Post by CookiesAndCreamTheGerbils on Apr 24, 2016 12:13:53 GMT -8
Hello, all. I joined this last summer when I got my gerbils, but never got around to posting on the forum. Then I kinda forgot about the website, sorry! :3 Anyway, I ended up getting two gerbils (Cookie & Cream) from PetCo. I *think* Cookie is a Black Piebald and Cream is a Dove. They are both boys, and they live happily together in a 15 G tank. This tank has ~4-5 in. of bedding and a mesh (wire) top. My cats love to sit on top of the cage and "stalk" the gerbils. :3 I have an 8 oz. water bottle, and a ceramic food dish. They get regular tap water and Oxbow Essentials "Cheerios". I don't know what they're called, lol. The only thing I'm concerned about with the actual setup is the wheel. i had one of those "Silent Spinners" -- The tilted disc. They chewed the crap out of it, to the point where it wasn't useable. We then (My mom and I) went out to the petstore and bought a 7 in. wire wheel. I've heard that this causes bumblefoot (?) and tails can get caught. I don't want that! Then, on the back where the stand is attatched to the wheel, there is a pair of bars shaped like.. this.. /\. Cookie's foot got stuck in there a couple months a go. Thank god it didn't hurt him, but the wheel is no longer in the cage with them if I'm not in the room. I *want* another Silent Spinner but I don't want to constantly have to get new wheels. Also, what size for them?
They get daily water changes, 1/3 cup of food, and (Per the petstore insturctions ((I know, bad bad bad..))) a cleaning every three weeks. I want to be able to clean the tank more often, but I'm only 14 and can't afford $11.99 bedding every week. I did buy some of the "SoPhresh" shavings, and I have to go check, but they're Aspen, I think. When I had this in the aquarium, they're little noses got bloody. So I immediately changed the bedding back to the Carefresh. I have the Baking Soda Formula kind, "Confetti" color. Is this okay? They really love to burrow in it. :3 That being said, they also chewed their plastic Igloo to shreds. And the black border around the glass on the aquarium. *sigh* I try to have chew stuff in there as much as possible, but they always bury it under inches of bedding, so I have no clue when they need another. They are also really picky. They don't like most treats. I've tried fresh veggies, nuts, fruits, etc. (No citrus or dairy, right?) I've tried store-bought foods, handmade treats, everything. They just... ugh, so picky. The two things they like are dried bananas (Which take hours to make) and the food they eat. And Timothy Hay. They also like to chew paper towel rolls (Without the paper or glue), "Apple Sticks", and those triangle multicolor pumice stones from Petco. And anything Plastic. I want to give them a fun enviroment, but they don't like many things and chew everything that they're not supposed to.
Also, yesterday I went out and got Chinchilla Dust. I don't think they really knew what to do with it, so I coated my hands with it and pet them. Is that.. okay?
I want to upgrade them to either a 20 Long or 29G. Which would be better?
Thanks for putting up with my paragraphs of questions!
P.S -- Anyone know how to attach images?
They get daily water changes, 1/3 cup of food, and (Per the petstore insturctions ((I know, bad bad bad..))) a cleaning every three weeks. I want to be able to clean the tank more often, but I'm only 14 and can't afford $11.99 bedding every week. I did buy some of the "SoPhresh" shavings, and I have to go check, but they're Aspen, I think. When I had this in the aquarium, they're little noses got bloody. So I immediately changed the bedding back to the Carefresh. I have the Baking Soda Formula kind, "Confetti" color. Is this okay? They really love to burrow in it. :3 That being said, they also chewed their plastic Igloo to shreds. And the black border around the glass on the aquarium. *sigh* I try to have chew stuff in there as much as possible, but they always bury it under inches of bedding, so I have no clue when they need another. They are also really picky. They don't like most treats. I've tried fresh veggies, nuts, fruits, etc. (No citrus or dairy, right?) I've tried store-bought foods, handmade treats, everything. They just... ugh, so picky. The two things they like are dried bananas (Which take hours to make) and the food they eat. And Timothy Hay. They also like to chew paper towel rolls (Without the paper or glue), "Apple Sticks", and those triangle multicolor pumice stones from Petco. And anything Plastic. I want to give them a fun enviroment, but they don't like many things and chew everything that they're not supposed to.
Also, yesterday I went out and got Chinchilla Dust. I don't think they really knew what to do with it, so I coated my hands with it and pet them. Is that.. okay?
I want to upgrade them to either a 20 Long or 29G. Which would be better?
Thanks for putting up with my paragraphs of questions!
P.S -- Anyone know how to attach images?