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Post by zoid on Jun 9, 2012 18:30:15 GMT -8
I have been keeping sand in a plastic tub for a sand bath for my gerbils and it is fairly large (about 40 lbs of sand in a 16 gallon tub). It is hooked up to a gerbilarium that is rather large (64 gallons) with a semi-permanent tunnel they use to go from the gerbilarium to the sand bath. I use a window screen to sift the sand periodically to get the poop out, but they sometimes pee in it and I wonder what is the best way to get rid of the smell and make sure that it is disinfected? Any suggestions?
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Post by esztershine on Jun 10, 2012 3:08:49 GMT -8
If you can take the sand bath out, empty it and wash the bowl with warm soapy water, rinse well and dry with paper towel then put back with the sand in It. If you can't take it out, try emptying the bowl, vacuum (make sure there are no gerbils in the habitat!) and clean with a wet cloth then dry. Maybe if you could post a picture, would be great  |
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Post by zoid on Jun 10, 2012 5:36:47 GMT -8
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Post by esztershine on Jun 10, 2012 10:37:56 GMT -8
Ha ha ha ;D loving your shots! You have lovely terrorists, brilliant homes and creative access to the bath But back on track, Yes sand can stink, so I only use a small breakfast bowl, filled half way up and only put It in till they roll, pee, poo in it and of course eat it, then take it out. Your lovely guys may have been good so far, though they only need to find the escape route once, they will never forget it! (if they make it alive :-\ ) So DON'T trust them!  You could wash the sand in water, then let It dry :-\ Or put put it on the sun to dry and draw smell out of it... Not sure If It works, just guessing Or just use little at a time, and when smells, replace It Lovely shots! |
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Post by zoid on Jun 10, 2012 13:30:27 GMT -8
Ha ha ha ;D loving your shots! You have lovely terrorists, brilliant homes and creative access to the bath But back on track, Yes sand can stink, so I only use a small breakfast bowl, filled half way up and only put It in till they roll, pee, poo in it and of course eat it, then take it out. Your lovely guys may have been good so far, though they only need to find the escape route once, they will never forget it! (if they make it alive :-\ ) So DON'T trust them! You could wash the sand in water, then let It dry :-\ Or put put it on the sun to dry and draw smell out of it... Not sure If It works, just guessing Or just use little at a time, and when smells, replace It Lovely shots! Thanks! I have a rolled up blanket on the floor that runs the length of the couch and a long box filled with bubble wrap at the base of the side below and to the right of the sand box. The first time Scratchy got spooked and fell off the back of the couch and landed on the floor, but was unhurt. I think he clung to the drapes on the way down so I knew I wanted something soft down there. It happened again and he knocked his brother off (Derby) while he headed for the cardboard stairs, but derby fell on the blanket and was unfazed. Nibblitz once took a sideways leap off the ottoman towards my lap but landed on the floor on the short side and was similarly unfazed. I just got these gerbils on March 25th from a rescue shelter in NJ, but discovered that Itchy and Scratchy both had scent gland tumors. I had both of them operated on but only one survived (Scratchy). Itchy died on April 12th from complications due to surgery  so now there are only 3 in the tank. I've seen them peer their head on the left corner of the tank where the substrate is high, but they never jump up. Too timid? My other gerbils would have cleared 2'. They are extremely tame and will come right up to my sholders while reading. Scratchy took a little longer because my first interaction with him was to try to get him well with 2 weeks of Baytril and Silver sulfadiazine cream on his scent gland sore. He didn't like that at all so for a couple of weeks after surgery he didn't want to have anything to do with me, but now he's glad that he's completely healthy. |
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Post by MoonstoneGerbils on Jun 11, 2012 4:36:02 GMT -8
as far as cleaning the sand goes, good luck.
You could use bleach water, rinse it a few times, and let it dry out in the sun on a tarp.
though, in all honesty, buying new sand would be easier.
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Post by zoid on Jun 13, 2012 7:20:39 GMT -8
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Post by barbyzal on Jul 11, 2012 12:42:58 GMT -8
Have you tried baking it? It helps to kill some of the bacteria, and it helps with the " poopy" smell. |
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so now there are only 3 in the tank.
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