A potential home set up

[codemaster23]

 A while back I created a little play place for my two girls to have a little escape from the cage now and then. Their current set up makes huge messes and can be loud because of the glass on the bottom half if they tilt their wheel or something. I was wondering if I could use their play place as a living space since I think it should be big enough. I have pictures to show of course so I can get feedback. I think the tub is bigger than the picture makes it look.

[codemaster23]

[codemaster23]

Well for some reason the picture of their current set up is gone even though it was there when I posted at first. So the pictures are all of the place I want them to live in.

[Jazzable]

I can't quite see from the picture - what are the measurements of the tub? For a pair of gerbils you should aim for a minimum of 20 US gallons, or 75 litres.

[codemaster23]

I believe that it is a 20 gallon tub. Assuming that it is, would it be a good enough set up? It would greatly reduce my stress level with the noise reduction at night.

[Jazzable]

20 gallons will be enough for two gerbs, yes.

[codemaster23]

Thanks for the advice! like I said, less mess and less noise would lower my stress level significantly.

[Thelodar]

The size is fine but I have a few concerns. The slits in the lid may not provide adequate air circulation. I would try to find a way to cut out a large section of the lid and attach metal mesh over the opening for better air flow. My only other concern is the ridge int he tub. If the walls were completely smooth I wouldn't worry, but it looks like there is a ridge right above the sticker. I would think the gerbils would chew on the ridge and eventually escape.

[codemaster23]

Oct 20, 2014 15:58:38 GMT -8 Thelodar said:

The size is fine but I have a few concerns. The slits in the lid may not provide adequate air circulation. I would try to find a way to cut out a large section of the lid and attach metal mesh over the opening for better air flow. My only other concern is the ridge int he tub. If the walls were completely smooth I wouldn't worry, but it looks like there is a ridge right above the sticker. I would think the gerbils would chew on the ridge and eventually escape.

I will take these concerns into consideration. For the slits, could I just keep cutting them? They aren't all the way cut through because my dad didn't want it to break when we were making the cuts. He was using a circular saw and so was worried about it snapping, but I could use a knife or scissors to keep going.

And as for the ridge, they can't seem to get to it, so I'm not that worried about it. I put them in there to run around and they stand up against the wall and seem to ignore it.  

[codemaster23]

I also could put some holes in the side of the tub for air as well, I just thought about that.

[Thelodar]

I was thinking something like this for this lid (random internet photo, not mine)


A section of lid is cut out and hardware cloth is put over it and in this case attached with something like zip ties. I'm just afraid the slits are too thin but if you made them wider the gerbs might be able to chew out through them. Same goes for adding holes to the side, I'd be afraid of chewing. Perhaps I've just had really destructive gerbils lol.

[codemaster23]

Oct 22, 2014 4:42:00 GMT -8 Thelodar said:

I was thinking something like this for this lid (random internet photo, not mine)


A section of lid is cut out and hardware cloth is put over it and in this case attached with something like zip ties. I'm just afraid the slits are too thin but if you made them wider the gerbs might be able to chew out through them. Same goes for adding holes to the side, I'd be afraid of chewing. Perhaps I've just had really destructive gerbils lol.

That is nice. I will see what I can do with the one I have now. If it isn't doable with mine, I still think I got it well enough. Because I love them enough, I will probably build them a bigger one in the future and then do something like that.