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Post by Sheeples on Mar 2, 2015 17:07:09 GMT -8
We're planning on getting two or three gerbils. Two females or up to three males, not both, we don't want babies.
I have a 40 gallon breeder aquarium. 36 18 16 inches. I'll be making a hardware cloth top cover for it. I have some small water bottles to use for them as well.
I've been looking at the thread with everyone's habitats, some of them are really neat.
I have a few questions before getting them, though!
Is there a visual guide of all the possible colors they come in?
Is there a gerbil breeder in Virginia (USA)? The gerbil official website only has one listed and they don't breed anymore.
Do they need to have a wheel? If so, what brand from Petsmart or an online store is the best and safest? Is there one that makes little to no noise?
What cheaper, alternative substrates can be used? Shredded paper, hay, straw, anything else?
If I add a lot of toilet paper tunnel tubes, fabric and towel cardboard tubes, boxes with holes in the sides and top and other such things, then add the substrate on top, will that save on bedding? Do they only potty in tunnels and on top of the bedding? Or since they dig, will it get all over the place?
What temperatures can the house be for them to be fine? 70-80F will work?
How often does the bedding need to be changed in a 40g with only 2-3 gerbils?
Can they be potty trained? Saw on this forum, people use bowls of sand and they potty in those a lot more than elsewhere. If I used several sand pits, all over the cage, is it possible they won't potty much elsewhere and thus keep the bedding cleaner for longer?
Are there any bird seeds that gerbils cannot have? These wild/pet bird seed mixes have lentils, safflower, corn, millet, other random seeds in them.
Are there any fruits or veggies they cannot eat? Any branches of trees they can't have?
Thanks!
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Post by blanknote on Mar 3, 2015 2:58:35 GMT -8
Here's one guide about colors: www.thegerbils.com/colors1.htmNot sure in what part of Virginia you are located in, but found this after a quick google search: sites.google.com/site/lokichii/You could always check craigslist, etc, as often people are trying to rehome their gerbils. And check if there are any rescues nearby. From what I have read, gerbils don't necessarily need a wheel, but quite often people get them one, so they'll get more exercise. Silent Spinner is quite quiet, but as it is only 6.5" (unless you get the big 12" one), it can be too small for adult gerbils. If you give the gerbils mainly cardboard to chew, that will add up as a substrate, which will help you save some money. (They chew a lot, so after a few days/a week they will have a lot more substrate because of all the cardboard they have chewed.) I have a tank topper, and I have covered the wires of it with cardboard, my boys use the cardboard as their toilet area. If you used a sand bowl, I am pretty sure they would use it, for the most part, as the toilet area, and it would keep the bedding cleaner for longer. I quickly googled and some people clean 40g tank every 3-4 weeks. Here's a list of safe food: albertarodents.com/?p=81Here's a site about woods; www.egerbil.com/safe_woods_for_gerbils
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kim
Member
Posts: 399
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Post by kim on Mar 3, 2015 4:51:52 GMT -8
Hi, The colour guide blanknote has linked is good for seeing colours. I'm from the UK so can't help you with breeders, but you could search the internet for some near you. Wheels are good for gerbils although not essential, and most will use then although some do not (i have 4 and only one doesn't use a wheel, all the others love it) silent spinners are good if you want a solid floor wheel, although as blanknote said there either slightly small or big but 6 1/2inch is fine, but personally I prefer wire mesh wheels like these i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTY4WDU2OA==/z/9aAAAOxydlFS37c0/$_35.JPG (quiet but mat need oiling sometimes with veg oil to stop squeaking) www.ocado.com/productImages/213/213343011_0_640x640.jpg?identifier=1636987155 (as quiet as a silent spinner) these also come in 8inch and 9 inch sizes which are perfect sizes for adult gerbils. You can use cardboard tubes and boxes, and shredded paper and tissue and hey are good for bulking out bedding, for a main substrait if you can get hold of megazorb or some other type of horse bedding there great and best deal for you money as you get loads for less, don't use fabric or towel though as if they chew and ingest the fibers it could seriously harm them. gerbils usually like to go toilet in one spot in there tank but can go anywhere and it does usually end up getting mixed in, they also like to dig over there urine and droppings. 