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Post by mothman on Oct 9, 2014 21:09:40 GMT -8
I'm soon to be a new owner of gerbils, as family pets (me, my wife, and 6 yr old and 2.5 yr old daughters). 6 year old has been wanting a furry friend for ages and being in an apartment, a larger animal doesn't work. We're new to pocket pets, but I hope we (I) have made the right decision! lol It won't be my daughters pets, rather will be our family pets, she's too young for the responsibility, but she will be a big part of it. Anyway, I've been reading, and reading, and slowly gathering parts to set things up. Today was the final piece of the puzzle (I think) with the purchase of a second hand hamster cage which I tore down and rebuilt as a topper for the 20+ gallon tank. (hope to pick up a gerbil pair tomorrow, or if not, as soon as possible) I think I've now got everything in place. For now we'll keep all the essentials on the bottom level, until the critters get used to their new home, and after that will move the water and food up to the topper, and will then extend the lower level substrate all the way across the bottom tank. Here's a pic of the setup.  The box separating the food and water has a tunnel through it, I'm hoping that separation will help keep the food and water bottle from being buried. The wooden hut is sitting on a bare wood pillar and shelf thing (found at a thrift store)that is basically buried, but I though it might add some structure. The wire ladders have thin willow branches weaved through them to make them easier on the feet. The right side of the tank lid flips up for easier access to the tank, and the topper has a front door and the top also flips up. I've used cardboard as the flooring in the topper... will see how that goes and decide it works or not. The food I'll use to start with is Oxbow Essentials, a pelletized food, as that's what they eat at the store I'll be buying from. Not sure if I should transition over to a different food or not... advice is appreciated. I can't decide it pelletized food or food mixes (with individual bits of seeds, grains, etc) are a better way to go. The substrate is mostly aspen with some Kaytee Clean & Cozy mixed in and then a small amount of timothy hay on top, and I've tossed in a few toilet paper rolls, a couple bits of toilet paper, part of an egg carton, and some wood chews, along with a coconut shell (de-fuzzed) that I was going to use as the hideout but ended up with the wooden hut instead. So... any input on the setup? Am I ready to go? Is there too much 'stuff' in there for bringing in new gerbils? Not enough? Anything missing or glaringly wrong? Is it a good idea to actually bury more 'structure' items in the substrate (eg. toilet tubes)?? Mine currently is mostly just substrate on the bottom, with the 'toys' mostly on top (with the exception of the shelf/pillar thing as mentioned earlier) (And yeah, if anyone has advice on whether or not to transition the food, that would be good too  ) |
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Post by Jazzable on Oct 10, 2014 0:13:56 GMT -8
That looks like an awesome setup! I'd say you're definitely ready to go.  "Too much stuff" - no. It's good to have lots of places to explore and space to burrow. The only downside is that your new gerbs might be skittish, and having lots of substrate means they'll be more able to hide from you - it may be a bit harder to tame them. If you notice that happening once you get the gerbs, you could take out some of the substrate for a few weeks so you are more able to interact with them. But that's totally optional, there are other ways to tame them and they will still be great to watch even when they are still a bit nervous! I don't think anything is missing or glaringly wrong. Burying "structure" stuff - that's up to you. If you bury a lot of stuff the gerbs will use it with their burrows, if you don't then they will customise their own burrows. You can have lots of fun rearranging things in their cage - I move the toys around my gerbs' tank pretty much every day! They always get excited and go to explore the new setup. Food: again, it's personal choice. I use a pellet food (Beaphar Care+). I initially used it because they were on it at the pet shop when I got them. Then I switched to a muesli food, but then I decided to switch back to pellets. I prefer pellets because I don't have to worry about selective feeding. When they were on muesli there were some bits they never seemed to eat and I got worried about their nutrition. Also, one of my three gerbs is very shy and submissive, and also more skinny than the other two - and I was worried that he was only ever getting the bits the other two didn't want. But, the main positive of a muesli mix is the variety makes it interesting for them. To make up for that, I give them some healthy treats every day or two - things like dried pasta, millet sprays, stuff that isn't too high in fat or protein. |
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Post by pyrotarukia on Oct 10, 2014 0:50:18 GMT -8
That looks perfect for a pair of gerbils! My only suggestion is perhaps try and hang the coconut from the top? only because then it gives them variety of places to sleep most likely they will bury the other house I've always had hanging pods for my gerbils and I stuff it with tissue and special digestible wooly bedding (in case they eat a bit) and they love it for a snuggly hideout to nap in that they can't cover up with bedding lol |
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Post by mothman on Oct 10, 2014 7:36:35 GMT -8
Thanks both of you for the replies.
