bald nose and wheel question.

[Deleted]

Spock does this the most but some of the others do it too. They insist on getting on top of the wheel and chewing the lid. Which means they put their nose in the holes of the hardware cloth and then get a bald spot. It doesn't bother them but it does me. Should I just let them be?

Should I give them less bedding in hopes they will use the wheel more? Less bedding and more cardboard to chew instead of a lot of bedding to tunnel with? Maybe the are bored with tunneling? They don't get a lot of bedding (except for the few I have that tunnel more than any of the others) but they do get enough for some tunneling.

Thanks

[marcia]

I think more wooden toys and plenty of toilet roll tubes might help. Try that and see how you get on.

[aine]

One of my gerbils chews relentlessly on his cage topper though his buddy never ever does. He's had a bald patch on his nose for over a year (ever since I got that tank) but it doesn't seem sore or scabby/red at all. The only thing that distracts him from it is taking him out to play - cardboard, bedding, toys etc. have had no effect at all. I'd love to know if anybody has any ideas!

[GerbilGal]

Or maybe find a way that he can't reach the top. Can you mount the wheel to the topper so he can't climb the wheel to get to the top? Do you have a picture of the setup?

[Boz]

My little foster is a stinker and chews her topper as well. I finally put cardboard around the edges of where she was chewing and she chewed that instead and the hair grew back. It wasn't red or irritated looking or anything but I didn't really want her to do it.





She looks a little scruffed up in these photos around her left ear (our right) be that's because she was having discharge from that ear and was getting ear drops. Thankfully it cleared up in a matter of a couple days!

[maxduo]

You can also try rubbing some lemon juice where they chew, it's a bit unpleasant to them.