huly
member
Posts: 4 
|
Post by huly on Mar 12, 2015 8:27:47 GMT -8
Hi my husband and I are new to gerbils and we adopted two last weekend. Before I found your forum we had purchased the naughty crittertrail cages. On Tuesday we set this up.
40G Breeder
We have two little munchkins and they are rarely out. They like to stay in the nesting box on the bottom left. How can we get them out more?
Secondly I have heard Oxbow is a good brand of food but what is the absolute best food. I am a freak about foods (I feed raw to my dogs). What is the best treats?
Is there anything we can do to improve the habitat?
Thanks! |
|
|
|
Post by vexorg on Mar 12, 2015 8:56:47 GMT -8
That was one reason we gave up with the gerbilarium, we never saw them much when they lived in it.
|
|
huly
member
Posts: 4
|
Post by huly on Mar 12, 2015 9:06:31 GMT -8
So what do you use?
|
|
keldamouse
Member
rest in peace my dear lovely Leela youre in our hearts
Posts: 374
|
Post by keldamouse on Mar 12, 2015 9:24:48 GMT -8
HI Huly, I would suggest taking out the tubes on the deeper side and adding some timothy hay and cardboard. They will make natural tunnels and you will probably see them in these natural tunnels. Fill it up about 2/3 or 3/4 with substrate and chewing stuff and they will happily make tunnels. This is really important natural gerbil behavior. As far as seeing them I put platforms in my tank and a hanging basket with their food. This got them up where they would bask and watch us and then eat. When I got a topper they spend about 1/2 of their waking time up there and come to the door for treats. When I didn't have a topper I used a jar for the gerbils to jump into with treats to get them out to sit on my shoulder and run down my sweatshirt and burrow. They like this because it gives them security. So as far as food here are a couple of good sites on what foods are best. Usually you want to have about 7% fat and at least 12% protein. I think more protein is fine. These levels are for full grown healthy adults. Here are the food comparison sites: www.moonstonegerbils.com/dir/care/food.htmlgerbilgerbil.tumblr.com/foodmasterlistThe sources for nutrition levels come from www.agsgerbils.org and from www.gerbil.comEgerbil is one of the good sites out there  |
|
|
|
Post by vexorg on Mar 12, 2015 9:25:59 GMT -8
We went for this type as they'd like to kick all the sawdust and bedding out the cage, It means they have to come out to get food and water, or play with toys.  Your tank looks much cooler. |
|
mina
member
Weee~
Posts: 40
|
Post by mina on Mar 12, 2015 9:51:11 GMT -8
Awww those rascals are so cute!! I use oxbow and only one is picky about it but does eat it when I don't put in the Tropical Carnival first (I mix them up) make sure to pick out the sunflower seeds so you can use it to get them to see you more.(use as treats) When you see them out, put your hand in, let them become familiar. Then give them a sunflower seed, they'll be seeking you out for treats but at least you'll see them more!
I do love your set up. I had the tunnel chew grass tube you have there and mines chewed it up within the day. The cardboard idea is genius, I put a box in my other tank and let them go insane but then I never saw them much. I actually see my boys in the smaller tank more often than in my 80+ gal one. The ones in the larger tank spend more time in their tunnels. They do however come out to chew on rice treats and chew sticks. OH and crumpled paper, they LOVE those.
|
|
|
|
Post by betty on Mar 12, 2015 10:04:23 GMT -8
I use those orange tanks as travel cages only - as I have known people have gerbils out of one of those in less than half an hour. You have been very lucky Vexorg! They also chew at the lid all the time and they can make a right racket in the car. I took all the other plastic shelves and bits out before they chewed them up too.
As for human cuddles - unless you are lucky enough to have gerbils answer to their name or come out as soon as you open the tank - that is a common dilemma:
perfect gerbil habitat = less human contact as gerbils having too much fun;
or basic gerbil habitat = more human contact.
Tank looks great though - absolutely perfect gerbil habitat... I'm not surprised they don't want to come out!
|
|
huly
member
Posts: 4
|
Post by huly on Mar 12, 2015 10:25:21 GMT -8
Thank you everyone! We want to do what is best for these two munchkins (no names yet).
We have been using a mix of Timothy Hay, Aspen chips, and Oxbow Pure Comfort substrate. Are those OK?
Right now they just seem to sleep a lot. At lunch I picked up a mixed bag of organic nuts (no salt), raisins, apple, and a few salad bar items (spinach leaves, broccoli, and cherry tomato) for treats.
|
|
|
|
Post by vexorg on Mar 12, 2015 10:37:05 GMT -8
as I have known people have gerbils out of one of those in less than half an hour. You have been very lucky Vexorg! That's what the pet shop said too, we've had the same 3 cages for the past 10+ years and 22 gerbils over that time. |
|
huly
member
Posts: 4
|
Post by huly on Mar 12, 2015 15:44:51 GMT -8
Well the calico grey white one (no idea on colors) will smell my hand but not take anything from me. The cream one runs when I open the top. Suggestions?
|
|
|
|
Post by leafwhisp on Mar 12, 2015 16:27:30 GMT -8
If you can get them out of the cage using a container (their house?), you can put them in a playpen and sit in it with them. If you have a clean bathtub available that would work too with a towel at the bottom. That is how I got my gerbils used to me. Letting them climb on my legs and giving the treats if they came to my hand really helped. Now I can pick them up and cary them around without much problem.
|
|
|
|
Post by kukittens on Mar 28, 2015 10:45:31 GMT -8
Hi I am new to this website I have three young gerbils and they are so cute. I am just testing this post
|
|
