What can I do to help him cope? I know a little more TLC will help but is there anything else?!
Sorry to hear you've lost one - its always horrible having a lonely gerbil. It will obviously vary by their personalities but these are things I've found keep a gerbil interested and happy:
- A large hamster ball to let him freerange.
- Plenty of stuff to chew, cardboard, layer of hay, wooden bridges/structures and fleecy hammocks.
- Distracting foods, such as tying a piece of broccolli to the top of the cage so he has to try to eat whilst it swings.
- A dust bath.
- Special foods, such as cooked cous cous, peas and sweetcorn, millet sprays and mealworms.
- Wrapping a toilet roll and placing treats inside, a bit like a cracker
http://www. twinsqueaks.com/gerbil-kids/p ... - When handling, you can stroke his cheek as this is what another gerbil would do.
You may know this, but just in case - you CANNOT introduce an adult gerbil to another adult gerbil without a splitcage as they are very territorial and may kill each other. So if you were freeranging your guy with your sisters pair please don't, as chances are very high that they will turn on your guy and may even kill him. Even with a splitcage, you can NEVER introduce a single gerbil to an existing pair or clan and introducing on neutral territory is a really, really, bad idea with gerbils. The idea of a splitcage is that you swop them over both sides a few times a day so that the substrate will then smell of them both, and you make sure you give them nothing they can scent mark - so only thin cardboard, scatter feed rather than bowls, no wheels or toys. There is more info in the links I've given below.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com One great thing with male gerbils though is that they have very strong father instincts. If you have a big enough tank, then you can get your hands on a male pup and directly introduce. If your gerbil is under a year, just the one but if older than its better to get two male pups to introduce as this means you shouldn't be left with a lonely one later on.
There is a guide to introductions here
http://www.twinsqueaks.com/tips-archive/... the main thing to remember is that your gerbil pups MUST be only just weaned, ideally about 5-6 weeks but definately under 8 otherwise you would need a splitcage. This means you would need to get from a breeder as any gerbil old enough to be out on the shop floor of a pet shop, is too old to be directly introduced.
Hope that helps!
There may not be much you can do ... if you want try and introducing another gerbil with him ... but do be warned that they can and possibly will fight. First bring them into a neutral environment so that the first one is not "defending" his home. And babysit for a while.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com
find a pet store with a return policy.
i had a mouse and she had a baby and about like 2 years later the baby died and the mum was like sad for a few days
I don't think the gerbil really cares ... i don't think its emotions are like humans, maybe its happier.
