Post by pepandmax on Jul 13, 2007 17:05:23 GMT -8
In general, tanks are the best habitat for gerbils. This post outlines the advantages of tanks, the disadvantages of tanks (and how to overcome them!), and the disadvantages of other types of habitats marketed for gerbils, like crittertrails and cages.
Advantages of Tanks:
--There are no bars to gnaw on or to get toes stuck between.
--Deep litter allows gerbils to dig and burrow, their favorite pastime.
--A tank with a well-fitted lid is more secure than either a crittertrail or a cage.
Disadvantages of Tanks:
--Large tanks are expensive. HOWEVER, if you get a tank second-hand from Freecycle, Craigslist, eBay or a garage sale, it will be far less expensive than buying a fancy crittertrail or cage directly from a pet store.
--They aren't as well ventilated as other options. HOWEVER, tank ventilation is not as much of a problem as many fear it will be. Using a screen/mesh lid seems to give plenty of ventilation. If the tank starts to smell or get dusty, it's time to change the litter!
--With deep litter, the water bottle can get buried. HOWEVER, if you mount the water bottle horizontally using twist ties, velcro, or other creative solutions, this can easily be addressed. Another way is to mount the bottle above a platform or ledge.
Disadvantages of Crittertrails:
--Crittertrails are plastic, and hence not very secure. The gerbils can (and will!) gnaw at anything they can get their mouths around, including the joints that connect tubes and any connections between chambers.
--The majority of gerbils engage in what's known as stereotypic behavior such as digging madly in a corner (allowing a breeding pair to nest in a nesting box has been shown to alleviate this behavior in the pups). As the gerbils dig at the plastic, the plastic will become cloudy, making it difficult to see your animals. Eventually the plastic will become brittle and weakened.
--Many (if not most) crittertrails are too small for a pair of gerbils.
--Elaborate crittertrails with multiple burrows can lead to declanning if the gerbils claim separate territories.
--Crittertrails are more difficult than a tank to clean, as the whole apparatus needs to be dismantled to be properly wiped out.
--Many gerbil guardians report that crittertrails are flimsy and fall apart easily. See: gerbilforum.proboards.com/thread/582/cage-question for some examples.
--Gerbil urine on plastic smells pretty nasty. It's unhygienic and not good for your gerbils.
Disadvantages of Wire Cages:
--Gerbils WILL gnaw on the bars. As the plastic coating on the bars wears off, bits of the plastic can be ingested, which can cause blockages or punctures, a huge vet bill, and a very sick animal. In addition, the metal bar will stain the gerbil's fur around the mouth. Gnawing at the bars can also cause injuries to the nose and teeth. Finally, the sound will drive you crazy.
--Toes, tails, and other appendages can become wedged in crevices, causing injuries or amputations (for example, gerbilforum.proboards.com/thread/875/got-toe-stuck )
--While some gerbils like to climb occasionally, gerbils by nature are burrowers and diggers. Cages do not allow a proper depth for the bedding. The bedding in the bottom of the cage will likely be kicked all over the place, making a huge mess for you and leaving the gerbil without enough litter to cover the cage floor, much less create a nest or burrow.
--Most cages are too small; in fact, the average bird cage or hamster cage has less floor space than a ten gallon tank!
Advantages of Tanks:
--There are no bars to gnaw on or to get toes stuck between.
--Deep litter allows gerbils to dig and burrow, their favorite pastime.
--A tank with a well-fitted lid is more secure than either a crittertrail or a cage.
Disadvantages of Tanks:
--Large tanks are expensive. HOWEVER, if you get a tank second-hand from Freecycle, Craigslist, eBay or a garage sale, it will be far less expensive than buying a fancy crittertrail or cage directly from a pet store.
--They aren't as well ventilated as other options. HOWEVER, tank ventilation is not as much of a problem as many fear it will be. Using a screen/mesh lid seems to give plenty of ventilation. If the tank starts to smell or get dusty, it's time to change the litter!
--With deep litter, the water bottle can get buried. HOWEVER, if you mount the water bottle horizontally using twist ties, velcro, or other creative solutions, this can easily be addressed. Another way is to mount the bottle above a platform or ledge.
Disadvantages of Crittertrails:
--Crittertrails are plastic, and hence not very secure. The gerbils can (and will!) gnaw at anything they can get their mouths around, including the joints that connect tubes and any connections between chambers.
--The majority of gerbils engage in what's known as stereotypic behavior such as digging madly in a corner (allowing a breeding pair to nest in a nesting box has been shown to alleviate this behavior in the pups). As the gerbils dig at the plastic, the plastic will become cloudy, making it difficult to see your animals. Eventually the plastic will become brittle and weakened.
--Many (if not most) crittertrails are too small for a pair of gerbils.
--Elaborate crittertrails with multiple burrows can lead to declanning if the gerbils claim separate territories.
--Crittertrails are more difficult than a tank to clean, as the whole apparatus needs to be dismantled to be properly wiped out.
--Many gerbil guardians report that crittertrails are flimsy and fall apart easily. See: gerbilforum.proboards.com/thread/582/cage-question for some examples.
--Gerbil urine on plastic smells pretty nasty. It's unhygienic and not good for your gerbils.
Disadvantages of Wire Cages:
--Gerbils WILL gnaw on the bars. As the plastic coating on the bars wears off, bits of the plastic can be ingested, which can cause blockages or punctures, a huge vet bill, and a very sick animal. In addition, the metal bar will stain the gerbil's fur around the mouth. Gnawing at the bars can also cause injuries to the nose and teeth. Finally, the sound will drive you crazy.
--Toes, tails, and other appendages can become wedged in crevices, causing injuries or amputations (for example, gerbilforum.proboards.com/thread/875/got-toe-stuck )
--While some gerbils like to climb occasionally, gerbils by nature are burrowers and diggers. Cages do not allow a proper depth for the bedding. The bedding in the bottom of the cage will likely be kicked all over the place, making a huge mess for you and leaving the gerbil without enough litter to cover the cage floor, much less create a nest or burrow.
--Most cages are too small; in fact, the average bird cage or hamster cage has less floor space than a ten gallon tank!