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Post by xtra on Oct 10, 2015 8:46:09 GMT -8
I just wanted to check on how many gerbils i am aloud to keep in my tank. I saw three in the store that i wouldn't mind taking home with me, i'm pretty sure there were three but they were huddled up. If there were four i would have to pick up all four because i couldn't leave one on their lonesome. But i am pretty sure there are just three there. This was the site i was looking at: www.egerbil.com/housing.htmlI read on a gerbil tank site that the minimum size for 4 gerbils was a 20 gallon tank, or if your in the uk a 90 litre tank. I did the measurements for my tank and it came up at 23 gallons, or 88 litres... don't ask how that works, i have no idea, maths isn't my strong suit ^^;;; So i was just wanting to ask if this was ok just in case i have to pick up four. Thanks for reading, hope to hear back from you all soon. |
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Post by t1gg3er on Oct 10, 2015 9:18:59 GMT -8
We have 4 boys in a 38 US gallon tank. They're brothers - 2 from the 1st & 2 from the second litter we had. I'd left them with mum when the 2nd litter was due as they were late starters & I thought they were girls. The 2 eldest helped mum to raise the 2nd litter so I kept them with the 2 boys from that litter & so far they all get along really well.
I do watch them carefully & know them really well in terms of how they interact. At the first sign of anything being wrong I'd separate them into pairs straight away.
Are the ones you've seen boys or girls? I'd be very cautious about putting 4 girls together although we've done it in the past before we heard of fights & declans etc... Our girls were fine together their whole lives but I don't think I'd do it again. We do have 2 female trios & they're all ok so far.
If you think your tank's a bit on the small side (espec if there are 4) you could extend upwards with a topper. You'd also need back-up accommodation just in case you needed to separate them in a hurry at any point.
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Post by xtra on Oct 10, 2015 9:38:13 GMT -8
Well, sadly i lost the last of my boys a couple of weeks back and its been pretty lonely and far too quiet in the house so i've been thinking about getting some more company to love and care for again. I know that when i had all three of them in the tank they got on well, there was room for them to roam around and dig down deep.
I'm not sure if they were girls or boys, i couldn't find a member of staff who was free at the time. They were doing a pet thing for kids to show the animals off. But i can ask them the next time i am there.
I do have a spare gerbilarium that i could clean up if there was ever a case of fighting and in need of separation. But like i said i'm pretty sure there were only three in the tank from what i could see. But i will make sure to ask the gender if there are four just in case.
I kinda went into the store and bought a load of bedding and a house, tunnels, shredded bedding and a food bowl. Might be getting a little ahead of myself there ^^;;;
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Post by blanknote on Oct 10, 2015 11:45:30 GMT -8
Most people recommend 10 gallons per gerbil, so it'd be better to get at least around 40 gallon tank, if you are thinking of getting 4 gerbils.
Male gerbils usually live better in groups of 3 or 4 than females. If there are 4 gerbils in the shop, you could always just get 2 of them, or get all 4 but separate them into 2 clans (that is if you don't have big enough tank, don't want to risk declanning, etc.)
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Post by xtra on Oct 10, 2015 16:34:37 GMT -8
Ok that sounds like an idea, i'm still in the process of buying new things. My last boy didn't have a wheel while he was around because he couldn't use one. So I'm going to have to pick up a mesh wheel from the local store or a silent spinner.
But like i said, i'm pretty sure there were three in the tank. Could spot two different heads the same colour and one black one. So unless they were all sleeping on top of another one i think i was right XD
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Post by xtra on Oct 11, 2015 5:39:29 GMT -8
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Post by catnut on Oct 12, 2015 13:54:37 GMT -8
glad you are looking into getting new gerbils- it does seem strange when you are in between gerbils and you don't have any to care for, I usually give myself time to grieve but then it's lonely without a little fur baby. Is there no rescue societies near you or breeders? The mess wheels are very good for gerbils, my Adam and Serena love them (both rescues). Hope you find some great pets soon.  |
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Post by sushi10816 on May 13, 2017 12:33:33 GMT -8
I would recommend no smaller than 20 gallons for three gerbils, and no smaller than 40 gallons for 4 gerbils. But keep on mind that you can never have to big of a cage! I have two gerbils in a 40 gallon, because they spoiled:)
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