Jazzable, good point about pellet food avoiding selective feeding. I'll see how it goes and decide if I want to "jazz" up their food. See what I did there? lol We will be supplementing with other fresh foods as occasional treats.
I know you said it's personal choice, but would you say that 'typically' a person wouldn't want that much substrate at first? It'd be easy for me to scoop some of this out before we get the gerbils. Probably easier (and less stress) to take some out now rather than when the gerbils are in there?
Pyro, cool suggestion to hang the coconut... are you meaning hanging it in the lower tank? Can you describe that a bit more? I'm not picturing how/where to hang it where the critters are able to climb into it. Or do you set a 'ladder' up to the coconut? I assume not, as the ladder would likely get knocked over right?
Eventually, should the hideout be in the topper? I'm assuming not, that it is best in the bottom.
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Post by pyrotarukia on Oct 10, 2014 8:00:08 GMT -8
If you look at my signature picture, the picture in the middle of both Genji and Loki sleeping is in their blue hanging pod I actually hang mine in the topper near the food as it gives them more reason to go upstairs and I get to see them more. It did take them a couple of days to "discover" it but now they know it's always filled with warm fluffy stuff they pretty much sleep in there every night. As for ladders you don't need to worry about them as long as it's low enough for them to put 2 front paws in the hole they love to climb up and jump. Perhaps you could hang it off of the side panel that flips up (just to check they aren't in there when you open it lol) or maybe you'd like to try and hang it in the topper too? After all you do have another wooden hide out in the bottom (which my boys also have) so they have a safe spot to hide no matter what level of the "cage" they are in. I always think the more things are spread around the easier it is to watch them play This is a picture of Genji kinda hanging out of the pod... I think Loki caught him as he was climbing in and started to clean him so he just sort of hung about for 3 mins lol  I put one of the entrance holes (there are 3) facing the bridge to help them climb in while they are small but even now they climb in on the other higher side as well |
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Post by mothman on Oct 10, 2014 8:45:42 GMT -8
Ahh, ok, good stuff thanks. Being new to these guys, I wasn't sure on how well they can pull themselves up. I like the idea of hanging it in the topper so they have a safe spot up there. Also, Jazz's post had me decide to lessen the depth of bedding for the first while to make it more likely (maybe) for them to come sniff our hands while taming them. New pic. Hope this depth is OK, we'll fill it back up after we've had the critters for a while.  |
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Post by Jazzable on Oct 10, 2014 9:10:30 GMT -8
That looks great! Personally, I would probably have the level a bit lower (like your updated pic) if I was getting new gerbs. If they're very young then it often takes them a little while to figure out how to make burrows as well, so having more space taken up with toys and chewing thing gives them plenty to do even when they haven't made burrows yet.
For hanging things up in the cage: you could hang them from the base of the topper/the lid of the tank under the topper? That way they wouldn't be in the way of you opening the lid section of the tank. Or it could be fun to hang things in the topper itself like pyrotarukia.
Either way, it's easy to rearrange things and it can be fun so I wouldn't worry about it. If they bury a certain toy and don't seem to appreciate it, then you could move it out of the tank and into the topper or whatever.
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Post by pyrotarukia on Oct 11, 2014 9:29:42 GMT -8
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Post by crittercrazy on Oct 11, 2014 15:03:28 GMT -8
Your set up looks awesome! When I was a first time gerbil owner I really didn't know what I was doing. . . so way to go being ahead of the game. Just a few comments; I thought I would mention that I'm personally a fan of food mixes instead of pellet food, just to give the gerbils a healthy variety. So if you want, you can avoid selective feeding by simply leaving the food in there till all of it is gone. Just an idea though, since pellet food is fine, I simply prefer the variety. Going along with that, you said that you would be moving the gerbils' food and water to the topper once they were used to their new home. I'm not sure how long your planning to wait before doing so, but I would suggest not waiting too long. I've tried separating substrate from food/water with a box and it never works- my girls can destroy any box within an hour and walla, food is covered, water bottle leaks, and I suddenly have a huge mess. So just keep an eye out for that, so you can avoid any leaking water bottles.  I definitely think you made the right choice in removing some of the substrate- makes it easier to tame for sure. I think you said that you are getting your gerbils from a pet store, and if that is the case, from my experience its best to make the taming process as easy as possible! Pet store gerbils are rarely as easy to tame as gerbils from a breeder. Again, great set up. Looking forward to hearing about your new gerbils!!! |
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Post by mothman on Oct 14, 2014 8:00:13 GMT -8
Pyro, your topper/hatch looks awesome. Much more 'finished' looking than mine, for sure. lol
Is the topper sitting 'loose' on top of the cage? It looks like it in the pic, but wondering if that's the case. I'm paranoid about my topper falling off, even though I know it really can't, went so far as to use small bungee cords to hold it to the top of the cage. haha. Although, I figure if nothing else, the bungees holding it tighter will prevent rattling of the wire top when the critters are running around up there.
