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Post by horselover on Apr 16, 2014 17:01:30 GMT -8
Any specific suggestions for a 10 gallon tank topper suitable for gerbils?
Thanks!
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rhianna
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Post by rhianna on Apr 16, 2014 17:18:19 GMT -8
You could always get one from qualitycage.com - they're the best on the market. However if you're like me and don't have a lot of money to spend on a tank topper, I highly recommend this: www.amazon.com/Chew-Proof-Sm-High-Rise/dp/B0027J381UI just bought it and the quality is fantastic. You need to cover the mesh floors with either cardboard, wood, paper, or grass mats, but otherwise it's completely suitable. |
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Post by lilsmacko on Apr 16, 2014 19:53:33 GMT -8
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rhianna
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Post by rhianna on Apr 16, 2014 20:14:56 GMT -8
The Petco high rise is another good one from what I've heard, but it's nearly identical to the one I posted except it doesn't have adjustable levels. The levels in the one that I linked can actually be used as two separate levels or put together to form one large level, like the Petco topper has. The Petco one is also more expensive.
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Post by horselover on Apr 17, 2014 6:19:50 GMT -8
Thanks for the suggestions! How necessary do you think it is to cover the mesh? How did you decide to do it without the material falling off or being shifted around or eaten too much? lol For the Petco one, will a wheel fit in the topper? Sometimes my gerbils get their wheel all full of shavings and then it won't work  . Then again, I may keep it down in the tank anyway because they tend to use it as a bathroom and I don't want that flung all over my room, haha Also, if anyone has other ideas feel free to keep them coming! |
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rhianna
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Post by rhianna on Apr 17, 2014 6:58:36 GMT -8
It's pretty necessary, unless you want to risk serious injury or possible death, and hundreds of $$$ in vet bills. Gerbils can easily get their toes or tails caught in the mesh, and that can either just be painful and possibly serious, or they can get really stuck and result to chewing off the limb. Things like that can lead to serious infection or traumatic bleeding. It's just really a lot simpler to cover the mesh, you know? You'd have to cover the floors in the Petco one too, by the way. I use these to cover it: www.amazon.com/Ware-Natural-Handwoven-Grass-Multi/dp/B001CS9SXY It comes with three mats, and one for each level means you have one left over. They have little strings in the corners so you can tie it down. So far there's been no chewing on the mats. They don't cover the entire level, though, so you'll have to just cover the excess areas with something else (I just put a food bowl and sand bath on top of where it's not covered). Toppers are generally 10 inches tall by 10 inches wide, so you can fit up to a 9 inch wheel. I have a 6.5" silent spinner in mine currently with tons of room to spare. |
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Post by horselover on Apr 17, 2014 7:35:26 GMT -8
Yikes, I definitely do not want to injure them. I've been looking around and heard of someone using reptile carpet in the topper. Do you think this would work or would it be bad for them? I would still have bedding in the tan for them to burrow in, this would be just to protect their feet when up top.
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keldamouse
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Post by keldamouse on Apr 17, 2014 8:16:46 GMT -8
I'd just like to chime in that one user had a horrible time with the Petco topper: gerbilforum.proboards.com/thread/28709/dangerous-cage-defect-lead-injuryI guess there is too much room in the top section corner. You may need to modify this topper by adding hardware cloth/mesh about 1/4-1/2 inch squares to the corners to be safe. Of course it may have been a freak accident or a defect in that run. It is always good to be careful. I have a topper that I got from sunfunpetproducts.com for my 20 gallon. I really like it but I haven't been able to install it. (my new girl and my older girl are in a split currently) But I am going to use a combination of ceramic tiles and grass mats to cover the floors. I don't know exactly what the reptile carpet is but it sounds like it may be fibrous. You don't want to have coconut fibers or anything that can harm them. Also you could get balsa wood or thin Kiln dried pine boards to cover the floors. In addition lots of people have just used cardboard and replaced it as necessary. It would be fun if you could add pictures. there has been a lot of discussion on topper floor covering and its always nice to see peoples results. |
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rhianna
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Post by rhianna on Apr 17, 2014 8:21:04 GMT -8
Considering what Google has told me, I don't think that reptile carpet is a safe material. I believe that it's made from fibers which can be more harmful than the mesh floor. If gerbils were to injest the fibers, they could clog up or tangle their digestive system.
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Post by Demonic Hope on Apr 17, 2014 8:25:29 GMT -8
I use the Chewproof High Rise like Rhianna. I adore it. Here is mine  I use linoleum to cover the levels. I tried the cardboard but my previous gerbil Luke would eat it constantly, and I didn't like the grass mats because I couldn't disinfect them. Luke took one nibble of the linoleum and realized it was gross. And its current resident, Ethan hasn't even tried. I take them out weekly and spray them with vinegar and I love how easy it is. |
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rhianna
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Post by rhianna on Apr 17, 2014 8:30:33 GMT -8
I might try linoleum with mine. I have some tiles leftover from a project that I did. The grass mats are working fine for now but it'd be nice to have something I could just wipe down if he pees on it.
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Post by horselover on Apr 17, 2014 8:30:39 GMT -8
Where did you find the linoleum? I use the Chewproof High Rise like Rhianna. I adore it. Here is mine I use linoleum to cover the levels. I tried the cardboard but my previous gerbil Luke would eat it constantly, and I didn't like the grass mats because I couldn't disinfect them. Luke took one nibble of the linoleum and realized it was gross. And its current resident, Ethan hasn't even tried. I take them out weekly and spray them with vinegar and I love how easy it is. |
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Post by Demonic Hope on Apr 17, 2014 8:36:58 GMT -8
Where did you find the linoleum? I use the Chewproof High Rise like Rhianna. I adore it. Here is mine I use linoleum to cover the levels. I tried the cardboard but my previous gerbil Luke would eat it constantly, and I didn't like the grass mats because I couldn't disinfect them. Luke took one nibble of the linoleum and realized it was gross. And its current resident, Ethan hasn't even tried. I take them out weekly and spray them with vinegar and I love how easy it is. We got it at lowes. I'm not sure what the actual name is. I've been looking and its not planking. It comes in a roll. I think Lowes sells it by the square foot. I'll ask my grandfather later what it was Oh its vinyl flooring! Had to go ask the exact name |
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