well so I'm taking all of this as positive signs but not getting my hopes up.

Stockannette · 06-09-2014, 07:09 AM

We are fostering two single declanned gerbil girls (one since August, one since October). I've just been trying to be near them, talk, and/or handle them as much as I can, and provide lots of chewing/playing/eating variety.

For one of them (the shyer, less tame of the two), a pivotal discovery was made when I was moving furniture around and had her tank in the center of the living room, where she is more in the middle of things, where we usually are. She seems to LOVE to be "where the action is," and when I think about it, she's got more to look at now than when she was in a corner, with only two sides of her tank looking out into the world, and the other two being up against walls. She is no longer a hider, and is much more friendly with us.

They seem to be doing fine on their own, and have very distinct personalities, favorite toys, etc.

racinghamster · 06-09-2014, 08:28 AM

With females, it`s really about the status quo if they are left alone. It`s really difficult to re-introduce a female to another female and personally, I would leave things as they are and give Fudge more one on one attention and I`m sure she will look forward to that.

Maybe in the future if you have more gerbils, you can have a couple of males, which are more likely to accept a baby male if one was to pass on. That does depend though on the male`s whole behaviour and whether he`s gentle and laid back. Some males can be a bit balshy and dominant and if they are, they can be more tricky. x

RedSky · 07-29-2014, 05:20 AM

I don't want to jinks it, but Fudge is doing so well.
She is craving all the attention she can get, so I know she is lonely. But she is at a stable weight, digging, chewing ect. She seems to have taken the loss of Bournville much better than I did, and much better than when we lost Marshmallow.
I miss them both dearly but I am so glad that Fudge is coping so well being alone. Just wanted to update you all about how things are at the moment.
Thank you all for your support through the hard times.

racinghamster · 07-29-2014, 08:45 AM

Aw, that is good news.

I`m sure Fudge will be loving her treats and playtimes. x

**DrKMcK** · 07-29-2014, 09:18 AM

Hello Redsky. Gerbils were my first love as rodent pets. I've had many of them over the last 50 years. They can do very well as singles. I had a pair of boys that had to be separated as one was attacking the other. They were fine. Single gerbils will enjoy interacting with you. My Henry used to hang out in my pockets or on my shoulder. He would stay on my bed even if I left the room. I'd come back and he'd run to the top of my pillow...the highest point on the bed, and wait for me to pick him up. My Kyle was so gentle he became a therapy gerbil at my practice in a mental health center. He loved all the attention from the children at the center. As long as you have a playtime of an hour or so each day, (some gerbils like more), Fudge will be okay.

RedSky · 07-29-2014, 09:43 AM

She is doing very well, but she is a little monkey for nipping. She will randomly stop on me and chew a hole in my clothes, and she cannot walk on bare skin without nipping every few steps. She is terrible for climbing up on to my shoulder and then nibbling my neck, and it does hurt. The number of times she has drawn blood.
I try to keep her on the floor but she much prefers to climb over me than run in tunnels or climb boxes...