Everything I need?

[elliriyanna]

I am putting together a list for if I get gerbils and I want to make sure I have everything covered. 

- Hides ( recommendations please?) 
- 2 ergonomic pet bowls 
- 30 liters of paper bedding 
- food ( gerri Gerbil and Browns Tropical Carnival) 
- ( 2) Kaytee Small Animal 6 -Ounce Chew-Proof Water Bottle
- ( 2) chew proof water bottle holders 
- 8 inch mesh wheel 
- Chinchilla bath sand

[mothman]

Some things that come to mind:

Cardboard, toilet paper tubes, etc.

Something to put the bath sand in.

Something to keep the gerbils in during tank-cleaning time.



Re: hide suggestions, I'm not sure. I've put in smallish cardboard boxes, a wooden hut, and an emptied coconut shell, and while they've explored/buried/filled them with bedding, our gerbils usually just build a nest in their substrate and don't actually use the hide away.

I am curious about doubling up with the food bowls and water bottles. Is that a helpful thing to do? (question to anyone).

[elliriyanna]

Well I always double water bottles in case one stops working. As for food bowls ... one less thing to fight over.

Sorry I was only listing things I need to buy. I have a spare metal cage for cage cleanings. and heaven knows we have enough tp and paper towel tubes LOL

[crittercrazy]

For hides I would suggest wooden or ceramic. You can usually buy either, but you can also make homemade ones. As Mothman said, you can also use coconut shells, and cardboard boxes. Warning though that those will be chewed quickly.

Other then that, chew toys perhaps? If you have a wooden den/hide or two that would work to.
Will you be giving them hay?
That's all I can think of.

Mothman- Though not completely necessary, using two food bowls is a fine idea. Especially if you have more then two gerbils. And two water bottles is, as Elliriyanna said, good in case one of them stops working.