Can a tank be TOO crowded?

[lovebug6413]

So my three boys live in their standard 20 gallon long tank, and every so often I try to mix up the toys I put in just to keep them interested, as they seem to have zero interest in tunneling or chewing (weird, but trust me Ive tried different types/amounts of beddings, created tunnels with tubes for them and have given them a HUGE variety of things to gnaw on, to no avail, minus TP tubes). Recently Ive noticed them just lounging around, not doing much, seemingly bored. So I was at my local pet store and bought a wooden jungle gym type climbing item which measures at 11.5" high 12"long and 10" wide (heres a link www.amazon.com/Penn-Plax-Lumber-Jack-Work-Out-Play-Set/dp/B005D4NI5C) its pretty neat but at the same time it takes up about half the tank and goes right to the top, though I can still close it and all. So they still have room for their medium sized igloo, their wheel between the gym and igloo, water bottle hanging on the side, and bowl on top of the igloo (since they bury it other wise). So my question is can a tank be too crowded with toys? I have seen pictures of some filled to the brim, but they seem to also have tunnel networks as well. Do you think I should have more area for running about and potential burrowing if they ever get the hang of it? They seem to enjoy the gym quite a bit, but I am unsure if they will eventually feel cramped. I am hoping to save money to get a tank topper form Etsy soon as well, would that solve any issues, keeping in mind I am not sure how close in the future this will be. Should I just go back to the old set up of two hiding huts and lots of space in the middle? Or just see how they like it? Any opinions?
Thanks!

[blanknote]

Have you given them cardboard to chew? My boys seem to only really like cardboard in different forms, and willow sticks. They do have some other gnawing toys they do like, but they are often quite hit and miss... The ones people usually buy for their gerbils (the small wooden fruit shaped toys, etc) my boys have had no interest in.

Have you tried putting their hidey house to the bottom of the tank, so that they would need to make a tunnel to go in there? That could help with making them more interested in tunnelling. And for how long have you let them have a lot of bedding (around 6 inches?)? I think at first my boys didn't really show interest in tunnelling, but after a while they started to get the hang of it.

Instead of buying a tank topper from Etsy, would you be able to buy a bigger tank? I'm pretty sure there are often cheap tanks available 2nd hand. (Or even Ikea Detolf, that isn't too expensive considering the tank topper prices I have seen on Etsy.)

Do you have a picture of the old set up and a new set up? For me personally it's hard to imagine what you could do without actually seeing what the options of the old vs new are.

[lovebug6413]

Yes they get toile paper and paper towel tubes very often and Koji enjoys those. Ive tried different colored wood toys and sticks and chew treats, which havent worked yet, but I am still trying. This new climbing tree is made of wood so maybe they will chew on that.

I have buried more than one house and tubes and tunnels etc in the bedding only for them to become confused and frustrated, then to pull the tubes back to the top. They were adopted form the shelter which did the best with the funds they had so I don't think they grew up with enough bedding or supplies to understand. I had left about 5 inches of bedding in for two weeks (which is the normal amount of time for them to mess it all up and need to be changed) and did nothing with it. Ive tried aspen shaving, kaytee clean and cozy, and now care fresh complete, none of which they tunnel in, except for out from under their igloo. I have downed the amount of bedding to 3 inches on one side and 6 inches on the other. I hate putting in all sorts of extra bedding when I know they won't tunnel and it a bit of a waste.

As for tank toppers, I have been looking into my options as for tank or toppers and am just leaning to a topper due to restricted space length wise where they are, I have more space to build up than out. Also with the new gym, if I get a topped they will be able to go up and over fully

Here is what it looks like with the jungle gym. I don't have any of the latest past set up but basically that big wooden tree wasn't on the left and there was a small 3 by 4 wooden hide hut in the left front corner for them, the rest was just open space. The tree has a platform on the bottom they have actually dug out making a tunnel (go figure) and the log in the middle is hollowed out with four holes to climb in and out of

i172.photobucket.com/albums/w29/lovebug6413/Forum%20Pic/tank%201_zpsttmvemms.jpg

i172.photobucket.com/albums/w29/lovebug6413/Forum%20Pic/tank2_zps8zfoxpnc.jpg

[blanknote]

The tank does look small for 3 gerbils with the climbing tree thing, but if they do use it, I think then it might not be a huge problem as they get exercise and entertainment when they use it, and maybe just take it out every once in a while, so they would also get an option of having more space to run around.

Would it be an option for you to hang the wheel from the mesh top? Then you wouldn't need to worry about them burying it under the bedding and not be able to use it. (Not sure do you have this problem, but the bedding seems to be quite close to the bottom of the wheel.)

And would scatter feeding be an option? That would give them something to do, they would need to look for their food more, and then you could perhaps put something else where the food bowl currently is, that the gerbils could use for chewing, etc. I know the bowl isn't that big, but at least it would give a little bit more space for the boys to run around. (Every little helps, I suppose.)

You could also try wooden toys that have holes in them (for example cubes that have a hole in each side seem to be pretty easy to find), at least my picky chewers enjoy chewing around the holes to make them bigger.

[Thelodar]

Looks great to me. They still appear to have plenty of walking space, it doesn't get in the way of their food/water/wheel and they can move under it too. It's a super cool toy, I wish I could find something like that. Now if they don't use it I might take it out as it'll just be taking up space but if they like it then I think it's a great addition.

[lovebug6413]

Thanks for the opinions guys, as the day went on and I watched them they did seem a bit unsettled with the lack of run around room. I took out the tree, but am going to keep it (it was a steal at $4) and use it for out of cage play, should make an interesting new addition to their pen! Until I can give them a nice upgrade I am going to test out a few different set ups when I clean their cage, and whichever seems to interest them most I will keep. Right now I have set up an above ground "tunnel" network with bendy bridges and run through tunnels, Im hoping this will give them the freedom to run through, about and over, while still giving them ample room to nest and hide if they want to. I figured this also gave them some climbing room as well, since they are all different heights. I even buried one halfway just to get them into the idea of tunneling on their own. It'll be there for two weeks until I clean them out, if they haven't seemed to take a liking, try try again I guess!

I appreciate the thoughts though, helped me to think up some plans!

[blanknote]

That set up does sound nice! I usually try to change the layout of the tank every time I clean it, as then the gerbils will be able to "rediscover" the tank, and I think that keeps them more entertained.

To encourage tunnelling, would it be possible for you to maybe hide a treat or two in the bedding?