Mochi
Member
Snickerdoodle and S’more: Adopted on April 9th, 2021
Posts: 199
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Post by Mochi on May 29, 2021 14:29:12 GMT -8
Anyone still on this thread?
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Post by PipSqueak on May 29, 2021 14:36:17 GMT -8
Seems like she might be stressed. You might be doing too much with them every day. Try to leave them in their enclosure for a few days and then do only a bit with them every day. The bathtub should be for playing not taking. After a few days try to just move a few things in their tanks and try to feed them from your hand or pet them. Just see if they will even go up to your hand. It might not be as stressful since it is an environment that they are used to. I’m not an expert on gerbils and have only had 1 pair but that’s what I would do. Once they get 100% used to your hand and won’t bite and will take food from your hand try to scoop them up with a mason jar or something else and let them walk onto your hand. That way they know that your hand is safe. That’s what I did with my gerbils and it worked.
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Mochi
Member
Snickerdoodle and S’more: Adopted on April 9th, 2021
Posts: 199
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Post by Mochi on Jun 2, 2021 10:10:39 GMT -8
They will take from my hand now and if I put it in the cage they will climb my fingers and check if it’s me! Maybe taming is going well, my expectations are probably too high. What can I say I have never owned a pet before let alone a gerbil.
What do you mean “Bathtub should be for playing not taking”?
About the jar method, it sounds like a great idea but was under the impression that doing elevator rides were the best way to get them used to being held. What is you option on that method?
Random: Can I get balsa wood at Home Depot? And is it still cheap? I know lumber prices have skyrocketed 🤣. (Flooring for cage topper) And would they get adequate ventilation?
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Post by PipSqueak on Jun 2, 2021 10:32:10 GMT -8
That's great that they will come up to your hand and take food. That is definitely a sign that the taming is going well. I had a typo and meant to say that bathtub time should be for playing not taming, when they are in the bathtub they will be excited about exploring instead of focusing on getting tamed. I think that taming is best when they are in their tank since it is an environment that they are more used to so they will be more focused. That is not to say that you cannot feed them or pick them up when they are in the bathtub just don't have it as their main focus. The jar method is probably not the best way but my gerbils won't just climb onto my hand but if I can let them climb out on their own then I can get them onto my hand and if I give them a treat then they won't hop off and will eat it on my hand. As for the wood I do not see balsa wood on the safe or unsafe list so I cannot be sure if it is safe, you probably can get it at home depot but you won't know unless you go to the store. In my opinion you never really know what is in the wood at home depot or if it is in the right spot on the shelf and if it is treated with anything. I had originally gotten some hay mats for the floor but they would chew it up and it would fall between the lid and the topper. What are you going to put into the topper and how big is your sand bath if you are putting it in? You might just be able to use a bendable bridge if the wheel and sand bath is big enough. What tank size do you have? As long as the topper isn't snug on the lid and there is lid space on the sides then they will have enough ventilation. Does that make sense? I have a tank with a 20 gallon floor space and there is plenty of ventilation, as long as your tank is 20 gallons or bigger it will be fine.
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Mochi
Member
Snickerdoodle and S’more: Adopted on April 9th, 2021
Posts: 199
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Post by Mochi on Jun 2, 2021 11:26:48 GMT -8
Yup! 20 gal tank! And the mesh on the top of my tank is too small for any legs to fall through I really don’t know about the topper though..... They have the 10” Nitengal Silent Spinner ( Which is the reason they are getting a topper) They had some pine cones but no toys at the moment, can’t find any good ones! They only have egg cartons to keep them busy Contemplating getting sand...But don’t know what kind to get!!!!! And their jar is the last thing Sad, I know that’s why I am getting the topper!!😁
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Mochi
Member
Snickerdoodle and S’more: Adopted on April 9th, 2021
Posts: 199
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Post by Mochi on Jun 2, 2021 11:35:59 GMT -8
Crazy how big this forums is!!!
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Post by PipSqueak on Jun 2, 2021 12:16:16 GMT -8
You definitely should get a sand bath. Some use it to bathe in and others including mine use it as a litter box which is nice because you don’t have to clean the bedding as often. This is the sand I have. It is 4.10 for a 50 pound bag and it lasts a really long time. You do need to sanitize it though but I bake a small bath at 350 Fahrenheit for 30-45 minutes and then once it cools I sift it and put it in some containers. Look at this video for more information (click here.) Some other good things to put into their tank is this grapevine wood, this cork log, these ceramic tunnels, these herb tunnels, these willow sticks, and these hanging chews. You definitely should get them more toys and chews, a wheel, mason jar, and pine cones is not enough and they will get bored. Did you buy or find the pine cones you gave them? If you live in an area where you can find them laying around on the ground outside pick some up and sanitize them, it is way cheaper than buying them. I used this video to sanitize some pine cones.
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Mochi
Member
Snickerdoodle and S’more: Adopted on April 9th, 2021
Posts: 199
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Post by Mochi on Jun 2, 2021 12:32:06 GMT -8
Thanks so much!!! Wow! That sand is CHEAP!!😍
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Mochi
Member
Snickerdoodle and S’more: Adopted on April 9th, 2021
Posts: 199
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Post by Mochi on Jun 2, 2021 12:32:22 GMT -8
I’ll definitely be getting some! I take it your gerbils have had no problems with it?
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Post by PipSqueak on Jun 2, 2021 12:36:19 GMT -8
I'm guessing that your asking if my gerbils are fine with the sand. Yes they are, I have used it since I got them in August of last year and it has been fine. My friend who has had hamsters also has used that sand with no problems. Just make sure to clean and sift it then store it in an airtight container so nothing gets into it.
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Mochi
Member
Snickerdoodle and S’more: Adopted on April 9th, 2021
Posts: 199
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Post by Mochi on Jun 2, 2021 12:45:52 GMT -8
TYSM!! I still, for the love of rodents, cannot find that topper again!!!
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Mochi
Member
Snickerdoodle and S’more: Adopted on April 9th, 2021
Posts: 199
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Post by Mochi on Jun 2, 2021 20:09:11 GMT -8
So what are you covering your cage floor with as of now?
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Post by PipSqueak on Jun 3, 2021 4:03:27 GMT -8
Right now I have a small bendable bridge that is laid flat on the far right. It doesn’t quite cover all of it so in that small gap I have 2 rocks. I then have a tile that a friend gave me and then the wheel and sand bath cover the rest. I have a big pie dish as their sand bath so it covers most of the floor.
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Mochi
Member
Snickerdoodle and S’more: Adopted on April 9th, 2021
Posts: 199
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Post by Mochi on Jun 3, 2021 5:40:19 GMT -8
Ahhh, yes! I remember the picture now!! Sorry about that! I’ll have to see what I can do for flooring....
Hopefully I’ll get something soon as the gerbils seem quite bored and it’s heartbreaking for me.
Anything I can do to keep them busy while their cage topper is absent?
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Post by Markpd on Jun 3, 2021 11:13:38 GMT -8
Anyone still on this thread? Sorry I'd been mostly away from forums for a good few days. Btw can you not use the font you chose on the 28th as that was very hard to read .
Seems like pipsqueak's got you sorted now anyway Re 1 of your questions, I'm not aware of gerbils trying to show dominance over people, but then I am relatively new to gerbils having only recently my current pair.
Re keeping them busy, sorry I've lost track of what you've already said you've given them, can you tell me again or tell me which post you mentioned them before?
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