What I learned from my first time bonding gerbils

Bonding gerbils isn't a simple process, there are lots of potential mistakes, here I share some of mine to help you avoid them in your own bondings
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[@PetConnectionInternational]

Here's the full in depth bonding guide to help you on your bonding journeys: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4eodWN-eZh5etE

[@PricelessJesus]

DREADFULLY SMALL cage . WHY WOULD u do this it's emotionally cruel

[@PetConnectionInternational]

It's a bonding enclosure, not a normal setup. They have a 240litre glass tank with a topper for their normal setup, but thank you for your kind concern 🙂

[@Alvicatchannel]

Mistakes are there to learn form... Thanks for your clear explanation!

[@PetConnectionInternational]

Exactly! That's why they're lessons/mistakes, no one got hurt so it's all just a learning experience, glad it could be helpful to you ☺️

[@hmcampbell]

Thanks for sharing this. I had a failed split cage with my two rescue boys about a year and a half back. Made all the classic mistakes you mentioned - too much space too soon, too much bedding, tried to rush the split cage (and I agree, 3 swaps a day is too stressful for all!).... and it was a disaster. Hundreds in vet bills from two nasty ball fights and I felt like a horrid owner. They are very different in personality and now live happily in a perma split which seems to suit them well. It's important people talk about their mistakes as it helps people learn and feel/do better! I feel like gerbils are an under-talked about pet as well. They are sooo cute but their dynamics are much more complex and precarious due to their bonds. They are NOT hamsters, as I've learned. Awesome creatures, but definitely not for beginners!

[@PetConnectionInternational]

Awh that's a shame about your boys, at least they're doing well now, it sounds like you did the best you could for them 💚 I agree, it's important to share our mistakes so we can all learn from them and learn that everyone else makes them too! Gerbil care definitely isn't easy 😅

[@Fruitifox]

i have a question, was/is your split cage like a divider or is it two different cages?

[@PetConnectionInternational]

I built a divider 🙂

[@hmcampbell]

@@Fruitifox I also built a divider using 1/4 inch chicken wire from the hardware store. They seemed to like that very much as they could still smell/mirror each others activities and be social :)

[@alexroden4442]

Bless you and your gerbils You did such an amazing job, thank you for sharing. I'm about to try bonding for the first time and it's great to see a very human and realistic perspective of what can happen. Hope you're well 😊

[@PetConnectionInternational]

I'm glad the videos can help ☺️ and good luck with the bonding! 🤞

[@dubliners0999]

Thank you for the video. Very, very helpful. I've attempted to bond two brothers twice now with the split cage method without success. I followed all the rules and stretched out the time; still, the bigger one would bully the smaller one at some point, keeping him from food and water. Although I'm disappointed, I need to respect the outcome. For a while, I had their cages close so they could just touch noses through the wire, but the smaller brother would never approach the bigger brother's cage, so I ended up giving them some space in between the cages. I don't want the smaller boy to develop signs of stress.

[@PetConnectionInternational]

No problem, I'm glad it could help 🙂 I do think sometimes personalities just don't match, as long as you've done the best you can for them, that's all anyone can ask for 💚

[@dubliners0999]

@@PetConnectionInternational I was watching Fins & Whiskers and was a bit worried about possible bullying: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pGXUl6CKZ6eYbM0

[@PetConnectionInternational]

I can see why it seems concerning, the first time I saw scuffles I think I nearly had a heart attack 😅 But disagreements and mild scuffles are pretty normal in animal relationships (even though we have a good relationship, my partner and I still argue sometimes too 😅), as long as the scuffles aren't prolonged or consistent it's generally nothing to be concerned about, and I'm sure Shine watches closely and would intervene if they got a bit too angsty 🙂

[@AAa-cx2lo]

Amazing testimony! Im waiting your video to create the divider!

[@PetConnectionInternational]

I'm glad you found it helpful ☺️ that divider video will be out next!

