Tank question with a difference

[riley23]

Hi, I'm new
I'm hopefully going to be getting some gerbils in August once I have graduated from uni. I absolutely love animals and haven't had any for a while (due to me being at uni) and when i decided to looking into a new pet, gerbils seemed perfect. Since my decision I have done alot of research to make sure I can give them the best home and life possible.

Now I shall prepare you, I am going to ask yet another tank question- but this one is slightly different. I have researched this sight and can not seem to find the answer I'm looking for so am going to ask it here.

P@H (I'm in the UK) do Clearseal tanks the following two sizes are my options:

24X15X12 inches= which according to the link bellow is 70 litres = 18.5 US liquid gallons

or
30X15X12 inches= 89 litres = 23.5 US liquid gallons

Now I would like to start with two male Gerbils but if there were 3 left I would take the three (I'm a big softy).

I know the minimum rule is 10 gallons for 1 and then an additional 5 per gerbil so both would be big enough. I also know the maximum rule is 10 gallons per gerbil (otherwise they may become territorial).

I would prefer to get the 30X15X12= that way if i get three there is enough room, but am affraid that it may be too big for just two. The tank will probably be filled with lots of bedding, coconuts, houses, toys etc so perhaps this would reduce the size somewhat making it ok for two.

Any advise or comments would be appreciated

thanks

[riley23]

so sorry i forgot to attach the link

www.theaquariumwiki.com/Common_tank_sizes

[racammann]

There's not really such a thing as too big for a gerbil. They'd love the extra space.
They're only really likely to get territorial if their habitat is segregated into sections or chambers like in a rotastack cage - then one gerbil could 'claim' a 'room' as his territory. With a big open space like a tank this is unlikely to happen. And males are usually pretty laid back and tend to get long with each other. So I'd go for the larger one personally - especially if you end up with 3.
I had 2 pups living in a 110 litre tank for a while - they LOVED it.

[riley23]

ok, thank you

[doug]

There actually is too big for gerbils, an enclosure that is too large can lead to declanning, however none of these tanks listed would qualify for that definition, you should have no issues with either of these for your gerbils.

Doug

[murphybuddy09]

I think I have the larger tank you mentioned but I have a tank topper too. My 2 boys were fine in it.