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Tunnels
Jul 22, 2020 11:36:30 GMT -8
Post by sugarspice on Jul 22, 2020 11:36:30 GMT -8
I heard somewhere that its a good idea to reasonably regularly collapse the tunnels the gerbils made (deliberately i mean, not accident when you go in to check on them and spot clean), the reason is that apparently in the wild the tunnels would collapse from the weight of other creatures walking over the top of it so its mimicing what would happen in the wild
is this true or is it wrong? is it acceptable to deliberately collapse their tunnels?
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Tunnels
Jul 22, 2020 12:01:14 GMT -8
Post by LilyandDaisy on Jul 22, 2020 12:01:14 GMT -8
Their tunnels will collapse regularly on their own anyway so there's no need to do that yourself.
Mine are much calmer now but when they were younger, Lily used to be so hyperactive that very occasionally I resorted to destroying their tunnels so they had to dig new ones. It kept them occupied for a couple of days, which was a couple of days that Lily wasn't leaping around, destroying the cage and generally being crazy. It was always a last resort after other options had been exhausted, and I didn't like doing it. So I'd say that it's best to avoid collapsing their tunnels, but if you have to, there's no harm done.
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Tunnels
Jul 22, 2020 14:14:27 GMT -8
Post by betty on Jul 22, 2020 14:14:27 GMT -8
Gerbils 'have' to fix things so they have a safe escape route in there that they can run through over and over like a test run - it is just what they so (even if sometimes they decide to make the path through a solid wall of a house (and then spend 3 days chewing it)) they feel safe.
I often throw in loads of hay or straw instead of collapsing tunnels - that normally keeps them entertained without disrupting their feeling of safety.
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Tunnels
Jul 23, 2020 13:32:40 GMT -8
Post by Markpd on Jul 23, 2020 13:32:40 GMT -8
sugarspice As far as in the wild goes, I can't see their being anything that would completely collapse the tunnels there (where did you read that?), they can be 1-2m deep. Sure a horse stepping right next to an entrance could collapse that entrance, but it would be only one of at least a few. That said, if this (very rare) herd of ~250,000 Gazelles passed over Gerbil entrances I would think nearly all entrances would be collapsed!! But I still doubt the entire burrow, as they apparently only weigh 25-30kg, the mongolian horse is about 300kg! (according to wiki).
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Tunnels
Jul 24, 2020 8:58:50 GMT -8
Post by sugarspice on Jul 24, 2020 8:58:50 GMT -8
i cant remember where i heard it
part of Sugar and Spice's tunnel collapsed today when i went in to check on both girls, Spice was inactive and i couldnt see movement from her (tunnel collapsing made her get up and move though so she was probably having a rest)
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Tunnels
Jul 24, 2020 12:32:46 GMT -8
Post by Markpd on Jul 24, 2020 12:32:46 GMT -8
I bet she was swearing at you, blaming you for causing it! What substrate do you use?
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Tunnels
Jul 25, 2020 7:48:03 GMT -8
Post by sugarspice on Jul 25, 2020 7:48:03 GMT -8
I bet she was swearing at you, blaming you for causing it! What substrate do you use? I use woodshaving stuff that comes in bags, where i live its not easy to get anything other than that for small animals ...........
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Pim
Member
Posts: 346
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Tunnels
Jul 27, 2020 11:08:22 GMT -8
Post by Pim on Jul 27, 2020 11:08:22 GMT -8
I wouldn't recommend it. its fine to mess it all up during a cleaning but unless they are causing havoc its just unnecessary and pointless. It wouldn't really provide anything for them so it doesn't need to be replicated.
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Tunnels
Jul 28, 2020 8:06:15 GMT -8
Post by Thelodar on Jul 28, 2020 8:06:15 GMT -8
I probably wouldn't, I think it would cause more stress than anything. I think having deep bedding and allowing them to build and maintain the tunnels themselves is plenty enriching. They still work on the tunnels regularly, rearranging them or maintaining them, so it's still stimulating even once it seems "done". Just continue to offer paper, boxes, hay, wood, etc. for novelty and further enrichment.
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