Gerbils fighting?

Question

im going to get a gerbil but i still cant make up my mind to get 1 or two, if i get one it will be lonely and become depressed

but if i get two there is a chance of them fighting (i have read stories of gerbils living together all their lives and then randomly start to fight) please help me with my decision.

thanks

Answer 1

It's best to get two, as gerbils are very social and live in colonies in the wild. Just make sure you get a same s*x pair, if they were littermates it's even better at lessening the odds of a fight. It's not a great idea to get one, then try to get another and introduce them as they're pretty territorial.

But yes, two is a good idea.

Here's a site about fighting to help you be better prepared. :]

http://www.petshub.com/gerbil/gerbils-fi...

Answer 2

If you get two, get them at the same time. And request that they be put in the SAME container. Most likely, they have already settled out a pecking order and if seperated they can forget who the other gerbil is and will duke it out to the death to settle dominance issues. So make sure that they are put in the same container to be brought home in. To minimize stress make sure everything is set up so you can just pop them in the cage and let them settle for a few days before handling. But gerbils are fine either way, by themselves or in groups.

Answer 3

Two is the way to go, as long as their from the same cage and the same s*x.

Answer 4

its better to get two.but if you get them at the pet store make sure there already together.i have already had a fight and got sticthes in my finger.but i have one in one cage and the other one in another cage.but they seem fine.but they do become overweight when alone

Answer 5

If the pair is introduced correctly- as explained on TwinSqueaks.com- they won't fight.

The odds of fighting GENERALLY come into play in groups of three or more.

There is always a chance the two won't get along at all when you try to split cage them, and if it isn't successful after a couple tries, they will need to be housed separately.

Gerbils are social animals and should be housed in pairs, though, so I would try it. Explain to the breeder or pet store what you are trying to do, and see if they will let you bring the little one back if it doesn't work out. :]

Answer 6

In my opinion, two. Yes, there's ALWAYS that chance that they'll fight. Not fighting is never 100%. However, a majority of the time, it's fine and the gerbils get along. I have two wonderful little girls who adore each other. They came from the same litter at the same time. They get along great, and I don't think they'll ever fight. I'm prepared to separate them if they do, though. It's just something you should keep in the back of your mind.

You should definitely get two. I'd rather get two who could possibly end up fighting later on than one gerbil who will be lonely. I can confidently say that if I didn't get two gerbils, the one I did get would be very depressed. They sleep together, groom each other, eat together, and play with each other. Even if I spent all my free time with the lone gerbil, it still wouldn't make up for that type of companionship.