Crittercrazy, thanks for the comments. Re: the box separating the food and water... I feel dumb, but ya know, it completely didn't occur to me that they will destroy that box... Haha! I don't know why, but I completely overlooked that fact. Oh well, I'll see how it goes and it was always in my mind to move the food and water up as soon as possible anyways.
And yes, I'll be getting the gerbils at a local pet store, as that is (as far as I can tell) my only option where I am. I checked out 3 stores that sell them and decided on one store (Petsmart) that appears the best in terms of both the care of their animals, and customer service.
I'd hoped to have gerbils by now, but when we went to look over the weekend, they were short on gerbils and only had two solo guys in the store, so we're waiting until they get some more so we can get a pair of brothers.
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Post by pyrotarukia on Oct 14, 2014 8:22:21 GMT -8
Thanks very much I actually have attached small metal corner brackets to 3 of the sides of the topper (which is why the topper is 2.5cm over lapping the tank on all edges) so it doesn't wobble around and I can slide it on and off when needed for cleaning purposes the top picture it's looking wobbly because I hadn't attached the front bracket when I took the photo |
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Post by mothman on Oct 14, 2014 9:55:53 GMT -8
Ahh I see, cool.
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Post by lucille on Oct 16, 2014 22:41:00 GMT -8
hey Mothman -
I don't know if I'm late to reply but... have you considered getting a pair of rats as your first 'pocket pets' ? The reason I ask is because I have found that they are much more cuddly and tame right off the bat than any gerbils I have ever known. A rat will usually just sit on your shoulder and hang out without darting off while a gerbil never stops moving and is not very easy for a kid to handle. Just a thought for consideration as your setup would easily work for a pair of rats as well - and the set up looks great!
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Post by mothman on Oct 17, 2014 11:50:38 GMT -8
Hi Lucille. Thanks for the input.
I think we're too far into the 'gerbil thing' to redirect now. Haha! I've talked to my 6 yr old many times about how gerbils won't be like other pets she might be thinking of that she can cuddle with, that they'll be more on the move (and that it will take time before she can even handle one safely), and she seems to have a good understanding of that and is still on board.
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Post by mothman on Oct 18, 2014 18:09:46 GMT -8
Finally went to get our gerbils today, about time! I felt a little bad, there were 3 brothers together, and we only wanted 2, so we had to leave a solo guy behind.  Interacted with them a small amount at the store, and the two we got (the two we liked the look of the best) were quite willing to sniff us, and allow a little petting, right off the bat. The 3rd one nipped at our fingers several times, which while not a big deal, had us thinking we chose the right two. lol Introduced them to their new home and they spent about an hour exploring, the mostly just stayed on the lower level of the tank, going up to the tank shelf a few times, neither have gone into the topper yet. They found the food quickly... then found a dark spot and cozy'd up and napped. Since then they've been on and off of snoozing and wandering around the lower level. They started doing some tunneling in the substrate. They sniffed at the water bottle, but have not yet taken any drinks... that's the one thing I'm anxiously awaiting, to make sure they are getting their water. Have had a hard time getting photos thus far, as when they are on the move, they are moving constantly. My two girls watching their new pets. The older of the two will be working with me to care for the gerbs. The younger will be pretty much hands off, as she's too young to handle them properly at all.  Here's "Pepper". (names may change, but so far this is Pepper)  Pepper again... noticed the water was dripping after taking this shot. lol I flicked the water dispensor, and it seemed to stop the drips.  And here is "Sneaky Pete"... he's been the harder of the two to photograph, as he's more mobile.
Pete again.
Sneaky Pete being sneaky.
Sneaky Pete paused momentarily for an out-of-focus shot.
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