This is Squirrel and Meerkats new tank, its a perfecto tank with 3 shelves with megazorb bedding and lots of toys.
Current owner of 4 Gerbils: Squirrel (Agouti) & Oleg (Burmese) Ruby (black and white) & Pearl (siamese and white spotted) 1 mouse: Danger Mouse (brown & white) 1 cat: Luna (Black)
Hi guys, thought I'd share the new extension I've made to my larger tank. It had been for my gerbs, but I've sadly lost all but my 3-legged one so a smaller space works better for him. It's going to house 2 Shaw's jirds, which are very similar to gerbils but 2-3 times the size (14 inches long nose to tail tip, half body half tail).
The tank is 70cm x 40cm x 50cm (roughly 30 UK gallons, about 36.5 US gallons) and the topper is 65cm tall. I know it's better to be long than tall, but this is what works best with my space at the moment - I might trade up to a meter long tank my parents have in their garage when I get a new place.
Its a wooden frame with a wire front and sides for ventilation, and perspex doors (don't worry, they can't get at any plastic edges!). Any wood that they could get at is protected with metal strips too, and the paint is completely natural, non-toxic, pet-safe formula. I've tiled the shelves so they're wipe clean unlike wood, and they won't be at risk of bumblefoot like with a wire floor. There's a layer of acrylic on top to put them off chewing or staining the grout.
It's been a long old project. Just need to make them some ladders between the levels now - and move them in, of course!
I have a new setup for my trio! After a year of unsuccessfully trying to keep them contained in various bin cages (and a series of escapes and security breaches), I gave in and got a Critter's Choice glass tank. It's the largest size, which is 140 litres or 37 US gallons, and has three shelves.
Here is the view from the top:
And from the front:
The tank came with three triangular shelves already in place. The top (left) shelf: It has their food bowl, a terracotta plant pot, and a glass jar which they use as a toilet (which they get to from the other side).
The middle (right) shelf:
It has their nest box, plus a coconut toy which I made. Their water bottle hangs from the lid just over the corner of the shelf (in front of the nest box opening).
The bottom shelf is level with the substrate, but I've got some toys piled up on front of/on top of it:
There's a big knotty branch which I got from my aunt's willow tree, with bark peeled off, cleaned, and baked. The tube is a bamboo toy I got from a pet shop - with two holes at the near end and one at the far end. And another coconut toy which I bought, sitting on top of the branches.
They have a silent spinner wheel which is attached to the lid:
And the waterbottle is attached to the lid, just behind the wheel:
Last Edit: Oct 10, 2014 9:31:42 GMT -8 by Jazzable
Here's my boys' new setup. It's a 40 gallon breeder divided with plexiglass. One side has deep bedding for burrows and the other side is shallow for the wheel, water bottle, and toys (once I go buy some). I just put them in this morning but so far they love it, though one of them had a really difficult time figuring out how to use the ladder. They love having 10 inches of bedding and love that they can actually use their wheel because it's not half buried.
Here's my boys' new setup. It's a 40 gallon breeder divided with plexiglass. One side has deep bedding for burrows and the other side is shallow for the wheel, water bottle, and toys (once I go buy some). I just put them in this morning but so far they love it, though one of them had a really difficult time figuring out how to use the ladder. They love having 10 inches of bedding and love that they can actually use their wheel because it's not half buried.
If your gerbils have trouble using a ladder (one of my boys does, hes tired getting up it a few times and slid off or fell through the gaps, bless him ;'D) you could make a kind of step system? like get a little house/log or something then a larger one and then they can get over that make? just a suggestion xD but ofc if your gerbils got the hang of its then keep it I love this btw. How you have split it with plexi-glass! hmm, gives me ideas! thankss
Post by ermygherdthecuteness on Feb 23, 2015 20:03:01 GMT -8
[edit by mod, you shouldn't have plastic tubes in their tank without metal guards on the end, the tubes could be chewed! Additionally it doesn't meet the ops requirements of no plastic in the tank (wheels and bottles excluded)]
This is the set-up for our pair of girlies, Ayla and Troi
The 15 gallon tall (party room) was just added today!
There are lots of burried boxes and tubes under there for them to explore, the currently have headquarters set up in a tissue box right in the middle. The bedding is aspen shavings mixed with timothy hay.
The girls had never seen tubes before but Troi (always the adventurous one) ran right through and had to keep running back to try and encourage timid Ayla to join her. Alya ended up looking soooo sad peering through the glass and she could see Troi throwing bedding around and having a blast but she didnt have the guts to brave the tube. We ended up scooping Alya up and placing her in the party room, she was able to get home through the tubes fine, and now they are both happy ladies!
Post by gabrielacosta on Apr 18, 2015 5:57:17 GMT -8
New home for Rohe, Limon (Rohe's oldest daughter) and the babies - until the little guys go to their new family - 80x40x40cm (128L) with a second floor of 40x40cm. Just need to buy some bedding this weekend, so they can dig. The cover is almost ready.
Last Edit: Apr 21, 2015 3:40:50 GMT -8 by gabrielacosta
This is Skully and Bolts new 40 gallon (imperial gallons) tank it measures 100cm L 40cmW 50cm H.
Current owner of 4 Gerbils: Squirrel (Agouti) & Oleg (Burmese) Ruby (black and white) & Pearl (siamese and white spotted) 1 mouse: Danger Mouse (brown & white) 1 cat: Luna (Black)
This is Skully and Bolts new 40 gallon (imperial gallons) tank it measures 100cm L 40cmW 50cm H.
That's a great set up! Where have you got the wooden heart from? Also, is the wheel you use Wheel y Fit one? If so, does it make much noise when they run on it? (I have the Wheel y Fit wheel, but it's on a tank topper at the moment, so don't know how it works in a tank.)
Last Edit: Apr 19, 2015 11:51:53 GMT -8 by blanknote
Do you have trouble getting hold of them when you want them to come out of the cage?
It has their nest box, plus a coconut toy which I made. Their water bottle hangs from the lid just over the corner of the shelf (in front of the nest box opening).
