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Gerbils are social creatures and enjoy interacting with another gerbil. However, gerbils are extremely territorial and will fight to the death with an unknown gerbil. If you didn't get both of your gerbils at the same time, you will need to introduce them using the split-cage method.
Consider the following:
- A divider should split the tank so each gerbil cannot get through to the other side.
- The divider should be made from a material that gerbils cannot chew through.
- The divider should have holes large enough that gerbils can see and smell each other, but not so large that they can squeeze their head through to bite the other gerbil.
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In the photo above, Samantha and Suzie are curious about each other. They can see and smell each other but cannot harm each other.
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The photo above is of the split tank I designed and built for Samantha and Suzie. Click the photo above for step-by-step instructions for building your own!
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The Split Cage
The first supply you will need, obviously, is a split cage. Most gerbil owners wedge a piece of hardware cloth into an aquarium so that the hardware cloth splits the tank diagonally, from corner to corner. I originally used this method but found that it was not safe and not very secure.
I made several trips to the hardware store, in search of supplies to design a safer, more secure split tank. To the left, you can see a photo of the split tank I use. It is very sturdy, has a removeable divider, protects gerbils from sharp metal edges, and lets you feed and play with one gerbil without fear of the other crawling over the divider. Click the photo of the split tank at left for step-by-step instructions for building your own!
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Other Important Supplies
You will need a few other supplies, which are pictured in the photo to the right:
- a small Critter Keeper
- a pair of heavy gloves, either winter gloves or leather gloves
- a plastic cup (optional)
- plenty of cardboard tubes
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Split-Caging
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Make sure both sides of the tank have a food supply and a filled water bottle. Then place one gerbil on each side of the divider.
A couple of times a day, you should swap the gerbils. If Samantha spent the morning on the left side of the tank, in the afternoon, I would put Samantha in a Critter Keeper. Then I would pick up Suzie and move her from the right to the left side of the tank. Then I would place Samantha in the right side of the tank.
If you have trouble picking up a gerbil, see the How To Pick Up A Gerbil tip.
If, for some reason, one gerbil would get around the divider, wear heavy gloves to break up the fight!
Keep tank furnishings to a minimum. Keep your gerbils busy with lots of toilet-paper tubes. See the Best Gerbil Toy tip.
Continue this process for at least a week for two males and for at least two weeks for two females. In the next tip, we'll discuss removing the divider and introducing your gerbils.
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Split-caging supplies (below)
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