Something Weird

[gerbily]

Have any of you ever seen a male gerbil mounting other male gerbils?

[callimico]

Yes, it's likely they're scent marking each other (scent gland is located on lower belly) they mark their tank mates and objects they consider within their territory, or clan members.

But they could also be attempting to mate, or maybe just asserting dominance over the other males. My male DTW has done this to his sons a couple of times, it's weird but natural to them.

[gerbily]

Yeah its the dad doing this to the sons. I just found it odd. I thought I was imagining it.

[andreaS15]

Ya my Blazer is always 'marking' his brother... just making sure he's still his brother lol... ;)
"You're mine, and you're mine, oh and this is mine" ;)

[gerbily]

lol thats hilarious!

[Padfoot]

Hehehe.. last weekend I was introducing the pups from the last litter to Porto, a 1 year old male and some older pups. Well, I put the little ones in a bin and let them walk around, after a couple of minutes, I dropped the older males (I had my gloves on, ready for action). Well, the babies were mostly freaking out and the older pups chasing. Then Porto started chasing the dove baby, which seemed to react very aggressively to the others. Porto managed to pin him against a corner. I had my hands already in the bin to take him out.... but... I notice that Porto was actually grooming him! He groomed the freaked out pup, and marked him, then he did the same with the other 2 babies and then groomed all "his" older pups. After that hard work, he went to the corner to sleep, and everything calmed down in the tank... Even though the little ones were still freaked out, the older pups were not chasing them anymore...

[gerbily]

Oh my! Thats weird. I mean I have seen male gerbils do that. I just thought maybe he was gay 8)

[HareTrinity]

You can get gay animals (don't want to get into a debate on that; it's a fact), but it's a lot more likely just to be something to do with scents and territory.