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Post by ayo on Jul 30, 2019 12:55:36 GMT -8
Hi, can someone advise me for whether i should turn the ikea detolf into a gerbilarium or the ikea milsbo, seems like the detolf one is more popular but the milsbo looks bigger. What do you guys think?
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Post by gracieboo on Jul 17, 2020 5:14:35 GMT -8
Just reading about dust baths. Our boys love it in their tank, they use as a toilet now so I sieve it daily. I used an old glass pasta/ biscuit jar, it sits on a table in a large tank. I change sand weekly. Some have suggested only leaving it in there for 15 min but the gerbs don’t spend any length of time in there (to busy digging) and have a designated area to poop. Is there any harm?
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Post by monkeygerbils on Jul 19, 2020 1:12:33 GMT -8
I don't know if you mean dust bath but that is what you said. Dust baths aren't safe for gerbils because they are very dusty and can cause respitory problems. Sand is what should be used but many people just don't know the difference.
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Post by Markpd on Jul 22, 2020 13:14:16 GMT -8
To answer her question, not that I've got Gerbils yet! But, IIRC, from what I've read theirs no harm in leaving the sand in their permanently (true, it shouldn't be dust), other than you'd have to change it more often. I plan to leave mine in the tank permanently.
Any experienced owners care to weigh in?
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Pim
Member
Posts: 346
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Post by Pim on Aug 3, 2020 12:32:04 GMT -8
I leave the sand in but you just need to make sure it wont get filled with bedding which is quite hard to do. I would recommend getting a scoop so you can clean it easier as well because this makes it last much longer. I also recommend children's play sand because its cheap and calcium free.
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Post by Markpd on Aug 3, 2020 15:24:09 GMT -8
Good to know, will have to check out the children's sand next time, although I only paid £5.49 (+ delivery) for 5kg Chinchilla sand, how much did you pay for your sand? What's the deal with Calcium?
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Pim
Member
Posts: 346
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Post by Pim on Aug 4, 2020 12:27:00 GMT -8
Some reptile sands include calcium I'm not sure why but I think its a dietary supplement. its just dusty and you don't want the gerbils eating it. I get a 50 pound bag of sand for about $5 so its a really good deal but you cant have it shipped since its so heavy. You could probably get it from a local hardware store. Some people sterilize the sand but i don't do that unless it's non-children's sand as the stuff I get comes sterilized already. otherwise you just pop it in the oven for a bit and move it to a separate container. I do freeze it though.
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Post by betty on Aug 6, 2020 9:27:29 GMT -8
Yes - never use the calcium sands - and it isn't just about them eating it.
Calcium sands are dangerous to gerbils - and all other rodents - as they get it all over themselves and then groom it off - ingesting far more than if they were to eat the odd piece - and then unfortunately they poison themselves.
Always totally avoid ANY calcium reptile sands or oystershell bird grits at all for gerbils and any other rodents.
(editted from 'mineral' to just calcium until further updates)
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Post by jal on Aug 6, 2020 10:35:04 GMT -8
I presume desert reptile sand is okay? I've been using it for the last year after multiple people recommended it on this forum. I originally bought Beaphar Xtravital Gerbil sand but it's very expensive. I also found it (and other) Chinchilla sands quite dusty compared to the desert sand which isn't dusty at all (Pets at Home own brand, I don't know about other brands). I was a bit nervous as I knew Calcisand definitely wasn't okay but was reassured desert sand was okay.
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Pim
Member
Posts: 346
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Post by Pim on Aug 6, 2020 11:08:46 GMT -8
That should be ok just as long as it doesn't have any minerals in it like betty said.
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Post by Markpd on Aug 6, 2020 12:08:17 GMT -8
Oh, not good then! Not sure what your mean by mineral sands though, I've got Chinchilla sand from zooplus, so I assume it's ok?......
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Pim
Member
Posts: 346
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Post by Pim on Aug 6, 2020 15:58:56 GMT -8
Yep that should be fine!
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Post by betty on Aug 7, 2020 2:34:30 GMT -8
Yes, Markpd - I have changed my comments to just say calcium for now as we know for sure that this one is a fast acting poison for rodents. But you are right - the chinchilla sand (sepeolite) is a magnesium-based mineral clay and rodents have been using this for years. So potentially it isn't ALL minerals that are this fast-acting or this dangerous. I know oystershell grit for birds kills rodents very quickly for sure and that also has magnesium in it (along with a whole host of other minerals) but calcium is by far the biggest component of it. However, plain old sand is absolutely fine for them - just make sure you check out the ingredients in real good detail if you are trying something new or something that hasn't been recommended by another user on here. Thanks for you persistence guys - I love this attention to detail.
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Aug 7, 2020 3:25:52 GMT -8
Yes, Markpd - I have changed my comments to just say calcium for now as we know for sure that this one is a fast acting poison for rodents. But you are right - the chinchilla sand (sepeolite) is a magnesium-based mineral clay and rodents have been using this for years. So potentially it isn't ALL minerals that are this fast-acting or this dangerous. I know oystershell grit for birds kills rodents very quickly for sure and that also has magnesium in it (along with a whole host of other minerals) but calcium is by far the biggest component of it. However, plain old sand is absolutely fine for them - just make sure you check out the ingredients in real good detail if you are trying something new or something that hasn't been recommended by another user on here. Thanks for you persistence guys - I love this attention to detail. I have a cuttlebone leftover from a visiting bird (unused by the bird) that I sometimes give the gerbils in the run. Is this unsafe due to the calcium? I don't put it in the cage.
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Post by betty on Aug 7, 2020 3:42:56 GMT -8
Cuttle bones as far as I have heard from other people are deemed fine to use occasionally as they are a one-piece so gerbils aren't getting all over their coat as would happen with a substrate - obvs if they chewed it it's a different story.
However, in general I think cuttle bones aren't recommended for use for most rodents as; not only do rodents/gerbils get all their nutrients from their diet anyway; they can't eat or ingest too much of it before getting ill; and unlike birds and reptiles they don't need the extra calcium in the same way biologically; it seems a bit pointless anyhoo.
Personally, I wouldn't give one to my gerbils - even as a treat...
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