70-80F is a good temperature. In a 40g the bedding will probably be fine for 1 1/1 months to 2 1/2 months (possibly a bit longer) partly depending on amount of gerbils and if there toilet trained. Basically just use your nose to tell when it needs changing) Yes, all my gerbils are potty trained, although they do still go in there substrate still sometimes to, but it still helps and will keep substrate good for longer. Sand definitely works best for this and they kind of automatically use it as a toilet with low effort from you, and putting it in a jar or bowl is good, size would depend on how much your gerbils try to dig it out though. Most bird seed mixes are fine as a treat, add in (not as a main diet) the only thing I can think of that they can't have if any that has suet pellets in them. List of foods gerbils can eat www.thegerbils.com/maintenance3food.htmalso gerbilforum.proboards.com/thread/1290?page=1for safe and unsafe woods use link blanknote posted hope this helps
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Post by the_gerbilpetsworld on Mar 3, 2015 9:16:42 GMT -8
Hi Sheeples, Firstly I'm from the UK and we have different pet stores to you but that doesn't matter! Firstly Substrate: The substrate you can use are Shredded Paper, Carefresh, Peat/Soil/Compost (Don't know what Americans call it). These three are great substrates however mine love Non-Toxic Children's play sand with shredded paper as well. Gerbils are clean animals so they don't really need to be cleaned out every week, You should clean gerbils out once every 2 weeks. Yes Gerbils do need a wheel even if they come out the cage for regular exercise they still need a wheel the size should be 6.5" + Gerbils Need things to chew so providing cardboard chews is nessersary, as gerbils teeth grow constantly, you should buy some proper chew toys as well from pet stores, like pet bridges, cubes etc. As I said gerbils are clean animals they like to bathe in Chinchilla Bathing Dust/Sand they also use it as a litter or potty, this should he changed weekly and you should put it in a dish or bowl that they can easily jump in and out of. Gerbils CAN have vegetables BUT it's not to be fed in large quantities as it can cause diorhea (Think that's how you spell it) Hope this Helps My gerbil group on FaceBook anyone can Join! www.facebook.com/groups/808192105914876/
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Post by Sheeples on Mar 3, 2015 21:47:16 GMT -8
Thanks!
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Post by the_gerbilpetsworld on Mar 4, 2015 9:32:02 GMT -8
Sheeples Forgot to add that GERBILS CANNOT HAVE WOODSHAVINGS, SAWDUST OR ASPEN AS BEDDING As A SUBSTRATE. THESE THINGS CAN IRRITATE THEIR SKIN
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Post by blanknote on Mar 4, 2015 11:29:11 GMT -8
No aspen? I have never heard of anyone saying aspen would be bad for gerbils, just pine and cedar...
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Post by crittercrazy on Mar 4, 2015 11:32:44 GMT -8
Aspen is fine for gerbils. Not sure where you heard that PetMad. . . ? I've been using aspen for years and for all of my gerbils.
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Post by qtoffer on Mar 4, 2015 12:01:08 GMT -8
Some gerbils and their humans can develop allergies to dust and fungi that naturally occur in aspen, but it's uncommon. Aspen is a great substrate because it's cheap, widely available, absorbent, and holds tunnels well. Unfortunately, I had to stop using it due to my allergies. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 the_gerbilpetsworld on Mar 4, 2015 12:05:12 GMT -8
Sorry I do apologise I must of got mixed up. However I definatly know that Woodshavings isnt good for them at all. Thanks all for correcting PetMad15
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Post by Shooting Star on Mar 4, 2015 13:45:50 GMT -8
...Um, no. "Wood shavings" are fine, unless they're cedar or pine (debatable). Aspen is a type of wood. "Sawdust" is generally too fine/dusty, but some people refer to wood shavings as sawdust and vice versa.
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Post by Sheeples on Mar 5, 2015 16:33:06 GMT -8
I found someone with some young gerbils. Not sure if he/she is a breeder or just happened to get an oops from a store. Hard to get much info outta him, but I'll figure it out when I go see them sometime after the roads clear of snow.
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Post by Sheeples on Mar 6, 2015 16:03:09 GMT -8
Went to a store, they had a REW female. She was active and twitchy. DH said she was cute and we both agreed that they don't look as rat-mouse-ish as some pictures make them look. She was alone, so we didn't get her.
I'm meeting the person with the above gerbils tomorrow!! If I end up bringing some home with me, I'll post pictures!
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Post by Sheeples on Mar 7, 2015 13:27:00 GMT -8
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Post by the_gerbilpetsworld on Mar 8, 2015 10:58:16 GMT -8
Aw so cute Congratulations x
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