Female Gerbils Mating?

Question
QUESTION: I have had 2 gerbils for almost a year and the young girl at the shop we got them in said "I think they are both female", but we weren't too sure, but they have never looked like mating at a young age so we guessed she was right. However, the last couple of nights one of them, the slightly smaller one, has been chasing the other one and to be honest trying to get it on, she thumps her feet before hand and then slowly follows the other one and mounts her. My fear is, she may actually be a he. As if she was a female, why would she do this? I don't know what to expect? Please help. Phil

ANSWER: Hi Phil,

If one of your gerbils was in fact a male, you'd know by now, because the female gerbil would have had 2 or 3 litters ;)  So, you most likely have 2 females.  What you're witnessing when it looks like they're mating is a simple dominance ritual.  Like many animals kept in pairs or small groups, one gerbil must establish dominance.  Gerbils do this by rubbing their bellies (which have a scent gland on them - you can see a small "slit" on their bellies) on each other.  It's completely normal and nothing to worry about.

Have a great weekend!

If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask :)

Kelly

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: but the one mounting, is not the dominant one, she is always scared, you sure?

Answer
Hi Phil,

There's almost always a battle for dominance, so you'll probably observe each gerbil mounting the other at different times.  Also, sometimes it's not always clear which is the dominant gerbil.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask :)

Kelly