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Post by eleda on Apr 8, 2015 15:04:39 GMT -8
I'm trying to think of something interesting and new I can put in Data's tank for enrichment. He has never been big on chewing and he's a semi-elderly gerbil with not-so-great-teeth, so I'm trying to think of non-chewing items. (Also I have enough TP tubes to EASILY last him the rest of his life haha) He also seems bored with cardboard and tends to ignore any boxes i put in there.
I used to have a wooden ball in his tank that he and his friend could push around and they seemed to like it, but it was extremely loud. When they knocked it against the side of the tank you could hear it anywhere in the house and it was rather obnoxious. (Since they'd rapidly headbutt it into the wall several times.) We have a pingpong ball I could give him, but I'm afraid I'd have the same problem with noise.
Some loofa might be a nice treat for him, but I'd rather not get it at the pet store (huge mark-ups) and I don't know of any beauty stores anywhere near me. (i shall look.) i do know of a feed store though - do you think a feed store might have it? they cater mainly to dogs, cats, horses, and livestock.
any other ideas out there?
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Post by eleda on Apr 12, 2015 13:55:51 GMT -8
I decided to try a pingpong ball. he pushes it around on occasion, but he doesn't find it riveting I don't think. since he hardly pushes it around it's not a noise concern as i'd feared. I had him out for a bit of handling just a minute ago and I found a semi-bald spot nearish the base of his tail. I've read gerbils sometimes chew on themselves/over-groom when bored. Since he doesn't seem to have any other symptoms of a mite or skin condition, i'm thinking it's self-inflicted.
what else can i try to liven up his tank?
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Post by betty on Apr 13, 2015 0:33:22 GMT -8
I brought some dried grasses from a garden centre in the parrot section, and they had different seeds which nearly all my gerbils loved handling, bit like an ear of wheat, but bigger.
And how about things that swing, like a coconut shell suspended from the sky, or one of those wooden shapes on a chain toys hanging across somewhere?
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Post by eleda on Apr 13, 2015 3:41:50 GMT -8
sounds like millet - i might try that
trouble with hanging things is i have to attach them to the lid and they become a pain quickly. also, he has a lot of bedding so there isn't a ton of room between the lid and the ground. i'll think about it though. thanks for the suggestions!
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Post by betty on Apr 13, 2015 6:59:46 GMT -8
I use millet too, but these grasses are massive and totally different to most plants I offer mine - just brought some more today actually: Rosewoods Peck and Fly - and Harvest Festival. Rosewood do loads of exotic things - mainly in the bird section though....
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Post by eleda on Apr 13, 2015 11:00:44 GMT -8
ohhh ok cool thanks!
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Post by moonlight7wolf on Apr 14, 2015 5:55:41 GMT -8
I know you can also buy multi packs of loofas on amazon, I was actually looking at it the other day, but then I realized that I didn't even know if my gerbils liked chewing loofas, so if I bought a 6 pack and they didn't then I would have an abundance of loofas just hanging around.
I just give mine all of my cardboard boxes, they currently have an empty tea box an empty tampon box, and a tunnel I made for them out of a box I got when I received an item from amazon. I find that they really like the things that they can tunnel through, so if possible, I would get thick cardboard (lasts longer) and make a tunnel shame (fold it into a triangular shaped tunnel because it keeps its shape easiest that way). I didn't want to use tape, so I actually cut a slit in the cardboard on both the sides I wanted to attach, and slipped a strip of cardboard between the two slots to hold the pieces together without tape (sorry if I am explaining this really badly).
I also have one of those suspended coconuts, and it's not attached to the top of the cage, but rather the side, I attached a long chain to the coconut house, so I hang that outside of the cage and attach it to the side of the cage I did it with a screw that was already there, but I also have a bin cage. But since it's on the outside then you could use tape or something?
I actually bought a chain for a bird feeder to attach to the coconut because it originally had a twine like thing, which I knew would be chewed in no time.
Also I occasionally will put some ripped up paper towel in there because Raven loves collecting it for their bed. And I also sometimes put some normal paper in there that I was about to recycle. They go to town chewing that.
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Post by eleda on Apr 14, 2015 10:12:07 GMT -8
thanks for all the suggestions! i did end up buying a little bag of "loofah fries" from the store today. I gave him one and he carried it around a little and had a couple chews and then left it there. we'll see if he gets more interested later when he's a bit more active. I looked at the hanging toys but i didn't find anything that seemed like they'd entertain him without the ability to chew.
unfortunately, anything wood, paper, or cardboard is out. he has a cardboard tube and some origami in there but they're all untouched. i'm not sure why, really. he has no trouble eating/shelling his seeds, but he only mouths at cardboard and paper a bit, not enough to leave marks. it's strange. i'll try to get a look at his teeth again soon. (though if he's eating and not in pain i'd just as soon leave them be, even if they are a bit strange)
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Post by eleda on Apr 14, 2015 19:43:24 GMT -8
got a look at his teeth and he only has one on the bottom. on top of that his top teeth are apparently thinner than the bottom one? so there's a groove in the middle of the tooth when you look at it from the side. considering taking him to the vets cuz i expect the problem will only get worse and possibly dangerous for him.
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Post by betty on Apr 14, 2015 22:45:10 GMT -8
No harm in getting him checked by an expert. Especially as they don't show their problems straight away.
Perhaps the vet can weigh him if you haven't already, to get a base line weight for him incase he starts to eat less. It's often difficult to gauge weights just by looking.
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Post by eleda on Apr 15, 2015 9:13:25 GMT -8
i've weighted him on a semi regular basis. a few months ago when he first had tooth problems i weighed him and he was a little bit underweight. now he's recouped that and then some and is overweight. i use a little kitchen scale to weigh him. I've also learned to see the differences and I can definitely feel it lol. he's a lil tubbo
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