Happier with Crittertrail!!!

[clyon]

Hi all,

As is recommended I moved my soon to have babies pair into an aquarium over the weekend from the Crittertrail Xtreme (not to be confused with the Revolution thing) and I have found that I think they and I liked the crittertrail better!!!!

I had an extra wheel in the crittertrail as they would both crowd into the one on the top and they did both run in their individual wheels often! I can only fit one wheel in the aquarium and they are continually burying it with bedding making it unusable!!! I know I won't have it in there when the pups are born anyway but...

I added a McDonalds drink cup holder one large mason jar and one small and then put a small box on top of the large jar for a second story. (I will post a picture as soon as I figure out how) as it seemed like it was SO boring in comparison to the crittertrail.

It was much easier to get them out of the crittertrail, they would come sit on the open door for treats and I could open the little sleeping bin and get them out too. They could run up to their bed, up to the ball, use the ball downstairs or go in their little outhouse (with sand) which seemed more of a cafeteria than an outhouse!!! They do go up to the second level (on top of the box) as I made a little ladder type deal in the aquarium but it just doesn't seem as practical!!! I can't see them all the time either, which they probably enjoy. They can shred everything in there and I will replace with new as it is all cardboard, wood etc. I also found that they like popsicle sticks, which seem as safe as the commercial wood chews?

Anyway, I know that the aquarium will last longer as they were already devouring the spiral thing they used to get to the upper wheel, but all in all I think the space and layout in that particular cage were very good!!

Has anyone had any success putting a wheel up with a suction cup? I have not had any luck hanging this particular wheel and it doesn't do much good buried!!!

Wow, this is long... Opinions, advice, information???

Christi

[queenofthenile]

I have used twisties to attach my wheel to the screen lid (metal mesh wheel). If you have the plastic type, I'm unsure how you would attach it...

[tasha]

I have a suction cup wheel in their tank now (for a month now) and not a nibble yet, but i've heard that others weren't so lucky. You probably won't know until you try, but if they do destroy the suction cup, you can attach the wheel to the top with bending coat hanger wire etc. Better chance if you give them tons of other stuff to chew all the time.

[lizzy]

I hate to be a downer, but they're probably filling the wheel with bedding because they're too busy/happier digging than running in a wheel.

And being able to see them all the time isn't a good thing. They need places to hide away.

Just my opinion.

[minnesota2121]

In my opinion... I think tanks are WAY better than the critter trail. When I first got gerbils, I had a critter trail. BIG MISTAKE! The bedding was EVERYWHERE! They would kick it all around and onto the floor. Then I would walk and the bedding would get stuck to my socks and I would carry it all over the house. It was a big mess. Then I saw a tank for ten bucks at walmart and I got it. Couldn't be happier! ;D

[sweetie]

Hi,

I agree with Min. I had the Hartz cages with the accessories and the tubes. The bedding was every where, they could not burrow, the tubes needed to be cleaned out once a day. I switched to tanks and I am happy and they are happy!

[RitzieAnn]

I, personally, like tanks better, but I do agree that my male, Keebler, liked the critter trail better! (minus extra plastic) Ture, he kicked bedding out, but I put masking tape on the back side (he only kicked it out one side) He ran in and out of the tubes all the time, and fixed his bedding, and climbed on the bars and stashed food in special corners... Now he and his little wife are in a tank because they had babies, and he STILL spazzes out and digs in corners and sits with his face smashed in the bottom corrners of the tank. AND he destroys things more now, then he did in the critter trail. (You should see the two waterbottles he shredded before I found a steel covered one!)

I play with him as much as possible to keep him stimulated, and they get SOOO much cardboard that our recycling man is starting to wonder! I could fill the entire tank with cardboard up to the top, and he'd have cleared it in a day. In the critter trail, he'd just play in it, and clear it in about 3 days. I'M not happy with the bedding on the floor, but he really likes it better, so I'm thinking about moving him back into it.

[lydia]

You have to do what suits you and your gerbils,if they are happier in their Crittertrail cage (only you can decide) then move them back .

I've never used a Crittertrail cage,why did they have to move out ? Why isn't it suitable for gerbil pups ?

Lyd

[gerbil]

I've never used a Crittertrail cage,why did they have to move out ? Why isn't it suitable for gerbil pups ?

Crittertrails have so many tunnels, twists, small spaces it's likely for a pup to get lost or stuck underneath something. I believe that Crittertrails are more of a decoration for beginner gerbil keepers. Colorful and all.

[GerbilGal]

I have Crittertrail cages for my gerbils and they couldn't be happier. Yes the bedding gets on the floor. I have the backs covered where they kick so the mess is less. They have so much fun in there and they do have places to hide if they want to. Plus my BF doesn't want tanks. To reduce the mess I put the lids of paper boxes underneath the cages. Most of the mess goes in there. They hardly make any messes in the tubes. Here are pictures of my setups:

[egirl]

I myself have the Critter trail 2, and i too am switching to a 20 gallon long.

[RitzieAnn]

I found one of those S.A.M. cages at Value Village. If I'd had the cash, the I would have gotten it. It was almost as tall as my 10gal, but of course smaller. Anyway, the sides were solid, and it had the screan on the top, and places on the sides and top to attache the tubes, or thoses attachable wheels or little food mess houses, or potty houses... but it seemed perfect.

The reason I have 10 gals, it because it's cleaner in my opinion! However, my little Keebler likes his critter trail better (but he can't be in it because he kicks bedding EVERYWHERE, more than any other gerbil I have) But I liked the S.A.M. cage because it was all enclosed like my tanks, but I could attache all the things Keebler likes. I could also sit it on top of my 10 gal for him. (Maybe I'll walk down there and see if Value Village still has it....) ;D

[RyanF]

I switched from CritterTrail because they chewed the plastic at night and it kept me awake! I also switched because CritterTrail's take *forever* to clean.

[RitzieAnn]

I've never had a problem cleaning mine. The part that takes the longest for me it putting it back together! All that snapping together! But to clean it I just rinse it, then spray viniger/water mix nito it, it's really good about loosening that dry pee! then I rince again, and wipe dry. Takes like maybe 20 mins. About as long as it takes me to clean my 10gal!

www.petsmart.com/media/ps/images/products/detail/standard/i/inp0/inP019210_12953.jpg

(this is a picture of the kind of CritterTrail I have. He did eat the plastic, but since there wasn't much there, all I had to do was change waterbottle, and take out the food dish. Then I just gave him wooden toys!

[RyanF]

It takes me around 30 minutes to clean a CritterTrail thoroughly. It takes 10 minutes or less for a 10 gallon! And the tank has high sides so they can dig!