Gerbil Problems

Question
I Bought a gerbil 2 weeks ago. I bought it from P&H and it was the only one they had, so i decided to get it. I Bought it a cage, CritterTrail 3. For the 1st week it was quite happy and nosy. I read on the net they prefer being in pairs, so i decided to go back and buy another one. Unfortunatly they did Not get on and the fights were very intense, so intense that i decided to return the new gerbil. A few days after that, I replaced my gerbils bedding. And Now, rather than let me lift her, she attempts to dig or run away from me. I am really Upset about this. She does take seeds from my hand, and i try to hold her when i can catch her. I let her run around my room happily, but she will NOT let me hold her. She used to sit on my shoulder and move around but she is desperate to get away. What have i done wrong? And any suggestions on how to fix it?

Answer
Gerbils are very territorial animals and when you brought in a new gerbil and they fought, she now thinks that she has to be protective of her home or there could be more gerbils coming to take it from her. Are you certain its a she? Some gerbils have no problem being alone (out of my 50+ I have a few like that) so don't think she HAS to have a companion. If she's happy alone and gets a lot of attention from you she'll be just fine. When they say that they like being in pairs they mean don't adopt pups out alone, doesn't mean all gerbils want to be in pairs.

Male gerbils often take pups in and care for them. I never have a lone male because they're so excepting of pups. Now females on the other hand, I frequently have a few of those alone because they are so aggressive to new gerbils, even pups!

Keep offering her treats, reassuring her that there are no new gerbils coming to see her and she'll come around. It'll take a little while for her to forget that incident and when she does she'll be her normal self again.

Ashley