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Post by pastelpml on Apr 22, 2015 15:09:25 GMT -8
I looked at my gerbil Smudge's nails today and I noticed they were getting very long. My old gerbils nails never got that long before and I was wondering how to were them down.
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Post by blanknote on Apr 22, 2015 16:55:36 GMT -8
You can give them stones, lava ledges, wooden houses and toys etc, and it will wear down the nails when they walk on them and such.
If you think the nails are getting too long, you might also want to get them checked out with a vet, and they could try to trim them.
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Post by betty on Apr 22, 2015 23:30:40 GMT -8
I think all the wooden toys and tunnels in my tanks does the job. I also have sand sheets in my run but not all of them go in there, so my tanks must contain enough abrasion for the average gerbil.
What's currently in your tanks, and could you add more?
There are a few health conditions that could show as increased toe nail length, how old is your gerbil?
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Post by pastelpml on Apr 23, 2015 3:40:26 GMT -8
I have lots of wooden things in my tank like a wooden ledge I made and a nesting box. I also give them cardboard and newspaper for them to chew. My gerbil is about 8 weeks old.
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Post by betty on Apr 23, 2015 9:53:01 GMT -8
It really shouldn't have overly long nails at that age?
Are you sure you mean 8 weeks old? It seems rather bizarre if they ARE really long so soon?
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Post by pastelpml on Apr 24, 2015 3:26:59 GMT -8
Yea, I guess there not to long. He is pretty young but I don't know his exact age because the breeder never got back to me with the papers telling his age and colour. I will just wait and let them wear down a bit.
Thanks for your advice!
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Post by vexorg on Apr 24, 2015 7:27:04 GMT -8
Gerbils do have relatively long claws when you see them up close, normally very sharp too.
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Post by the_gerbilpetsworld on Apr 24, 2015 9:15:50 GMT -8
Stones/pebbles/rocks are a good way but make sure you Sanatize them first  PetMad15 |
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Post by eleda on Apr 25, 2015 14:53:09 GMT -8
^_^ yeah they're well-equipped little guys. the nails aren't too long till they start looking sort of sickle shaped/ are growing inwards
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Post by betty on Apr 25, 2015 21:13:11 GMT -8
Why don't you post pictures so we can see him as well as a look at his nails? They might not be that bad, gerbil wise...
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Post by reesesturtles on May 17, 2015 19:51:03 GMT -8
Terra cotta flower pots: gerbils love to "dig" in those things. Also, just the act of burrowing tunnels will keep nails worn.
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keldamouse
Member
rest in peace my dear lovely Leela youre in our hearts
Posts: 374
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Post by keldamouse on May 18, 2015 9:27:46 GMT -8
All good suggestions. I also have cuttlebones placed at the base of their topper ramps. They like to move it around also in their bedding. Also they sell the pumice stone ledges that would work too.
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Post by lexiesgerbils on May 25, 2015 1:14:21 GMT -8
Thick cardboard tubes are good, I use industrial sized ones which are far to thick and tough to be chewed up easily (they literally last months) and my gerbils scratch at the inside trying to burrow through. I also use a bendy wooden bridge placed flat I on the floor of one of the topper levels which they have to walk over on their travels. Sand is also good apparently. Just remember they don't (well mine don't) take steps to deliberately wear down their nails so you have to incorporate things into their cage in a way that their claws will make regular contact with wood, stone, sand and hard cardboard and so inadvertently file down their nails.
I know with hamsters I've heard of people placing the water bottle above a sanitized stone so they have to stand on it to reach the spout and also sticking sandpaper to the inside of the wheel for an hour or so (any longer would hurt their feet ). I'm guessing you can do this with gerbils also but would be wary of them chewing the sandpaper instead of running on it!)
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