AboutSheila Adby Expertise Syrian hamsters are my specialty, however, I have kept Campbells,Winter Whites and gerbils in the past. I can advise on most subjects associated with hamsters, including housing, bedding, feeding, handling, new borns and catching escapees. I have had some experience of various health problems with hamsters and can offer my opinion and advice on basic health issues, however I am not a qualified vet and therefore cannot recommend drugs etc. My website is www.thehamstersite.com
Experience I have been keeping hamsters and other small animals for more than 12 years. My favourites are Syrian hamsters and I foster litters and 'difficult' hamsters for a rescue centre. My job is to tame hamsters ready for re-homing, which is extremely rewarding. I also enjoy looking after new litters and raising the pups. I have co-written a book on hamsters with my local vet and have a website: www.thehamstersite.com
Publications Hamsters in Sickness and in Health - Sheila Adby and Dan O'Neill ISBN186163218-5 (Capall Bann Publishing)
Education/Credentials Educated to A Level standard in the UK.
Question I have this female gerbil named star and i adopted her she also had a male in the cage with her and i was going to go back and adopt him to but he was gone would it be okay for me to get another female gerbil or find a different male gerbil?
Answer Hi
Introducing adult gerbils is very difficult and can be impossible. I often end up fostering single gerbils because of this very fact.
I think it will be difficult to get her to take a female as a companion. You could try but it needs to be done carefully - if you keep them side by side in separate cages, then each day put each one in the other's cage (don't let them meet). This way they get to smell the other one. After a few days you could introduce them in neutral territory so that neither scent is there. Watch them all the time. If they seem OK, then you could put them together but make sure that both of their bedding is in the cage that you put them in so that neither one feels threatened. If they fight or clearly don't get along you would need to separate them permanently.
Introducing a male should be done in the same way and she is more likely to accept a male. However, if you put a male in they will mate and you could end up with one or more litters. If they do mate, the key thing is to separate off the male before she gives birth as they will mate again the day the litter is born. If he is kept in the same cage with just a divider, when the babies are 4 weeks old you need to sex them and any boys in the litter can live with dad in a cage together and the girls can stay with mum providing they don't fight. By keeping him around but not actually in physical contact will allow them to recognise his scent.
Unfortunately there are no guarantees any of this will work but you might feel it is worth a try. If she lives on her own permanently, make sure she has plenty of things to do - give her plenty of cardboard to shred as they love doing this. You might also want to fit a wheel in her cage (don't give her one with spokes or her tail will get caught). I've had loads of single gerbils and they all seem to be OK.