[@raptargh]

I’ve owned gerbils for decades and females are so tricky, even when they’ve grown up together. Once they come into heat is the worst time for incidents and I’ve had many fights and declanning during these moments. Sometimes they get over it and sometimes not, depending on temperament. My last four sisters booted out the youngest who outlived them all. She was the best.

[@PetConnectionInternational]

Yeah they really can be a handful when they're hormonal! Did you keep all 4 gerbils together? Or were they in pairs?

[@Avrilpooks]

I did this exact same thing. I came in with my gerbil i had for a long time and i got a new one! After a while i realized that the first attempt didn't go so well they went very fast in a circle like the exact same in the video but im gonna gonna try to make what they did inthe video thank you bye! ⭐

[@edbisdee]

Great video Heather!

[@PetConnectionInternational]

Thanks, I'm glad you found it useful ☺️

[@recoveringintrovert717]

I'm so heartbroken my girls declanned. My baby, Kismet, was rejected from the group. I am monitoring her behavior in her new cage to see if she can be left as a single gerbil, but I believe the outcome will be that she needs a friend. I truly thank you for your guidance on this channel. I need to learn how to make a split cage asap

[@PetConnectionInternational]

awh I'm sorry that your gerbils fell out 😕 they do need company so it's good to start looking for a new solo and preparing a split tank, I've got a few videos on the channel in my bonding playlist which may be helpful for you 🙂

[@xlollx7667]

I’m always nervous when split caging 😊

[@PetConnectionInternational]

Same! Even once I've done it before, it's still super nerve wracking 😅

[@bl8388]

You clearly did your research, and care for your animals. That's always good to see. Gerbils are the fun, more hyper version of hamsters. 2:35 My only thought is that there wasn't really any activity for them. No cubes to climb on or chew on. Too small an area is likely to increase the stress in rodents. Maybe a bigger area for the "drive bys," with more things to chew and climb on would be good.

[@PetConnectionInternational]

it's generally recommended not to have too many things in an area for new meets as they can get territorial over them, the ags that recommended the walk-bys said to keep it completely bare, that's why I didn't put anything in. But for playdates that I now do in the split I do add some food and chews if things are okay for 5 mins or so as distractions, so I have adjusted my method based on what I learned from the wonky first attempt 😅 I think bigger areas can actually cause problems in pairs too, based on what I learned trying to get Luna & Misty out into the playpen, I wasn't able to use it at all for months, I had to start in the bath where there were much less scuffles, and slowly increase the space making sure to transfer over scent and keep the space pretty full and busy. So although I don't recommend the neutral space meets now in the first instance, if it were to be tried I'd suggest a smaller area like the bathtub to start as the larger areas can cause fallouts even in bonded pairs unfortunately 😕

[@bl8388]

@@PetConnectionInternational Thanks for the info. Always interesting learned more about little fur balls. You are so methodical your videos are very scientific and helpful.

[@PetConnectionInternational]

@@bl8388 ah thank you, I'm glad the videos can be helpful ☺️

[@19Sofia05]

We have the same problem

[@PricelessJesus]

Maybe because thyre cage too small

[@jesswashington2428]

What are the gloves you are using? I'm needing a pair of bite proof gloves butt not sure which ones are.

[@PetConnectionInternational]

They're linked in the description of this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iXuncot8btqqors ☺️ They're fully leather, even on the back of the hand so they should be able to protect your hands 🙂

[@yourt975]

good video : )

[@soontobemither9451]

What if the gerbils Your getting are siblings and have lived together since they were born is this something i still need to do or is there a advantage of it?

[@PetConnectionInternational]

If they've been together their whole lives you don't need to introduce them this way as they're already bonded and happily living together, it's only for gerbils who don't know each other, have been separated for a while or have declanned 🙂

[@jemmalemmaa]

This is interesting, thank you. I have a pair of male bonded gerbils (adopted them already bonded, think they are brothers). I have had them approx 4 months now. I’ve noticed they are fine with each other in their tank - sleep together, grooming, not witnessed any fighting etc. However, one of them gets aggressive when they come out to play (no injuries caused but the classic signs you explained). Do you think I should therefore be letting them out separately for play time?

