John killed Jack - the gerbil

angie_baby

Discvovered last night that during the day John and Jack the gerbils must of had a fight. Jack was in a very bad way and it looked like John had eaten him!

I dont understand why though, as they were both bought together, they are quite old and had never and never had a fight before. John is now running around looking for John, but he killed him!

Is it possible that John might die now as he is lonley? Or anyone have any ideas why this has happended?

Jo6673

Oh nooooooooooooooooooooooooo thats awful!
Stick with hamsters- can only have one and theres no danger of that!

angie_baby

Im just glad i saw him before Joe did.

louisdog

I have heard of this happening before although it's quite unusual, we have had a few male/male pairs and they have just died of old age. But sadly sometimes they fall out and it gets nasty, it can just be sudden like with yours, one day you just come home to a horrible sight.

I don't think you'd be able to introduce another male, they would definitely fight, he would probably accept a female but then you'd end up with masses of babies.

I have kept a gerbil on his own before and he seemed to do OK, he lived to age 6 and a half, I always tried to keep him occupied with lots of cardboard tubes and tissue boxes etc.

I am glad your son didn't see the dead one though.

Hope John stops looking for his brother soon!

Bendybops19

Oooh thats horrible and so sad!!!

I had Jack and Billy the gerbils, they seemed to live forever and ever! Billy died first, and Jack lived for a good few years without him, so dont worry about that.

Very sad though, and a horrid sight for you

angie_baby

They were already 3 years old, i just hope John doesnt die of be lonley or anything.

I will make sure he had a few toys in there so he doesnt get bored.

Kimberley

angie_baby wrote: »

They were already 3 years old, i just hope John doesnt die of be lonley or anything.

Well it's his own bleedin fault if he gets lonely

Sharifa_2

Many years ago I had exactly the same thing happen to my two elderly male gerbils. The second one outlived his brother by a couple of months; I don't know why it happened.

angie_baby

Kimberley wrote: »

Well it's his own bleedin fault if he gets lonely

I know, thought that this morning when he was running aroung like a nutter looking for him.

floyd

This happened to me many years ago (around 20!) when I looked after our school gerbils over the summer holiday. One ate the other with no warning or apparent motive, it just happened so I really don't think you could have done anything to cause or prevent it.
I guess lonliness is the price to pay as he would probably do it again if you got a replacement, some gerbils get much more territorial as they get older. I have also heard it mentioned in the past (although I don't know if its true) that they do it if the other dies to try and clean up the 'nest'