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Post by mothman on Oct 19, 2014 20:36:21 GMT -8
We've got two new gerbil boys (first time we've ever owned gerbils).
They are in a 20+ gallon tank with a good sized topper. We've only had them two days, and they've not yet set foot into the topper, and as of now I've got their food bowl and water in the tank, on one end.
The plan is to move the food and water to the topper once they decide to go up there and are comfortable up there. I also will try the empty glass jar thing up there to see if they will use it as a potty. For now there is no glass jar for them.
Currently, they use their food bowl as their toilet, and I've cleaned it out once or twice a day and then put the remaining food back in.
My question is... should I consider putting the glass jar in the tank with them right now? I assume that they are happy using the food bowl, so why would they decide to sue the jar instead? And if they DO decide to use the jar, then once I move it up to the topper, will they know to use it or will they be looking for it in the tank?
Just a few potty questions. lol
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kim
Member
Posts: 399 
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Post by kim on Oct 20, 2014 2:33:23 GMT -8
you could try putting the jar in the tank, young gerbils do sometimes do this as there not as "toilet trained" at that age and it should stop as they get older anyway. Also to help them get use to the topper you could try putting them in it, then they'll know what it is and whats up there then let them go back down themselves, and hopefully then they'll start going up there themselves I found this helped.  |
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Post by mothman on Oct 20, 2014 9:11:31 GMT -8
I'll leave them a while before I think about putting them in the topper myself, as they are very untamed at this point, not at the point where I can pick them up (they will sniff me, and have walked onto my hand a couple times for a moment, but they also still bite sometimes. Ouch! They bite with some force!)
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Post by gerbillover9612 on Oct 20, 2014 9:39:56 GMT -8
I used to have that trouble with the gerbils pooing in their bowl but then i got a lasagna/gerbil sized cooking dish thing like this...  filled it with sand and they did all their poos and pees in that and left their food bowl to be a food bowl  As for the topper, i wouldnt worry. They will most likely explore it out of curiosity but if you are not comfortable with that just yet then just do what you was gonna do but leaving them for abit until they are tamer XD hope this helpedd |
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Post by mothman on Oct 20, 2014 11:36:39 GMT -8
Gerbillover, how do you keep the sand bowl from being knocked over, filled with bedding, sand kicked everywhere?
I have the idea in my head that our sand bath will be used during out of tank time, and/or only put in the tank for a short time, to prevent it causing a huge mess... but maybe I should rethink that.
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Post by gerbillover9612 on Oct 20, 2014 11:50:34 GMT -8
Ah, they do have a topper. Sorry didn't think about that one  haha but i do have an idea. you could either make a platform for the tank and put the sand on that, as there is no bedding on the topper, bedding cant get into but they do kick it out sometimes so i just give it a hoover and its fine I also seive it to get rid of the pos and pees but not waste sand ;D Yess, thats a good idea. Then once they have figured out how to use the topper, you could place the sand up there if you wanted to. Also another way to get the to go to the topper is to get a cup/tall container/glass jar, let them go in, put your hand on top for literally a second and place them on the topper near their water. Also they may get food and water and go to the topper in the night, when there is no sound at all, but obvs you would'nt see. Hmm, just a few suggestions XD xx |
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Post by mothman on Oct 20, 2014 14:30:50 GMT -8
I used a jar to get them into their tank when we got them home from the store, so yes, I could certainly do that to get hold of them ... the only challenge will be getting both arms/hands into the tank where I can reach them. lol The topper covers about 3/4 of the tank top, with a hinged 'lid' on the section of tank not covered by the topper, so I can reach in there. If the gerb's go to the other end though, I can't really get at them.
Those are just details of my specific setup though, and something I'll just have to work around while cursing my design decisions. LOL
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Post by Jazzable on Oct 20, 2014 22:51:49 GMT -8
If you hold one arm in with a jar/container, they will probably be interested enough to go insids of their own accord. It might take a few minutes but they will probably go in. To make it even more enticing, you could put a toilet roll tube at the 'entrance' of the container so they have a nice tunnel to go through. Then when they do go inside, you can tip it up for a moment, rather than covering the end with your other hand.
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Post by mothman on Oct 21, 2014 9:04:51 GMT -8
Yes indeed. |
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Post by gerbillover9612 on Oct 21, 2014 9:09:58 GMT -8
Like jazzable said, im sure if you manage to get the jar in with space for you, the little gerbs will explore of of curiousity and bam lid on, move to the top of the level, relase and boom job done :') ahah i hope evrerything goes to plan xx |
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Post by mothman on Oct 21, 2014 9:49:38 GMT -8
I posted in a different thread about my attempt to move Joey up to the topper last night... it didn't go well lol. He kind of freaked out (crawling around on his belly, biting wire mesh, had no idea how to get down, despite standing right by the ladder).
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Post by gerbillover9612 on Oct 21, 2014 10:01:11 GMT -8
Ah okay, i shall check that out crawling on his belly just means hes scent marking. arh, bless. im sure he'll figure it out in no time xxx |
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Post by mothman on Oct 21, 2014 11:30:02 GMT -8
Oh, see, I just learned something (scent marking). Love this forum. |
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Post by gerbillover9612 on Oct 21, 2014 11:46:57 GMT -8
Heheh yaaay! XD xxx
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Post by qtoffer on Oct 21, 2014 12:14:24 GMT -8
I always put the food, water, and potty in the topper from day one. I felt that it encouraged the new gerbils to explore the topper and helped them associate it (and me) with food and treats. When the gerbils were young, I provided a wire mesh ladder/ramp leading down the 2 - 3 inches to the bedding, but by the time they were a few months old, they no longer used it, so I removed it. Don't forget that gerbils have several periods of sleep and wakefulness throughout the entire day - meaning that they're awake and exploring the topper at some point during the night when you're asleep.
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Arwen (F) and Eowyn (F) 11/12/2011 - 20 gallon with 20 gallon topper
Goldberry (F) 11/12/2011 - 20 gallon with 20 gallon topper
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haha but i do have an idea. you could either make a platform for the tank and put the sand on that, as there is no bedding on the topper, bedding cant get into but they do kick it out sometimes so i just give it a hoover and its fine 
