Post by mygerbilprince on Apr 11, 2024 18:29:55 GMT -8
So here's my situation. One of my three gerbils recently had her eye fill up with milky red discharge. We brought her to the vet, who prescribed anti-inflammatories and antibiotics. The problem is that I have a trip I absolutely need to go on. There is no possible way I could get out of it (I already tried). However, I can't find a sitter that is capable or that I trust enough to administer the medicine. Plus, the sitter would have to stop by twice a day and none of my usual sitters can do that. Also my gerbils aren't easy to get a hold of, and anyone who has tried to give a gerbil oral medication understands its not easy anyway. Also with her condition (and another gerbil seeming to come down with the same thing) I'm not at all comfortable leaving them. Also, I don't think the exotic vet is open to boarding, but even if they were it would make me nervous and also be out of my price range.
So, I decided I need to take the gerbils with me. The ill gerbil lives with two others, and since I don't want a de-clan, I would need to take all three. It's only an hour or so drive from where I live so the traveling wouldn't really be a problem. My main concern is their housing. I obviously can't take their 40 gallon with me, and for some reason I got rid of my smaller tanks, so I'd need to take them in their carrier cage. It is a small Kaytee Crittertrail (the one level) and I think any attachment tubes would be too small for my chubby nuggets. Would they be okay in this small environment for only 5 days? I plan on bringing their food and maybe some enrichment items that they can destroy (paper towel tubes, sprays, tissue boxes, treat puzzles, etc.) so that it won't take up too much space in their enclosure. I have one hideout I would give them; it's compact but large enough for all three of them to sleep together. It has three entrances (one they so kindly made themselves) which I thought would be helpful in preventing a de-clan. I considered trying to bring a wheel, but these cages aren't designed for proper sized wheels so it would not fit. I could try to get some sort of exercise pen set up for them and put their wheels in that, but I'm not even sure if that is worth it or if it could stress them out too much.
Will this set up be okay for only 5 days? Should I set up a playpen for them? Are there any other ways I could enrich them and keep them busy without taking up a lot of space? Any other advice/concerns? Thank you all so much.
So, I decided I need to take the gerbils with me. The ill gerbil lives with two others, and since I don't want a de-clan, I would need to take all three. It's only an hour or so drive from where I live so the traveling wouldn't really be a problem. My main concern is their housing. I obviously can't take their 40 gallon with me, and for some reason I got rid of my smaller tanks, so I'd need to take them in their carrier cage. It is a small Kaytee Crittertrail (the one level) and I think any attachment tubes would be too small for my chubby nuggets. Would they be okay in this small environment for only 5 days? I plan on bringing their food and maybe some enrichment items that they can destroy (paper towel tubes, sprays, tissue boxes, treat puzzles, etc.) so that it won't take up too much space in their enclosure. I have one hideout I would give them; it's compact but large enough for all three of them to sleep together. It has three entrances (one they so kindly made themselves) which I thought would be helpful in preventing a de-clan. I considered trying to bring a wheel, but these cages aren't designed for proper sized wheels so it would not fit. I could try to get some sort of exercise pen set up for them and put their wheels in that, but I'm not even sure if that is worth it or if it could stress them out too much.
Will this set up be okay for only 5 days? Should I set up a playpen for them? Are there any other ways I could enrich them and keep them busy without taking up a lot of space? Any other advice/concerns? Thank you all so much.
