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Post by mengli on Jan 23, 2008 6:12:36 GMT -8
i just took a shopping trip and came home with some things i hope will work, have any of you had any luck with 'critter care' bedding?
also, for sand bathing, the local store didnt have any chinchilla sand, and the clerk told me that the nearest thing they had to that was this stuff called 'Gravel 'n Grit'.
i dont know if that is bird sand or what, it says that it is a digestive aid for birds, lol. so is that this 'bird-sand'...and will it work just as well?
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Post by ohmylokix on Jan 23, 2008 8:31:00 GMT -8
I've never heard of any of that. :\ If bedding is dusty at all, it should be returned, because dust can make gerbils very sick. If it's cat litter, or smells of pine, it needs to be taken back, too. Can we see a pic? Chinchilla sand isn't really recommended anymore.. it can be dangerous for humans and gerbils if breathed in! Aragonite sand, sold for fish, is much safer and better at cleaning their fur. I use aspen pellets for my gerbils, and it is great for absorbing smells. It even gets diggable after a while. Did you get them a tank? Since gerbils are digging creatures, you really have to get a bedding they can tunnel in. Aspen is very good for that. Just mix in some timothy hay and cardboard. It also needs to be at a good depth-- 6 or so inches. That is why a tank is needed.  |
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Post by mengli on Jan 23, 2008 8:50:13 GMT -8
it isnt dusty at all, its recycled paper actually, and it says its hypoallergenic. i didnt get a chance to get a tank today, im going to have to wait untill friday to do that...but i wanted to get them out of the cedar...cuz butters started sneezing..and such and i wasnt really liking the sound of that. this is what the bedding looks like::  this is Bailey and Butters in the sand type stuff seeming to enjoy it..  and this is the box of the sand stuff, it was all that the local store had..so i thought i would give it a try, iv been unable to find anything online about using it will gerbils tho..  hope you can help me sort this out..im afraid im going to be the cause of one or both of thier deaths  |
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Post by ohmylokix on Jan 23, 2008 8:55:57 GMT -8
Oh, so it's like a generic carefresh. Well, carefresh *can* cause allergies-- rip a piece apart-- you'll get a cloud of dust.
The sand may be a little abrasive, and they won't like to roll in it. but it shouldn't be dangerous.
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Post by mengli on Jan 23, 2008 8:59:41 GMT -8
...okay, i just spent 2 mins ripping apart pieces of these thingers..and no dust..lol, either its just not enough of an amount that i can see..or there is none. should i be worried if i dont see dust, or just continue to use it untill i see if they start havin props with it?
i just read some stuff about carefresh and crittercare. carefresh is apparently made from recycled wood pulp, whereas crittercare is made from recycled newspapers...
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Post by ohmylokix on Jan 23, 2008 9:19:14 GMT -8
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Post by mengli on Jan 23, 2008 9:24:38 GMT -8
wow...wood pulp..and paper..ha, dont i feel stupid. oi. i do have some tp mixed in with the critter care with them..and as for the bum deal, maybe i am overreacting a bit, but i dunno.
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Post by ohmylokix on Jan 23, 2008 9:32:03 GMT -8
Some boys are just larger than others. Tabby was a liiiittle boy for a long time, but eventually filled out. Kyo was always huge.  His.. boy parts always touched my hand. |
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Post by mengli on Jan 23, 2008 9:32:12 GMT -8
oh yea, and what can you tell me about stinky, soft, green poo?
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Post by ohmylokix on Jan 23, 2008 9:51:47 GMT -8
o___o
Where are you located? A vet visit may be in order.
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Post by mengli on Jan 23, 2008 9:54:01 GMT -8
sadly i am in usa alabama and i dont really think their are any good vets close to me that specialize in small animals such as these...but if i dont find help for him soon i will be thoroughly disgusted with myself.
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Post by ohmylokix on Jan 23, 2008 9:54:58 GMT -8
Yes, he definitely needs to see a vet, as diarrhea is very dangerous in gerbils, and can kill quickly.
Let me see if I can get a vet for you.
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Post by ohmylokix on Jan 23, 2008 9:57:13 GMT -8
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Post by Shooting Star on Jan 23, 2008 10:21:39 GMT -8
Carefresh vs. Aspen? I've seen the same amount of dust. I'd go for Carefresh Ultra over Aspen shavings. I've used Gravel'n'Grit before-- they're not too keen on bathing with it, but it's not dangerous. Chinchilla sand is perfectly safe, as far as I know. It's chinchilla *dust* that's too fine. (Is that what you were thinking, Loki, or did you read something different?) The problem is that there isn't a reliable distinction made between the two in the US. You can try to find a vet in this listing as well: aemv.org/vetlist.cfm(just select Alabama from the drop-down list) |
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Post by ohmylokix on Jan 23, 2008 10:33:12 GMT -8
Chinchilla sand contains silicates. Even though it's not a lot, if you're around chinchillas/sand bathe a lot of gerbils, it can be bad for your health. www.workershealth.com.au/facts060.html |
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His.. boy parts always touched my hand.
