Solution for bedding.

[t]

That's what I could find =\ Do you know about any other?

[ohmylokix]

Eucalyptus is not a common bedding, and I can guess why.

Aspen is really the best. Hemp is similar.

[t]

There are shavings with eucalyptus oil used to combat fleas and eucalyptus shavings that are the things in the pic. They don't seem to contain bark...

[kryspkreme]

lol you REALLY want to use these eucalyptus shavings huh?

Are there NO other bedding options? Bedding can be expensive regardless so i hope you arent'looking at options purely based on price rather than the health of your gerbil.

[t]

It's not that I WANT to use it. Eucalyptus have a low chance of being harmfull, the other shavings are made by pinus and they have 100% chance of being harmfull.
I live in Brazil and all the ones I found are made by pinus so I don't have much choice.

According to the articles I found eucalyptus are much safer.

Aspen? Never saw here.

Eucalyptus shavings and sawdust is used in England and Brazil extensively for poultry litter and is encouraged by researchers and development folks alike.

Nectar is OK, bees make a tasty honey with eucalyptus flowers.

Maybe it isn't very used in US because there they get wood from pines.

[ohmylokix]

I actually see more aspen than pine here, and various paper beddings.

If you were an experienced gerbil owner with knowledge of the early signs of allergies and RI, it might be worth trying the eucalyptus, but not for an inexperienced gerbil owner.

Again, I'd try egerbil for more info. They should be able to tell you more about the less 'common' stuff.

[doug]

look at an office suppy store for eco packing.

Doug

[t]

The only eucalyptus information there is about branches for them to chew, and of course it is a no since the bark is the toxic part of the plant.
   * Cashew
   * Chestnut
   * Eucalyptus
   * Walnut
   * Maple
   * Almond
   * Plum
   * Cherry
.
.
.

As you can see, just because one part of a plant is dangerous doesn't means that all the plant should be avoided...

Also, I could put it in the oven to evapórate any eoucalyptus oil that could be present there.

By the way, anyone could please give me a logic reason of why pine is toxic in US and not in UK?

[ohmylokix]

Without a kiln, it'd be hard to evaporate the oils without having it in there for days and risking it starting a fire. And with that logic, you could do the same to pine, which CAN actually be safe.

I am fairly sure that the bark would be mixed into the bag.

I second the eco packing idea-- it's a wonderful bedding. It allows tunnels easily and is very absorbent. Unlike with ANY shavings, the urine and feces drop to the very bottom of the tank.

[t]

Pine toxins have a higher boiling point. I think they will burn before I reach the boiling point. Eucalyptus oil on the other hand have a much lower boiling point.

So what do you prefer? Baked pine shavings or baked eucalyptus?

I will see if I can fing a good source of carboard and maybe I could put it on my father shredder (if that thing still work)

[ohmylokix]

I have never seen eucalyptus even mentioned in use for gerbils.

If it's already kiln-dried, it's safe. But gerbils are individuals-- I've seen gerbils be fine on cedar, and get red noses from aspen.

[t]

Well, my father have one low temperature oven that he made to dry fruits. It heat and ventilate the material at the same time.

[ohmylokix]

I would not play with it.

Eco packing(zig-zag paper strips) is your best, safest bet.

[t]

So to make some eco packing I will have to get some carboard boxes and feed the shredder with it right?

[ohmylokix]

No.

Eco packing is like.. brown paper bag material, almost.