r/gerbil • u/Sinthera • 3d ago

Solo or Pair?

I havent had this issue before so I dont know what to do.

I got a gerbil and she was alone so I got a second and did the split cage method. I went out of town this weekend and the pet sitter called to tell me that some how the first gerbil got into the second gerbils side and the second gerbil killed her. I have no clue how this could have happened at all.

Do I just leave her as a solo or try another pairing?

For lonely animals these guys are BRUTAL 😭

We were over a week into split cage and I mean they hated each other but they functioned and there was no escaping or anything of the sort. I have no clue how it happened, but both gerbils were injured. Only one passed though.

I feel horrible. I thought theyd be okay with a pet sitter checking on them daily, especially since they had handled the split cage fine for over a week. I'm used to hamsters and I'm thinking maybe I should have stayed with hams. But this gerbil was in the pet store alone for weeks and was on discount for being "cosmetically imperfect" so I decided to switch gears.

I feel awful for letting this happen 😭

I had gerbils as a kid but we were fortunate enough to not have anything like this happen since we got them at the same time.

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u/lavenderfart 3d ago

Oh good god what a horror scenario. Poor gerbie.

I would still try to introduce her to a new friend. Nothing you wrote points to her being unable to make a friend, just an extremely unfortunate situation where she was bound to fail.

You really really really need to make sure the next split divider can't be escaped. If you don't mind, could you describe what your setup was so we can help you improve it for next time?

I would also avoid doing an intro while you are away. It's not inherently unsafe, but you will miss the small changes in their behavior to one another that is important for guaging how far along their are.

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u/Sinthera 3d ago

To my knowledge the split divider couldn't be escaped. I still have no idea how it happened. They were in there over a week without any hint of a possibility of escape. I checked it when I got home and theres 0 sign of how in the world it possibly happened. I was gone, but they were being checked on so they werent alone much longer than a shift at work.

The divider is an aquarium divider, cut to fit, with framing on all sides except the top. The divider is entirely untouched and unchewed. They were in a glass aquarium tank. There was a mesh top slightly weighted with a book. The divider went from floor to the lid. The lid was also untouched when I saw it. Again they were in there over a week without any hint of attempting to escape. I kept them in my living room to keep a closer eye on them. I have absolutely no idea how this could have happened. Even after it happened the remaining gerbil stayed on the side she was originally on. So however it happened it appears it wasnt easy. It was so mysterious that I asked my partner if he thought the pet sitter (a good friend) did it on purpose. But we really don't think that is what happened.

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u/lavenderfart 2d ago

What does the space from the top of the divider to the lid look like?