Mating or something else?

[Curiousone57]

Well I've had gerbil for quite some time now and well the first set i had were two males and no problems. Well when I go my second set I was told they were both females but THEY WEREN'T :). Well they had baby's first litter died, second lived but I just could handle them all so I had to stick to keeping only two.
Well i keep the mom and a daughter rest were all boys. Well for the last week i've been noticeing the daughter trying to *BUMP THE BOOIE* but the weird thing is that the mother some times will turn around and do the same thing. Now the daughter will constintly do this over and over and alsmot looks like sometimes the daughter is *DOING IT* and sometimes she just kinda looks like she's trying to get onto the mothers back.
Now im curious is this usualy or unusual behavior because for some reason im getting the strangest feeling that the daughter is a SON!!!. I'm think about taking the daughter to the store to figure it out for good but just thought id ask you guys first.

[andreaS15]

Here is a great site to help you sex your gerbil - NGS Gender (http://www.gerbils.co.uk/gerbils/gender.htm)

I sometimes see my females (mostly my males) "marking" there sibling with the scent glands on their bellies. This 'could' be what your gerbils are doing to one another. My one male does it to his brother all the time, it's not 'humping', but just marking.

[MonoOmoi]

Yup yup. It can also be a dominence issue, and as the daughter grows up she may try to challenge the mother's dominence. This happens a lot amongst groups of gerbils that are changing, and it often leads to "humping" or boxing.

[Doom Gerbil]

hehe it happens in al my colonies, boys and girls only
I think it is a dominance issue yes

[Curiousone57]

well thanks guys I check the site for the past post and I tried my best to determine male from female. I belive the daughter is still female. Im going by ur guys opion that yes they may just be fighting, and hopefully thats all :). Hopefully i dont end up with another litter I hate having to give them away. Like I said thanks for your post theve been a big help.

[misscurlyj]

I have a mother/daughter pair and now that the daughter is older she does the same thing to try and change the dominance...the mom is great about it but she is still boss!