[@PetConnectionInternational]

Yes, I would free roam them separately as long as they're okay with each other when back in the enclosure, and make sure to give them at least a few minutes together back in the tank before taking the other one out An alternative you could try that I've had success with is the bath, I think because it's more neutral it may help things, either way it's worth a shot to see if it helps 🙂

[@jemmalemmaa]

@@PetConnectionInternational thank you I appreciate the response and advice! I don’t know why I never thought of this. Fingers crossed :)!!

[@PetConnectionInternational]

No problem, good luck!! 😊

[@Equestrian9487]

Why is the black one look so bloated? Is he just puffing up or? And you know dust baths are very important for their health they look like they need one

[@PetConnectionInternational]

Pumbaa had a growth in her tummy (which I explained at 0:46 in the video), we decided not to operate because we were worried she wouldn't make it through the surgery. And yes sand baths are important (dust is bad for them as it can stick to the linings of their airways and cause respiratory problems), but in a split tank (while bonding) there isn't anywhere to put a sand bath where it won't get completely buried (which I explained at 1:46 in the video), they both had sand baths before starting the split tank (you can see Luna's blue plastic one at 0:42 and Pumbaa's ceramic rainbow bowl behind her at 0:46), and they got it added in again later when they were bonded (shown at 5:49 in the video). Going for a week or two, or even a few weeks, without a sand bath won't harm them. This video is about bonding gerbils, what is done while they are bonding is not the same as normal care of them

[@rachelkerr7165]

What bedding do you use for tunnels and burrowing etc?

[@PetConnectionInternational]

I like to use hemp as my main substrate because it can absorb up to 4x it's weight in moisture and has natural antimicrobial and antifungal properties 🙂 the best one I've found since hemparade is pro-rep hemp bedding, then I'll mix it with LOADS of hay for structure and I may include some aspen and carefresh for softness ☺️

[@HardiSomal]

Females are so much harder to bond then make gerbils…I know from experience. I tried to link a single female gerbil to an existing female sister bond and it never worked out no matter how much I tried. I think I might either get her a new gerbil friend or keep her on her own

[@HardiSomal]

4 gerbils might be too much

[@PetConnectionInternational]

I think it depends on the match, I know people that have males that have had multiple failed bondings with different people, but both of my bondings with adult females were successful (although with Luna & Pumbaa they had to be separated because of Pumbaa's declining health). I know often it's said that females are more difficult to bond, but I've got a friend who's done like 30-40 bondings and that pattern doesn't seem to hold up, some females are super easy to bond and some males are super difficult and vice versa, I think it's really just about finding a good match of personalities, like with us humans and making friends 🙂

[@1livxyl343]

i thought you meant sticking them together into one gerbil...

[@PetConnectionInternational]

Not exactly 😅

[@SSherlockE]

This was very helpful. I unfortunately think I messed up with my boy Mikey by immediately putting them in the split tank

[@PetConnectionInternational]

I'm glad it was helpful 🙂 why do you think putting them straight in the split was a mistake? I found it didn't make a difference when I did it the second time around

[@SSherlockE]

Because my new boy still isn’t fond of me just yet

[@PetConnectionInternational]

@@SSherlockE well that's okay, it takes time to build a bond, and the daily swaps can actually help a new gerbil get used to being handled, that's what I did with Misty and she came around fine 🙂 I wouldn't worry, just use the standard taming methods I suggest like handfeeding, slow blinking and treats as lures and you should be fine, I've got a couple of taming videos on the channel if it helps ☺️

[@evestein8156]

So I have two females I have attempted to bind but unsuccessfully unfortunately. My question is am I stressing them out by keeping their cages close together so they can sniff each other? I think I am as they are now getting more aggressive towards each other even though there is two cages bars between them. Should I move them completely apart? Or will this then cause them to be lonely? Ahhh 🤯🤯

