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Post by xofinha on Apr 4, 2005 14:08:13 GMT -8
Built today! Thanks to those who have helped me by letting me see their set-ups
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Post by sweetie on Apr 4, 2005 16:40:04 GMT -8
Hello, That is a great set up. I bet the gerbils love it.
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Post by xofinha on Apr 5, 2005 0:47:23 GMT -8
They seem to enjoy their new home It's bigger and keeps my bedroom cleaner ;D
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Post by RyanF on Apr 5, 2005 13:39:45 GMT -8
Cool! I'm sure they love the big space! ;D
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Post by karlyrat on Apr 5, 2005 15:46:25 GMT -8
No offense, but you call THAT a big space? What were they kept in before, the jam jar (which looks too small for them to hop into if you've put it there as a toilet..)? That 'cage' looks tiny, and they don't even have any room to burrow (which they love to do!) And to those who've said this is a great setup/has lots of room, I really pity the gerbils you own.
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RW
Member
When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure. Puppy 6/6/07
Posts: 530
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Post by RW on Apr 5, 2005 18:40:27 GMT -8
Wow, somebody got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning... Not sure exactly what size xOfiNha's bin is, but I have one I use as a playground that looks similar and it's larger than a 10-gallon tank, which is adequate room for two gerbils. RW
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Post by RyanF on Apr 6, 2005 2:49:43 GMT -8
As the gerbils chew wood, cardboard etc, their bedding level will rise and allow them to burrow.
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Post by Karlyr on Apr 6, 2005 3:27:52 GMT -8
As the gerbils chew wood, cardboard etc, their bedding level will rise and allow them to burrow. I can't really see any cardboard in there, and I don't imagine splintered wood is all that fun to burrow in. If the cage is ever filled (with shavings, chewed up cardboard, etc.) to a height where the gerbils can burrow properly, the water bottle is going to be buried too. Also, a one bedroom flat may be 'adequate' for a human, but I'm sure most people feel better in a bigger house.
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pixytwinkle
Member
Molly and Misty, my lovely gerbils.
Posts: 737
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Post by pixytwinkle on Apr 6, 2005 8:54:41 GMT -8
i like it i think its good that xofinha is trying to crate the perfect house for his gerbs i think if it had a little more bedding in it then its perfectly fine and i should imagine that he lets the gerbs out often
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Post by RyanF on Apr 6, 2005 12:18:34 GMT -8
My gerbils love to burrow in their chewed cardbaord. It becomes soft and fluffy after being chewed to shreads.
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Post by sweetie on Apr 6, 2005 14:48:05 GMT -8
Karlyrat, You are entitled to your opinion however you do not need to be so rude. On this forum regardless of how we feel, we address the subject with out the added adjectives. Also, I have 8 gerbils and they are paired up in 20 gallon tanks. Again you are entitiled to your opinion and I will only ask once for you to put it in basic facts and not in hurtful terms. Hey Members, Thank you for being supportive. I appreciate your input. xof, I like the set up and I am sre the gerbils are happy in it.
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Post by sandy on Apr 6, 2005 15:33:14 GMT -8
Actually, Karly, that space is perfect for 2 adult gerbils to be quite happy in, as long as their owner takes them out for exercise frequently (I'm sure that will be the case). I've heard that gerbils in a large space can actually declan because each one carves out his own territory within the bigger space. In essence it can cause declanning and even fights to the death. Especially if there are lots of items to fight over.
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Post by xofinha on Apr 7, 2005 1:20:21 GMT -8
I'll try to answer everyone Karlyrat it is a 12.5g bin and I don't think it is too small...although I respect your opinion you should try not to be so rude. As RyanF said "As the gerbils chew wood, cardboard etc, their bedding level will rise and allow them to burrow." and the pics were took just before I gave them cardboard and toilet paper to gnaw. And about the water bottle it could be raised as the beddind level grows Pixietwinkle I usually let them out to run on my bed (a big couple bed). As sandy said "I've heard that gerbils in a large space can actually declan because each one carves out his own territory within the bigger space. In essence it can cause declanning and even fights to the death. Especially if there are lots of items to fight over.", I've heard that too.
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Post by Ritzie/Admin on Apr 7, 2005 4:54:29 GMT -8
Gerbils can indeed declan when they have a very large cage, especially groups. Bloody fights with most of the times dead is mostly the result.
Personally I use these measurements (text taken from my website): When you only keep 2-4 Mongolian gerbils in one cage you'll need a surface of at least 800 cm² per animal. So a surface of 30 x 60 for two gerbils, 40 x 60 cm for 3 gerbils or a surface of 40 x 80 cm for 4 gerbils are good examples. When you want to keep more than 4 gerbils together, you can reduce the surface to 500 cm² per animal. The height of the cage needs to be at least 30 cm, because Mongolian gerbils can jump very well. You can increase the surface by making more floors, or connecting more cages together. It is better to have a cage that is bigger than the here named guidelines, but keep in mind that a cage that is too large can cause territory forming inside a cage.
I have also two gerbils in a bit smaller tank (the rest have large tanks of which two are 80cm x 40cm), than the measurements named above. But they are allowed to run around in my living room almost daily! And they seem to be happy. To me Mongolian gerbils are also more diggers than runners.
So a thick layer of bedding and other enrichment of the tank does more to improve the welfare of the gerbils than a bit more space to run.
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Post by Ritzie/Admin on Apr 7, 2005 5:01:10 GMT -8
I can't really see any cardboard in there, and I don't imagine splintered wood is all that fun to burrow in. If the cage is ever filled (with shavings, chewed up cardboard, etc.) to a height where the gerbils can burrow properly, the water bottle is going to be buried too. I think the photo is made right after is was set up! (I now see that xOfiNha has said this already) So that makes it logical that it does not yet contain splintered wood or chewed pieces of cardboard. Beside that it contains wood and hay. Especially hay is a good chewing material. karlyrat, you are entitled on your opinion, this is of course a disccusion forum where debates are allowed. But please remind to say the thing your want to express in a different way. Use your words so that it will not be hurtful to someone. All members here love their gerbils.
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