Post by smsaifyr on May 10, 2011 8:08:25 GMT -8
Hey all,
So as some of you know our gerbil population doubled rather quickly when we found 3 gerbils in horrible conditions. We had three now we have 6.
Because of the conditions that the three new ones were kept we had to put them in plastic tubs to destroy the containers they were in. We has them living like this for 3 or so days.
It was not ideal because we have two escape artists and the boys really did not have enough room.
So here is how we built our own custom enclosure for our gerbils
We first measured the top of the dresser and decided how high we wanted we wanted to make it. We settled on 48 inches by 18 inches and 18 inches high. Then we went to home depot got plexi glass, and aquarium silicon sealer. And a special tool to cut the plexi
Scoring the plexi was probably the most time consuming part. The best results we got was when we got about 1/4 of the way though the plexi next you need t snap the plexi along the line.
even pressure is the way to go. If the pressure is not even then the break is not clean.
Next we used masking tape to hold the sides together (this is definitely a two person job)
Next we took some silicone can put a bead of silicone at all the joints and let it dry for 4 hours. Next we took the tape off the out side and put silicone on the our side joints as well.
we also build platforms and a divider. We used masionite for the top of the plat forms and as a guard on the top of the divider.
After over night drying we put the gerbils in their new home.
Here is what the whole thing looks like.
these are our rescue boys new home, they will be getting a plat form soon, and a new water bottle.
here is our existing trios' home Neo, yin and yang they also are getting a new water bottle today.
And here is lady's new home (she is the other rescue) She got the enclosure we used for our trio.(After a really good cleaning) We ran out of bedding so she is due for some more as well today.
Everyone has over 10 gallons each and seems to be enjoying their new homes! All and all we spent 4 hours building not including drying times. And just over $100 mostly on plexi glass, if we weren't so pressed for time we would have been able to find it cheeper some place else.
So as some of you know our gerbil population doubled rather quickly when we found 3 gerbils in horrible conditions. We had three now we have 6.
Because of the conditions that the three new ones were kept we had to put them in plastic tubs to destroy the containers they were in. We has them living like this for 3 or so days.
It was not ideal because we have two escape artists and the boys really did not have enough room.
So here is how we built our own custom enclosure for our gerbils
We first measured the top of the dresser and decided how high we wanted we wanted to make it. We settled on 48 inches by 18 inches and 18 inches high. Then we went to home depot got plexi glass, and aquarium silicon sealer. And a special tool to cut the plexi
Scoring the plexi was probably the most time consuming part. The best results we got was when we got about 1/4 of the way though the plexi next you need t snap the plexi along the line.
even pressure is the way to go. If the pressure is not even then the break is not clean.
Next we used masking tape to hold the sides together (this is definitely a two person job)
Next we took some silicone can put a bead of silicone at all the joints and let it dry for 4 hours. Next we took the tape off the out side and put silicone on the our side joints as well.
we also build platforms and a divider. We used masionite for the top of the plat forms and as a guard on the top of the divider.
After over night drying we put the gerbils in their new home.
Here is what the whole thing looks like.
these are our rescue boys new home, they will be getting a plat form soon, and a new water bottle.
here is our existing trios' home Neo, yin and yang they also are getting a new water bottle today.
And here is lady's new home (she is the other rescue) She got the enclosure we used for our trio.(After a really good cleaning) We ran out of bedding so she is due for some more as well today.
Everyone has over 10 gallons each and seems to be enjoying their new homes! All and all we spent 4 hours building not including drying times. And just over $100 mostly on plexi glass, if we weren't so pressed for time we would have been able to find it cheeper some place else.