[@PetConnectionInternational]

If they're being aggressive towards each other when living as neighbours that would suggest it's stressing them out being so close together, so unfortunately I think they'll need to be moved apart and you'll need to find new friends for each of them

[@Jurassicgalaxy1245]

Also it’s better to introduce 2 of the same gender because if one wants to be together and one doesn’t this may lead to fighting so if you do always supervise them for the first year and if they good then they can be moved because mine were fine for 9 months before they started fighting also I had 2 boys so they also started to fight over her once or twice but the boys had a strong relationship so still stayed but that might not be the case

[@PetConnectionInternational]

You shouldn't keep 2 of the opposite gender together because they'll end up having babies, and gerbils can have one litter every month They should only be kept in same sex pairs or trios

[@s-t-a-r-r-y_n-i-g-h-t-s]

If I’m buying gerbils from a pet shop and I’ve seen some snuggle and they all stay in the same place, are they bonded?

[@PetConnectionInternational]

Yes they are, but I would strongly advise against buying from a pet shop. They usually produce their gerbils from awful rodent mills where the animals are treated poorly, and by buying the gerbils from the store you're effectively saying "I really love this "product" please make more" (pet stores only see them as merchandise to be sold). Much better to adopt from a rescue or check around on rehoming sites or Facebook groups for gerbils looking for a home near you, there's always loads looking for their forever home 🙂

[@s-t-a-r-r-y_n-i-g-h-t-s]

@@PetConnectionInternational ohh! I’ll be sure to go to a rescue, the cage was cramped too!

[@PetConnectionInternational]

@@s-t-a-r-r-y_n-i-g-h-t-s yeah it's horrible how they treat animals sometimes 😔 good luck on finding your babies! ☺️

[@s-t-a-r-r-y_n-i-g-h-t-s]

@@PetConnectionInternational Thank you!

[@animalcrossingnerd8142]

Should i get two or three Gerbils? Please make a video.

[@PetConnectionInternational]

Always 2 unless you come across a trio looking for rehoming, or if there's only 3 pups left in a litter from an ethical breeder. But if there's a choice, choose 2, they're less likely to declan (although it does still happen, but less often) I have mentioned this in videos a few times, but I am planning a dedicated video for it soon ☺️

[@deliciousfabreze8922]

Hey! I have had my pet gerbils pudding and cookie for about 2 years. I recently got another 2 gerbils, I wasn’t planning on putting them Together because it would be a lot of work. But if I were to do that how would I go about bonding two pairs? I most likely wont but I’m just curious

[@PetConnectionInternational]

you can't do that unfortunately, once a pair of gerbils have reached maturity (8 weeks), their clan is formed and they'll tend to treat and new gerbil as an intruder to their clan and possibly attack them, or trying an introduction could destabilise the bonds in the pairs, leaving you with 4 solos additionally, gerbils have very unstable social structures and larger groups are much more likely to Declan, so it's best to keep them in pairs anyway

[@Morsekoodi]

what do i do cuz one of my gerbils are depressed

[@PetConnectionInternational]

Are they currently alone?

[@lyssanah]

Thank you for this! At what time do you think it's best to simply keep them separate? I've got two boys I'm trying to bond and I'm going to essentially 'restart' with all your tips (Meeting in the tank instead of neutral area, hides against each other, etc - so far I only have relied on the split tank which very much won't work on its own, as I've learned), but it's easy to worry they won't bond with the run-by meets ending with a fight in under 3 seconds of being put together so far...

[@PetConnectionInternational]

I do have a full bonding guide out now if it helps: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4eodWN-eZh5etE There's sections in there about positive and negative signs, and when I would call it off and what to do next, as well as all the steps in detail, when to proceed, when to slow down, when to go back a few steps. I really tried to go over absolutely everything to make it as simple as possible to follow, hopefully with a clear run at the process you may get a bit more success ☺️ even if there's fights or fallouts, it doesn't necessarily mean it can't work out in the end, I think it's worth trying another go at the split tank and see how they go, they could still be best buds yet 🤞

[@lyssanah]

@@PetConnectionInternational That will be quite helpful!! Thank you so much!

