First Gerbil Shopping List

[Demonic Hope]

Hiya guys. This is my first post to this amazing forum I've been stalking for about a few months. In a few weeks I shall be purchasing my first pair of Gerbils. I'm most likely going to go with a male pair.

Can someone please look over my supply list and tell me if I am missing anything or if something isn't going to work for my new babies? I've been researching for about 3 months or so but I know first hand experience with these products is better then just reading from a website.

My sister gave me a gift card for Amazon for my B-day so supplies from there would be best. Of course food and bedding I'm purchasing at the pet store along with the tank.

Tank:

Ten gallon with this topper:

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0027J381U/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

I think I'll line the shelves with cardboard or poster board to prevent bumblefoot. Does that sound okay? Its the only one I can find at Amazon that has no plastic.


Hide-Out:

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009WH8ZE/ref=gno_cart_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER


Do you think I should get two or is that big enough for them?


Water bottle:

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002YFS7E/ref=gno_cart_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1KV49W6ALVUD5


I am worried about the spout being plastic. But I can't find one with a metal spout and that's glass. I'm super worried about plastic chewing. Any recommendations or is water bottle chewing uncommon?

Wheel:

Okay I need help here. I heard silent spinners and the flying saucer were okay but they are plastic. So isn't that a risk for plastic chewing?
I have an 8in mesh wheel left over from my hamster that past away would that be okay if I lined it with cardboard or something so toes don't get stuck? Or is that to small? This is the type it is.


www.amazon.com/Prevue-Hendryx-Pet-Wheel-Size/dp/B000QFQCD8/ref=sr_1_19?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1364515888&sr=1-19


Substrate: I'm thinking of using Aspen and hay. I have a horse so I have plenty of nice clean fresh hay for the little guys. I am allergic to carefresh its too dusty for me. Not to mention I started saving cardboard a month ago. I have an big bin already filled.

Bowl: Would this be okay? I know from my hamsters rodents like to bury their food bowls.

www.amazon.com/ProSelect-Stainless-Steel-Hanging-8-Ounce/dp/B000GDZ0GK/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1364516449&sr=1-2


I already have the colored wood chews you get at Walmart in a 5pack.

My only other thing is a sand bath. I can not seem to find good quality Chinchilla sand at either the pet store or on Amazon. They are all dust. So I was thinking of baking some play sand in the oven for them. Would that work?


Sorry for the super long post. I just want the best for my babies when they arrive.

[summerrain]

the hide out is ok, but i would get multiple places for them to hide/sleep. you can but a coconut and hollow it out for them to sleep in, my gerbils love it. the water-bottle will have a steel spout if its chew proof. the silent spinners are ok, mine font really chew on it but if you want to use the mesh i have heard that you can cover the inner with masking tape. you really don't need a food bowl unless you want to food in the topper, if not you can just sprinkle the food over the substrate. I would also get a playpen for them to run around in, but a dry bathtub works just as well. you should get a plastic heavy duty tote and cut the top out and cover it with mesh for travel or when your cleaning their cage. and having an X-large critter carrier is good for vet visits.

[jamesny]

i like your list however i will correct a few things....please don't get that excercise wheel. go with a silent spinner so u can hang it from the topper. i also suggest getting a different topper since the topper u have doesn't have a flat surface they can easily fall down and break a leg...plan to have your bedding 8 inches high for a 10 gallon tank and the topper is only used for waterbottle, food bowl, and excercise wheel. have an untreated wood branch for them to climb and play leading up to the topper. this will make your gerbils happy and live a happy life...

www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_pets/hutches_cages/hamster_cages/hamster_cages/189556

www.petco.com/product/117880/Petco-Premium-High-Rise-Habitat-Expander-for-Small-Animals.aspx

[Demonic Hope]

Summerrain: Thanks I can't believe I forgot the playpen and carrier cage. Thanks.

Jamesny: I'm sorta confused with what's wrong with the topper. I thought if I covered the levels with either cardboard or perhaps some plywood it was fine.

And I plan on that much bedding. So I don't see how falling a few inches will hurt them. I'm confused on how those two are different other then solid levels then what I picked out

[gerbietails]

For water bottles, I've recently discovered the Oasis 4 oz one for the tank, with a metal cover. It works really well and is available at PetSmart for $6.99. Here is the same on on Amazon:

www.amazon.com/OASIS-BELL-BOTTLE-GUARD-4OZ/dp/B0002DINFE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364526023&sr=8-1&keywords=oasis+water+bottle

Also, I recently read on the forum that many recommend the Argonite (sp?) reef sand used for fish aquariums over the Chinchilla sand... it's much cheaper and can be purchased in large bags. I've never tried it myself, however, and saw that it comes in different size granules. Perhaps someone else would have more info on that.

Hope this helps!

[Demonic Hope]

HappyTails: That is perfect thanks so much.

[Demonic Hope]

Do you guys think this would be a nice hideout? I was thinking it might be chewproof.

www.amazon.com/Petco-Reptile-Cave-Hideaway/dp/B0053XX7YA/ref=sr_1_10?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1364526444&sr=1-10

[eleda]

I think it would be safe and durable as far as chewing, but I would be careful about the size. I wanted a reptile hide for my gerbils, but when I looked at them in-store they were surprisingly small. I'm not sure what the size of this one is, but it can be a bummer to give your pets a hide and then realize they can't use it cuz it doesn't give them enough space. (I got them coconut shells that they can't use =c )

[Demonic Hope]

Eleda: Here are the dimensions. 9 x 7 x 3.5 inches ; 11.2 ounces Think its too small? I'm not to sure how big the hideouts need to be. Knowing my luck I'm gonna pick the Sasquatches of gerbils

[eleda]

hmmm....I'm having a hard time visualizing since it doesn't say which number corresponds to which measurement.

But, I have a wheel that is 8 in. in diameter and probably 2.5 in deep, and that would be able to fit multiple gerbils, plus nest fluff, pretty well. The ceiling would be a bit low in that case, but it is a wheel not a house lol.

So I think maybe the hide will be ok. My coconut shells are much smaller (such a wimpy coconut =C)

[Demonic Hope]

I know that makes it so hard. I may see if the pet store has one I can actually look at. Otherwise I think I'll past. I live in the middle of nowhere and the pet store is an hour away. Which makes this shopping almost all online.

Wow that is a wimpy coconut.

I'm trying to find a hideout that is a cute, roomy, but also safe. And will take them awhile to chew up. I'm shocked at how many gerbil houses are made of plastic or super small.

[nzcage]

I've bough a bunch of hide outs over the years, but the favourite always seems to be... a small cardboard box. Eventually they chew most of it to pieces, but they fill it with so much substrate anyway that it doesn't really matter

Also if you cut a big hole in the side, and put it in against the tank, you can see them sleeping

[Demonic Hope]

nzcage: How big of a box? For 2 males gerbils?

[nzcage]

It varies depending on what you have lying around really, 2 male gerbils will squeeze in to a surprisingly small space, as they tend to sleep right on top of each other! Anything bigger than the gerbils . I've used the box their sand comes in, the boxes their toys come in, a box that a lamp came in... it's trial and error, really

[ljoly]

You might want to get a 20 gallon tank for 2 gerbils instead of a 10 gal. I have a 20 gal plus a topper.

I use argonite sand, after I read that it was recommended on the forum. I have no idea what the granule size is though- I just bought the bag they had at the pet store. I find it less dusty than the chinchilla sand.

If you do buy a hide out, make sure it is metal free- some wooden huts have metal nails in them that can hurt gerbils when they chew through.

Enjoy your new pets