SERIOUS HELP NEEDED FOR Split Cage With Gerbils!?

Question

I'm doing the split cage method with two gerbils. Though I work in a pet shop with gerbils, so I know the basics, I've never introduced two gerbils (that's not part of our training because we just generally say that people can be irresponsible and most would just chuck the gerbils together, so we try not to tell people about the method) and I don't know if it's going well.

It started on Sunday when I was actually doing cage in a cage, and the first gerbil- Hunky Magoo- seemed to pay some attention to his roommate, Dylan Moran, who had been with other gerbils up until that point, whereas Hunky has been alone now for at least two months.

It wasn't until Tuesday night that Hunky started chewing the plastic in the second smaller cage (I was swapping them about five times a day and he was in the larger tank whereas Dylan was in the smaller one) and I had to remove the cage and Dylan, so I did that and built a split cage on Tuesday- I didn't purposefully ignore the fact a split cage was better, I was simple trying to do it the easiest and cheapest way possible- and couldn't reintroduce them in this setting until Wednesday night, as I had to wait for the sealent to dry and cure.

Now, the issue is they don't appear to be paying ANY attention to each other. They have a water bottle, food bowl, and a little bit of sawdust, and once everyday I give them a bit of cardboard or a bit of a treat each to keep them fom getting too bored, so I know toys aren't a distraction. In fact, they spend most of their time sleeping! I swap them about five times a day but still see no sign of interaction- the only positive sign I see is they sleep in each other's nests, but they don't try and groom through the mesh, sniff each other, or sleep next to the divider. BUT they don't do negative things like scent mark when swapped or 'freak out'. They explore a little then go back to the nests and sleep.

Are these good signs, bad signs, netural signs? They're both male, and one's about six months, and the other one's about three months.

This is the cage I've got, though it's not uber important-

http://www.petsathome.com/find/keyword-is-gerbilarium/product-is-14991

(The cage topper is turned upside down and weighed down, not with platforms so they're constantly on the same level.)

Answer 1

I would say those are good signs. Atleast they aren't trying to attack each other, and it's good they are sleeping in the other ones' nest.

I did the split cage for about a week, and then i put them in the bathtub, so it's neutral territory and easier to break up fights if they happen. do this for about 10 minutes and if they seem ok with each other, wash out their tank and put them back in it (so there's no scent) and see if they do well. Monitor them closely though, just in case.

I hope it goes well!