[@PetConnectionInternational]

No problem, I'll be here if you need any more help ☺️

[@Fruitifox]

thanks for this video. Its very helpful. I’ve recently been trying to bond two female gerbils and they somehow got to each other and got into a bad fight (blood was drawn). They are currently separated and i don’t know if i can try to bond them again later, any recommendations? :(

[@PetConnectionInternational]

Awh that's a shame. I think for now keep them completely separate (in separate rooms if possible) until their injuries fully heal, then you could maybe try again as long as you're able to identify how they got to each other and make changes to stop it from happening again After a fight like that it may not work, but it could be worth another go as long as you're absolutely sure you can keep them apart until you're there and ready to start meets, you'd probably need to take it super slow after a fight though, my first few meets with Luna & Pumbaa were literally only seconds before Luna started getting tense, and it took a good few days to build it up to even a few minutes together I've got a more in depth guide into the process that may help going forward: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4eodWN-eZh5etE And I'll be here if you need any more help, good luck 💚

[@Fruitifox]

@@PetConnectionInternational thank you so much for the reply. I’ll try my best!!

[@PetConnectionInternational]

@@Fruitifox no problem ☺️ good luck!

[@Thelittlenoses]

Hey, Heather, I had 3 gerbils and the last night one of them killed other two. I don't know what to do, should I get another gerbil or should I leave her alone? Right now she seems a liitle bit agressive. Can you give some advice?

[@PetConnectionInternational]

Are you sure they were killed? Gerbils will tend to eat deceased members of their clan to "clean up" and prevent predators smelling them, do you think it's possible that could have happened with yours?

[@Thelittlenoses]

Yes, i'm sure because a few days earlyer my two gerbils were for some odd reason very wabbly, slow and sleepy. They couldn't properly open thei'r eyes, but the third one was absolutely fine. The same thing happend the other day then on the third day in the morning I found one of them lieing in thei'r sand bath covered in blood and shreaded. I checked if the other two were okay and they both were very sleepy and didn't get out from thei'r sleeping spot. I took them all to the wet. One was dead, to the second one the wet tried to give some medicine, but unfortunaly she passed away, but the gerbil wich we think killied the others was fine. Could you please let me know what you think?

[@Thelittlenoses]

And I forgot to mention that to the gerbil wich the wet tried to give medicine to, there were bite marks on her throat.

[@PetConnectionInternational]

It sounds like the two that passed away were very sick already and likely passed of their own accord during the night, then your remaining gerbil tried to clean up. The bite marks on the throat could have come about as the remaining gerb sensed the sickness, they can turn on their sick clan members First thing I would do is fully clean out the tank and replace or deep clean everything, all new bedding, anything like cardboard completely replaced, and wooden things sterilised in an oven on the lowest temp or rinse in boiling water or clean with 50/50 white vinegar and water. This is just in case what your other gerbils died of was infectious, to try and keep your remaining gerbil healthy Then keep a very close eye on him over the next few weeks for any signs of illness like you saw in the others If he's okay and doesn't show any signs of ill health then you're probably in the clear and can look at adopting another solo gerbil around the same age to bond using the split tank method And I'm very sorry for your loss, that couldn't have been a fun thing to find 💚

[@Thelittlenoses]

Thank you for your help!!! I will allways ask you if I need any help. You give realy good advice! 😊(you are my favorite youtuber) Best wishes from Lithuania! ❤️

[@Moon_scosplayz]

so pubaa is't dead

[@PetConnectionInternational]

She had to be put to sleep a couple of weeks after I split them unfortunately, I explained it more in the video I made about her

[@Certifiedexoticpythons]

None of that is actually necessary to bond them .