Gerbils live in pairs or groups called clans – however, these clans aren’t all happy families even if they look it – they are simply ordered in the best way for survival. And this is the key to keeping gerbils happy.
There needs to be an order in the clan and everyone in the clan need to have their place (did you ever watch Meerkat Manor?). If this sense of order stays in place – you have a happy gerbil clan right to the end.
However, if this order is challenged in your gerbil tank – then you have a declanning underway.
Who’s The Boss?
Unlike other rodents who are much more laissez faire about insubordination and almost enjoy squabbling, gerbils live in an all-or-nothing kind of set-up.
Gerbils clans HAVE to have a Boss – the one we sometimes call ‘the Dominant One’.
This gerbil is in charge of all things and all the other gerbils know it – so if they want a piece of food that you just had – they can take it you won’t question it. If they want you to move from the really comfy spot that you just made – they will just push you out the way and that’s that.
Luckily, all the other gerbils in the group know how to behave in a clan so as long as they all do as the Boss says, they can stay in the group and everyone will have enough food and water to be happy and most importantly – they will be safe.
How Do They Do It?
The way the Boss reinforces their dominance is by constantly telling everyone to do what they say – including stealing food, making them move and keeping them from passing by by blocking their way.
By regularly doing these things – everyone knows the Boss is ‘hard’ and ‘in their face’ – so they stay on their toes.
The Boss will tell you when he is going to groom you too – like a quiet word in your ear – and the other gerbils offer grooming as a way of saying that they respect the Boss and are showering them with gifts of love.
These lesser mortals – the ones we call ‘the Submissive Ones’ are naturally quieter than the Dominant One – and with good reason. They don’t want to rock the boat.
They are being fed and cared for so why would they try anything to upset the Boss. If they upset the Boss – they may have to leave the clan – and then they would have to fend for themselves.
Just like in work and school – the new girl or boy doesn’t immediately go and bad mouth the boss, they know that there will be consequences. (Well, not if you want to stay there anyway.)
This is why most pairs or trios or gerbils in our care have a really outgoing one, and then have the one who never comes out to say ‘Hello’. This is how the clans work, so this is how is should always be. It’s like teamwork…
Who wants to be the Boss?
However, although a Submissive One is being submissive and acting all quiet and behaved – it doesn’t mean that they all like it that way.
Just like back at work or school again – if the one in charge is still strong, confident and doing well, we all wait our turn. Until we are equal to (or feel equal to) the Boss, there is no point trying to overthrow them is there?
Sometimes, when the time is right – or at least they think the time is right – they start to challenge the Boss to see what happens. Oftentimes, they were wrong – and the Boss bats them down early on and they revert back to waiting.
Other times – when the Boss tried to bat them down – they stand even taller. When you have two gerbils who want to be the Boss and are prepared to fight for it – you have a declan on your hands.
How do most declans start?
Usually the change in the balance of power is triggered by a change in strength of one of the two fighting gerbils. All the other gerbils in the clan (if there are any) may have nothing physical to do with the declan – but don’t think they haven’t taken sides…
Anyway, the declan starts due to one of two things – either the Boss becomes ‘less dominant’ or a submissive gerbil becomes ‘more dominant’.
Neither of these are inevitable of course – and many clans stay balanced for their entire lives – but there are some reasons outside of our hands that can make these declans more likely.
However, a variety of things that are in your control can tip the balance and upset the clan balance, and the job of Boss may be up for grabs because of these.
Taking away the Scent
Generally it is advised when cleaning out your gerbil tank to leave a good chunk of the dirty stuff in the tank. This is so the clan recognise the place as their own still even though nothing else smells of them. Not everyone does this of course – it is just one of those things that doesn’t hurt to do.
Mixing Up Scents
Doing the opposite is something to avoid. If you accidentally put something in a tank that smells of other gerbils (or even other small animals) you could make the gerbils uneasy – if the Boss doesn’t settle things down – the others might think they are under attack and start to squabble between themselves.
Introducing an Intruder
Worse still would be actually adding a new gerbil to an existing clan. This will always mean that the hierarchy has to be checked and rechecked and it may not fall back to where it was to begin with. Friends can become enemies overnight.
Taking out a Key Team Member
Just as importantly – don’t suddenly take out a clan member for no reason. If your clan has 3 or more adults in it – these clans are super balanced and if you just took out a key player – the whole clan could be in disarray – and someone needs to take charge.
