Gerbils? Introducing?

[Joel]

Can 2 Gerbils be introduced to each other without any problems?
Are they like hamsters?

 

[Arlo]

Two gerbils are fine IF they're not violent. You have to watch how they interact when you put them together, and if they start fighting, separate them.

Definitely don't go any higher than two. Even just putting four together will cause them to become agitated and start fighting.

 

[♫Country Girl♪]

Yes i just did this myself with 2 boys, It can also be done with male/ female or two females.

Its called the split cage method. Clean the whole cage with soap and water to get rid of all smells ( if you don't then gerbils will be Territorial), Put a divider in the cage ( chicken wire works good, just make sure they cant hurt themselves) put a gerbil on each side. About 3 or 4 times a day switch the gerbils from one side to the other so they can get used to the others scents and realize the other gerbil is not a threat. Make sure they ain't trying to hurt each other through the wire, but let them interact through the wire, It can take anywhere from a week to a month. Mine took about 5 days,

When you check to see if they are getting along put on some thick gloves and place them together, if they start fighting separate them, If your not wearing gloves then you might get bit.



Edit:
Gerbils are not like hamsters, Unlike hamsters gerbils nap during the day and night while hamsters sleep all day and are awake all night. Also Gerbils are not biters, they do not bite unless they feel threatend. Gerbils are also cleaner, they don't smell as bad as hamsters do. I love gerbils their little taisl are so cute

 

[Praiser]

Gerbils can live in large colonies IF they are raised together. Introducing adults (unless it is a male and a female) is a good way to end up with a seriously injured (or dead) gerbil (or two!). Gerbils are social animals and live in groups in the wild, but they are very territorial and will fight viciously to defend their territory.

It also sometimes happens that as gerbils who have lived peacefully together grow up, there can be frictions and will eventually need to be separated. If you ever see them form a "ball" in their fighting ... do you best to separate them (NOT with your hands, they will bite VERY HARD) and then separate those two. When it reaches that stage, it's not very likely they can co-exist peacefully anymore.

If you are thinking of introducing two adult gerbils of the same sex ... I would put their cages next to each other with open bars (not glass) separating them. Then do the following:

1. If possible, just pick up a little litter from each cage and place it in the other one's cage. This will begin to introduce the scent of the other and make it seem more like it belongs there.

2. Later, try switching them so each is living in the other's cage. Don't clean the cage before you switch them.

3. Have them meet face to face for the first time in "neutral" territory ... not in either one's cage, nor in a place they are used to playing. No one should "own" the meeting ground. It's a good idea to wear HEAVY gloves and be ready to separate them if necessary, but try to have them used to each other for at least several weeks before doing this. If they ball up and fight, you lose all ground gained and may never be able to get them to get along.

It's best to introduce a much younger one to an adult. If both are babies, it's much easier also. But two adults of the same sex are going to be tricky, at best.

Good luck!