Do Gerbils Do Better In Pairs?

Absolutely – but that isn’t to say they don’t get on alone or in groups.

Gerbils are clan animals – that is they are often kept in pairs or trios – and sometimes in small groups. They get on with each other most of the time – especially if they are related – and interact with each other in a cute and loving way.

However, gerbils live by a code. A code of heirarchy. So as long as everyone knows their place and acts accordingly (do you remember Meerkat Manor?) they they all get along.

In a pair – it is much easier for gerbils to get along as there are only two very easy to distinguish positions: Boss or Not Boss. It really can’t go wrong all that often.

However in a trio, or quad, there are more things at play. Everyone is the Boss of someone else – and they can take sides…

We Always Say Gerbils Do Better In Pairs.

We say this because it is far less common for a pair of gerbils to attack each other and have a declan.

Just like your older sister will ALWAYS be your older sister – in a pair of gerbils the Boss is the Boss and that is that. Unless something changes the over-arching power of the existing Boss – like they get ill or they escape for a week – it is status quo.

By choosing a pair (if that is an option to you) you are potentially reducing the chances of a declan down the line for yourself – AND the gerbils. Gerbils don’t want a fight if they can help it – but often circumstances create a situation where nature won’t let them just leave it.

Unrelated trio clans (especially females) and clans of mixed ages are most at risk as there are too many different variable here over time – and it can all make a clan unstable.

Best Gerbils Clans Are Pairs Of Siblings.

Usually a pair of gerbils have been together since pups (and the best pairs are brothers or sisters) and so they already know each other and who is the ‘older sister’ or ‘big brother’.

A pair of unrelated pups still have time to work this out – but often aren’t given this time alone. Often – if gerbils from different families are mixed together it is usually in a big group first (a pup huddle) – then you pick the ones you like from that group.

However, in a big group (commonly seen in pet stores to save space) – they don’t have time to settle down on the ‘who is boss’ thing – and so they are all over the place especially in groups of 6 or more.

So, you take out the black and the ginger one (your favorite colors) but you don’t know if they are friends or whether the really don’t like each other. It is like being paired up for lessons at school by a stand-in teacher who doesn’t really know you.

Also, this works against the last two gerbils left in the group too – as they might have been left with the worst other gerbil when all their friends were eventually sold.

A good breeder or pet supplier would already have them split into their pairs as young as possible so that they form stronger bonds from the start.

Should I Only Buy Two Gerbils From a Trio Then?

No. This is where what you have is better than ‘what is best’.

Although we say that gerbils do better in pairs – if you find a trio already a trio, or a quad already a quad – leave them as they are.

We already said above that splitting up groups might trigger fighting or declans – so why risk it? Even if your trio DO end up fighting or declanning later – you haven’t lost anything. They have just had a lovely clan for as long as it lasted.

Never take two gerbils from a trio and leave one gerbil alone – not only are you leaving that gerbils alone – you are also risking your two new gerbils fighting as a result.

I don’t want it to sound like gerbils fight all the time – at the drop of a hat – but if you understand that gerbil life is all about who is the Boss and who isn’t – you can start to see how switching around clans and taking gerbils out here, there and everywhere – you are taking this whole settled clan thing to its very limits.

Yes, your gerbils may be fine if you change groups around – and often they do OK with it – but if you don’t need to risk it – why would you?

What Gerbil Pairs do Best Together?

Well, out of all the combinations where you actually have a choice (so buying pups from a breeder) to where you don’t so much – there is always a better options if you have it.

Here are some ways to make sure your pair of gerbil pups are more stable in general:

• They are from the same litter – or consecutive litters from the same parents
• They are the same age – if they aren’t from the same parents
• They are split off into a pair early on – as soon after weaning as possible
• They live alone as this same pair and never meet or share things with other gerbils
• You never add another gerbil to their clan – ever

Other stable pairs are with the parent and a pup – so mother and daughter, or father and son. Father and 2 sons works well too – but mother and 2 daughters not so much.

If you are having to create a pair from scratch for a single gerbil you have – using the split tank introduction (never just put two gerbils stright together) – the best combinations are always:

• A gerbil of the same age and sex as your existing gerbil; or,
• A single very young pup – the same sex as your existing gerbil

Obviously, gerbils don’t just appear in those exact formats just when you need them – so don’t try to change existing clans to match the above. They are just options for you if you are picking gerbils from scratch or you have a choice of clans to choose from.

However if you are homing rescue gerbils, or buying online, take whatever you get if that is the only choice infront of you – 1 lone gerbil, 3 sisters, 5 brothers. Most gerbil clans work out just fine if you keep them isolated in that clan and keep things stable for them.

If only mixed or large clans are available – it can still be OK if you are prepared to work at it or spend time creating new clans – but it won’t necesarily be easy or straight forward.

Have fun – whatever you choose!