Honey The Gerbil - Page 2

SnickersTheFirst · 06-20-2012, 12:11 AM

She does look around 6 weeks, that's the sort of size Murphy and Buddy were when I got them! So cute!

debs · 06-20-2012, 02:20 AM

thank you i wasnt sure never seen a baby gerbil before.

Schofield · 06-20-2012, 04:19 AM

She's very sweet. Gerbils don't have to be as young as 6 weeks for a successful introduction - they shouldn't really leave the parents until at least 8 weeks. At 6 weeks they are weaned and "can" do ok on their own, but it benefits them greatly to stay that extra two weeks. If a short introduction is to be done right back to the father Gerbil for instance then it can be done at 6 weeks. She does look teeny bless her.

debs · 06-20-2012, 05:12 AM

Was thinking the same shes rather jumpy :/ so u think I should leave them in for two weeks then ? Yea I'm scared too pick her up just in case I break her as she's that small

Schofield · 06-20-2012, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by debs

Was thinking the same shes rather jumpy :/ so u think I should leave them in for two weeks then ? Yea I'm scared too pick her up just in case I break her as she's that small

As she's already separated from the parents there's not much you can do about that so it's up to you when you decide to put them in a split. I'd give her at least a week on her own for quarantine purposes just incase then do the split. She will benefit from the adult company

debs · 06-20-2012, 03:44 PM

That's what am doing she manged too escape from the cage I put her in:/ I all so can't think of any name any ideas?would honey try and mother her?

racinghamster · 06-21-2012, 02:37 AM

debs, also be aware that female adult gerbils are notoriously difficult to pair up, so a tank with a secure cage splitter in place for weeks or months would be the best way to go about this. You could just put them both in a tank set up and see how the adult reacts to the youngster. If she follows or chases the wee one around but doesn`t actually look as if she`s going for the attack, she may just be excited at the prospect of this new little intruder! BUT...and this is a big but....she could potentially attack her and you will have to be ready for this and any signs at all of aggression from the adult and the younger female should be removed swiftly. The baby could be seriously bitten if the adult takes offence at the intrusion. males are much easier to pair up. I did it once with a nine week old baby male and one of my mellow males. He fathered the little one almost imediately and I had no worries whatsoever because I knew Grub was such a sweetheart in nature. If your adult female is mellow and not a biter, she could accept this youngster, but you won`t know until you go ahead and a split tank in the long term is the best way to do that. It means they can see and smell one another without being able to injure. Some females pretend to get on for a week and then all hell can break loose and they need splitting again.

I really do hope intos work for you because the little black one is on it`s own now and she could find herself in the same situation of living alone now if intros don`t work. I hope that isn`t the case though. x