Not everyone gets a choice on which gerbils they split together. Most of the time they already have a single gerbil in their home and this is why they are looking up about Split Tanks online (hello and thanks for searching).
There are some Split Introductions that are easier to do than others (adult gerbil with a single pup) and some that are not recommended at all (adult gerbil to two or more other adult gerbils).
Also, there are some introductions that are easy to do in the first place (like an older female gerbil to two very young pups) – but that may well not last very long into the future (most female clans of three or more gerbils).
If you don’t mind short-term results (and can spot a declan early) then this is fine – but if you are choosing your gerbil a lifelong friend – then perhaps you need to chose a partner more wisely?
Don’t choose just on ease of introduction – choose on likely length of that clan into the future.
Therefore, if you have a choice – you can make the best one you can – best for you and best for your gerbil. However, if you are limited to the number or types of gerbils that you can get hold of – then you can only make the best judgement that you can at the time with what is offered.
No clan is ever 100% guaranteed stable for ever – even related gerbils can disagree down the line.
The options below are just the best options recommended by many, many, many gerbil owners over the years of trying these things out.
If you have a single adult male gerbil:
Lucky you – you have the best adult gerbil to put into a split tank introduction.
Males are most likely to accept a new friend using the Split Tank Process and are most likely to last a long time with them. Introduced pairs of adult males may take a week or so to bond, but are usually very stable long term.
If you have a young single adult male – you also have the option of introducing him to a single young male pup or a pair of very young male pups – both are very easy and can be done in just a few days.
Both of these options are recommended by others as they are easy to do; although if your original male is less than 2 years old – it would be best to only use one pup for they are more likely to last long term than if you put two in with him.
As they grow in confidence and mature into adults – these two pups can sometimes gang up on the original gerbil and then you are back to square one with him – but with two others in a new tank.
If you have an older single adult male (2.5+ years) you also have both options above – and although one pup is still safer long term – it would be better to choose the two very young pups this time. Your older gerbil should stay the Boss with them over the next 6 months or so, and then when he passes – these two gerbils will still have each other as company.
If you have a single adult female gerbil.
Well, you have a harder job here than with a male – but not impossible.
Females are a bit fussier about who they split together with. And it doesn’t only bear on who they are now – but also depending on what they have done in the past.
An adult single female should split together well with a single young pup – and as females are most stable long term in pairs – this would be much better than two young pups.
Unless your female is over 3 years old and slowing down – in which case perhaps it would be worth considering two very young pups – but the younger the better.
Single adult females can also be split quite easily to another adult female – the older the better though – as older females are more likely to be a bit more chilled out and less bothered about all things dominant.
Females who have been mothers are more likely to accept younger pups (it is in their nature after all) – but they can be quite funny when matching up to another older female.
Perhaps it has something to do with most mums being the Boss of not only all the pups – but also the dad. She is SO the Boss of him.
Saying that though, I have had several dominant females forced out of their own clan by their sisters only to go on to live happily under a new female Boss. And I have had a previously dominant Boss from one clan go on to be bossed over by a female who wasn’t the Boss in her original clan.
Dominance changes with each new clan – so don’t assume any two females can’t go together if that is all you have.
Is there a best time to do a Split Tank Introduction?
If your gerbils are both healthy and from your own stock – or from a breeder that you trust – then there is no need to wait for anything when doing a Split Tank Introduction – just set up the tank, pop your two gerbils in each side and you can be off.
What about pups? The sooner you can put them together the better if you are working with very young pups from any source – as they won’t stay very young indefinitely. Every week they get older is reducing the point of them being young pups in the first place.
After a messy declan: It would absolutely be worth waiting for a gerbil to heal up if they were injured during a particularly evil declan – especially if there is medication and cleaning involved. These two things can mess up the scents and the behaviours of the two gerbils – not what you want in a Split at all.
After the death of a clan member: Some people might say that waiting for a gerbil to get over the death of their clan member is a good idea, however, it is not necessary on a personal level as such because gerbils don’t really dwell on the past – they just react to the now. This is made more apparent if you have cleaned the tank out after the other one’s death – as there isn’t much left for your gerbil to remember them by anyway.
However, if you have a particularly troublesome gerbil – or they are female – it may be to your advantage if you leave them alone for several weeks as it may increase their chances of becoming lonely and so they may be more willing to accept a new friend?
Should I quarantine the new gerbil first?
There is always the recommendation of putting any new gerbils into quarantine for several weeks to see if they show any signs of illness before you welcome them fully into your home – certainly a very wise move. But, unless you are able to do this absolutely properly (all separate stuff in separate rooms) – there is almost no point doing in at all.
And if you got your new gerbils from a breeder themselves – and all their gerbils looked happy and healthy to you – then all their gerbils are most likely not carrying anything too scary otherwise they wouldn’t have so many themselves. Buying from a pet store or online though – you can’t have that same reassurance.
Breeders and those with huge clans will nearly always quarantine new stock before letting them anywhere near their existing lines – it is all about protecting what you have invested so much time and effort in. But, they will do it properly in different rooms and with completely different equipment as a lot hangs on the line for them.
You however, may well only have one other gerbil, and one room even – so a proper quarantine cannot be done.
However, there are some nasty gerbil illness out there – so do watch out!