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Post by gerbilman on Mar 1, 2015 16:59:22 GMT -8
So ice posted about this but got no replys. It's only gotten worse. My one gerbil stands up on its house and stretches to reach the top where it's plastic in the aquarium and starts to chew it. I've just noticed it all around the tank it's all chewed. They have cardboard and 2 other houses to chew and hay. So then I cleaned out the cage put about half of the amount of bedding they had before. Then I made sure the houses went all in the bedding with the opening open. But still after all this they find a way to start chewing the plastic so then I took out the highest houses and make the cardboard into pieces they could only chew and moved some houses in the middle. Now they're running on the wheel while the other run runs up and down the aquarium/cage jumping on the sides tripping to get the plastic. I gave them out of cage time today to try to help but it didn't. So please help me I want them to be Ble to dig tunnels with more bedding.
Thanks please reply ASAP
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Post by gerbilman on Mar 1, 2015 17:07:06 GMT -8
Forgot to mention that the other gerbil caught on just recently now they take turns on the wheel while running and up and down jumping.
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Post by qtoffer on Mar 1, 2015 18:45:35 GMT -8
My niece's gerbils did that too. They can't escape, but who wants little pieces of plastic in the bedding? There's nothing you can do to distract them - they're hooked on plastic now! You're going to have to physically block that plastic ledge from them somehow. Home Depot and most hardware and craft stores sell aluminum U-channel. It's easy to cut to size with a hacksaw, and it can be hot glued around the plastic ledge to protect it. www.amazon.com/Aluminum-U-Channel-Unpolished-Standard-Tolerance/dp/B00CNLYMXU--------------------------------------------------------------------- Eowyn (F) 11/12/2011 - 20 gallon with 20 gallon topper Goldberry (F) 11/12/2011 - 20 gallon with 20 gallon topper -------------------------------------------------------------- RIP Maire 11/6/2008 - 4/6/2011; Eithne 11/6/2008 - 10/10/2011 Lori 5/2/2011 - 7/24/2013; Mo 5/2/2011 - 1/14/2014; Carly 5/2/2011 - 5/21/2014 Arwen 11/12/2011 - 2/8/2015
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Post by gerbilman on Mar 1, 2015 18:49:10 GMT -8
Ok thanks. Are you sure I can't get them to stop. If I put that aluminum on will they just forget about it or will they still go crazy for it. Because right now they're just trying to get to it still.
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Post by ninestone on Mar 1, 2015 19:18:20 GMT -8
Our two went through a period where they chewed the plastic edge around the tank top whenever they could. They would even jump up to it and chew as long as they could hang on! Eventually they tired of it. I'm sure yours will too. I wouldn't worry too much about it in the meantime.
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Post by qtoffer on Mar 1, 2015 19:28:54 GMT -8
Nope - they're obsessed.... and they're smart, LOL. If they can figure a way to get at that plastic - no matter how uncomfortable or awkward, they WILL chew at it. If you physically block the plastic ledge, they will just stop trying to chew it - the 'reward' for the behavior will no longer exist.
A cage topper that sits on that ledge would solve the problem too. That's why my gerbils have never shown any interest in the plastic aquarium edge. They do chew on the wood topper frame, and I have short pieces of hardware cloth stapled to it in certain areas to thwart the behavior. Gerbils are obsessive-compulsive creatures sometimes! --------------------------------------------------------------------- Eowyn (F) 11/12/2011 - 20 gallon with 20 gallon topper Goldberry (F) 11/12/2011 - 20 gallon with 20 gallon topper -------------------------------------------------------------- RIP Maire 11/6/2008 - 4/6/2011; Eithne 11/6/2008 - 10/10/2011 Lori 5/2/2011 - 7/24/2013; Mo 5/2/2011 - 1/14/2014; Carly 5/2/2011 - 5/21/2014 Arwen 11/12/2011 - 2/8/2015
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Post by crittercrazy on Mar 1, 2015 19:37:51 GMT -8
As qtoffer said, if you can block it, that's really the only way to discourage them. Personally, I just ignore it. . . my older pair of gerbils use to do it constantly, but they eventually got over it and just do it occasionally.
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Post by gerbilman on Mar 2, 2015 5:19:49 GMT -8
Thanks everyone I might wait a day but in the mean time. What size of the aluminum has to be I can order it tomorrow. And can I use any type of hot glue non-toxic?
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Post by gerbilman on Mar 2, 2015 12:44:55 GMT -8
I went to school and I came home to find them sleeping under there nest. I noticed that they didn't chew the plastic at all. But when I was changing things around they woke up and keep stepping on top of things doing it again but no chewing. Maybe a good sign.
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Post by gerbilman on Mar 2, 2015 17:14:00 GMT -8
Qtoffer it ends up they are still at it. So can you please tell me what type of hot glue and size of the aluminum I need.
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Post by qtoffer on Mar 3, 2015 7:51:06 GMT -8
You can get non-toxic hot glue at most craft stores, but in this case, you could get away with using any hot glue you can find because the gerbils will not be able to get at it. Get the smallest U channel you can find (1/4 x 1/4 inch, 3/8 x 3/8 , or 1/2 x 1/2). You just need to cover that plastic ledge - no need spending more money for a larger piece of aluminum than you really need. An L-shaped aluminum strip would work too and probably be a bit less expensive than U channel. Many craft stores carry small aluminum channels and strips for aircraft modelers. Otherwise, try hardware stores, Home Depot, Lowes, etc. Aluminum is easily cut with a small hacksaw. Cut the pieces to size and check for fit. Then run a generous line of hot glue along the top of the plastic ledge to be protected. Immediately press the aluminum strip down on top of the ledge. Be careful - aluminum conducts heat and will get warm as soon as it touches the hot glue. Also, almost as soon as the aluminum touches it, the hot glue will cool and become less sticky. Pressing that aluminum firmly down quickly is the trick. I made a diagram hopefully to make it clearer. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Eowyn (F) 11/12/2011 - 20 gallon with 20 gallon topper Goldberry (F) 11/12/2011 - 20 gallon with 20 gallon topper -------------------------------------------------------------- RIP Maire 11/6/2008 - 4/6/2011; Eithne 11/6/2008 - 10/10/2011 Lori 5/2/2011 - 7/24/2013; Mo 5/2/2011 - 1/14/2014; Carly 5/2/2011 - 5/21/2014 Arwen 11/12/2011 - 2/8/2015
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Post by gerbilman on Mar 3, 2015 11:04:14 GMT -8
Ok thanks I'm gonna have to wait till Friday to start doing it. My only problem is that they chew a good portion of the plastic only one side the long way has all the plastic still remaining the other sides have spots with none than spots with some. Could I still do those sides with that? P.s. The diagram did help I felt like I was in math class not knowing what to do without that. Thanks again!
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