|
|
Post by SunshineGerbils on Jul 23, 2012 16:32:17 GMT -8
|
|
|
|
Post by qtoffer on Jul 23, 2012 20:29:43 GMT -8
Since gerbils produce so little urine, is it even necessary? I associate nasty odors more with mice, rats, and rabbits. I've never tried Yesterday's News, but I have used zeolite pellets to control ammonia odor in mouse cages. www.amazon.com/Aquarium-Pharmaceuticals-79C-Ammo-Chips-Half-Gallon/dp/B000255NF0I'm guessing that paper based litter like Yesterday's News is completely safe, but I've heard that clumping litter can cause intestinal blockages in gerbils if ingested. |
|
|
|
Post by tero on Jul 23, 2012 21:05:30 GMT -8
Somehow i feel it might be unsafe.
I have never used catlitter but i would think they can eat it (reason i have never used it)
Maybe someone can shine some more light to the issue.
|
|
|
|
Post by rockythegerbil on Jul 23, 2012 21:42:02 GMT -8
Yesterday's News doesn't clump. The brand actually made a line specifically for small pets because people were using it for their rats, mice, ferrets, rabbits, and hamsters. However, I believe they discontinued it and now advertise the cat litter as being safe for small pets, too. Which they address here: www.yesterdaysnews.com/HealthyLifestyle/FAQs/SmallAnimals.aspxYesterday's News is paper based, so I think the ingestion risk would be the same as any other bedding. That said, I don't see the point in using it with gerbils. Like qtoffer said, they have very little smell when it comes to urine. Also, I tried the litter for my cat once and honestly was not impressed. I like that it's recycled from old paper... however, it didn't really control the smell well and was hard to scoop out. |
|
|
|
Post by hazelanddan on Jul 24, 2012 0:39:40 GMT -8
I've read on a degu website (I'm aware gerbils are not degus, but i assume the same principles apply) that you should never use the wood or paper pellet cat litter as substrate, as they expend and cause fatal stomach ruptures if ingested. (Reference : www.degutopia.co.uk/deguhouse.htm ) They showed experimental demonstrations of these litters 1) wood pellets: www.degutopia.co.uk/deguwoodpellets.htm2) paper pellets: www.degutopia.co.uk/degupaperpellets.htmI couldn't see from the link what the yesterdays news stuff looked like, but if it's absorbent and swells like these cat litter pellets, then I would avoid it. |
|
|
|
Post by amandarinorange811 on Jul 24, 2012 1:20:44 GMT -8
Well, when my family had ferrets we used Yesterday's News and it worked brilliantly. I understand ferrets are more like cats than anything else, but my point is it's just compacted newspaper, if I remember right. I still honestly wouldn't use anything like that though, considering gerbils are some of the cleanest, less-smelly small animals out there. They really don't pee much, and their cage only stinks if it needs cleaning REALLY REALLY badly. I think you should just stick with a natural bedding that says it prevents odors. I recommend EcoBedding (or its almost identical competitor, Carefresh Pro-Earth Bedding). I line the bottom of my tank with newspaper though, under the bedding, and I don't seem to have problems with odor too much. If you're worried about odors, burn a candle  works for me! |
|
|
|
Post by Rachael on Jul 24, 2012 7:36:40 GMT -8
In the book "Gerbils" by Engelbert Kotter, he says that a bottom bedding of a mixture of two-thirds sand and one-third cat litter has proven to be successful because fewer big cleaning jobs are needed and the kitty litter keeps the bedding cleaner longer and helps prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses. He says a layer up to 5 inches. Then he says put a layer of support bedding on top of that.
I haven't tried this but just thought I'd let you know because I remembered reading it.
|
|
works for me!
