gerbils at Pittsurgh, PA humane society

[becki]

Hello again,

Since my last three groups of gerbils came from rescue, I seem to always be checking the rescues for more gerbils.

This morning, I found a group of five: (4) 'baby' and one (1) adult, all male gerbils, availble at the western PA humane society.

So....

I am not sure if I can only take three (3) of them, and leave two (2) behind.

Here's my situation.

I have:

30gallon tank (36x12x16H), basic rectangle tank, currently housing a turtle
35gallon tank (36x12x21H), flatback hex tank -- think 1/2 stop sign looking thing
46gallon tank (36x18x21H), bow front tank, currently housing 4 goldfish
                      I am fine swapping the turtle or goldfish to other tanks.

Should I get all five (5) gerbils? 
They appear to be a family group.  I have seen mixed opinions about the changes of declanning depending upon number of clan members.  Some seem to think that the more gerbils kept together the greater chance of declanning.  Others seem to think that is not true -- that no one really understands what causes declaning.  What would I have to look out for when keeping five (5) male gerbils together?


Which is the best tank to house five (5) gerbils?
Same thing --- I have seem some opinions that claim a greater chance of declanning if the gerbils are given too much space,  baciacally enough space to be comfortable, but not so much to set up different terrorities. Then I saw an article (link provided on this forum) that the 'ideal' space is 4'x2'x2' (with 8-12" deep bedding) for a group of 2-4 gerbils.  

Previously, I have kept pairs (1) or trios (2), so the idea of keeping five (5) seems a little overwhelming.  Since all my other gerbils also came from the western pa humane society, I know how they are kept -- overcrowded in simple, bare floored 10 gallon tanks with a wheel that is drastically too small for them.  Again it would be hard for me to leave a couple of them behind.

Thank you in advance for your kind attention to the questions I have asked and for answers to questons I don't know to ask.

Becki

[betty]

Father and son clans usually do very well actually, and even in larger numbers - I have only had one clan of dad and 5 sons though, and only one clan of dad and 4 sons - both of which didn't declan the whole time - even when dad died (which was a big concern of mine).

However, that is only two examples - so I can't really say for definite - but all my dad and three sons were the same - and I must have had about 10 of those clans.

I personally would keep all 5 together if possible as I wouldn't be able to choose which ones to leave the group without knowing them well enough - and also, like you said, any of your current tanks is better than a smaller tank or no tank.

AND - you can always make a topper for any of those tanks yourself eventually which would free up all that space in the tank for digging with other stuff up top out of the way. Yes, some would say that all of those option were too small for 5 adult gerbils - but then it might be in a few weeks or months time you come across a giant tank for free online and can upgrade them all (and who is to say someone rehoming them now into a big tank doesn't eventually or temporarily move them into something smaller in the next few years either?).

Or, home all 5 now with the intention of YOU trying to find a home for two of them - because this could give you a chance to see if a) there are two that could be pulled out; b) to see if they do get on alright in a 5; c) what they look and feel like in the enclosure you choose for them (ideally the widest and tallest); and d) whether 5 gerbils together is in fact overwhelming or not for you? It also takes the strain off the rescue a bit.

Alternatively - go with sensible size for what you have now - and split the family.

I would say a trio with dad, and a sibling pair would be be my prefered choice (so dad keeps control of the odd number). And then choose either for yourself. My only concern might be that the two boys without dad might squabble if you pick two who don't get on (you can't really know this without watching them all together (and even then you might not ever know who likes who)) - but usually the lads are laid back and hopefully should either be fine from the start or quickly settle their differences.

Hope that helps at least?

[Markpd]

Re tank size, IMO the bigger the better, declanning could happen in any tank size.

And although I'm still looking into it myself, I haven't yet found any evidence to support that large cages in of itself causes declanning.
I have read a little bit, that when declans happen (in whatever size tank), that temporarily reducing their cage size (except the very small I assume?) can help them get along again (assuming no blood was drawn), now this sounds contradictory to the 'bigger is better' idea, but the idea is once they're getting along well for a while in the reduced space, you can gradually open it up again (I need to read more about the specifics on that). Btw, if you read German, the rennmaus.de forum is a great place to read up about large cages etc.

[Pim]

Its a dollar per gallon sale currently at Petco! if you are worried about not enough space they do $ per gallon anything up to $50 gallons I think. Again to reiterate that thing about maximum cage size is a myth. If they seem well bonded they shouldn't have any reason to fight. just make sure not to get something sectioned off for example a critter trail with tubes make for easy entrances to defend and separate territories. Tanks are mostly safe.

[Markpd]

Yea good point Pim, I had meant to mention about being careful not to create separate and easily defended areas, but forgot .

[becki]

Okay...

The 46g flatback hex tank actually has square inches of floor space larger than a standard 55 gallon which is 48x12 (648 vs 576) and I do have covers for each of the tanks --- either screen or conbination of glass and screening.

So... just to make sure I completely understand.... as long as I dont section of the housing, as long as I dont form segregated areas that a gerbil could construe as territory markers, I should be okay keeping what appears to be father with his 4 sons?

I envision using the 46g tank, filled with about 14 inches high of bedding in 28inches tank lenght so that the bedding area would be approximately 28X18x14h or 504 sq inches of floor space (7,000 cubic inches of bedding) of it leavig a bedding free area into which a hanging a wheel from a screen cover would hang -- I have 12 inch wheels. I also am thinking of adding shelving, either attached directly to the sides of the tank or created using pvc piping to form a platform, at the 14inch height onto which to put food dishes, sand bath dish, etc. These measurements would give head room (space between top of bedding to screen cover) of about 7 inches.

I think my idea would give the gerbils want they would want most -- lots of dig area, but would limited my ability to actually see them. Which is actually fine with me. My experience with previous gerbil groups (and with other creatures) is the more hiding places an animal has the more they are out. Having a ready place to go if need be seems to give them the confidence to stay out in view or come out when called.

I was thinking of using a combination of carefresh bedding and aspen shavings to give softness and structure to their tunnelling. Or... if there is a better conbination, I would appreciation any suggestions.

Thank you so much for all the usefull information and forgive me for imposing you all of you to give me more.

Becki

[Pim]

Sounds amazing, that seems like a great set up for them!

[yeti218]

Did you get the gerbils? Would love to hear how they’re doing?

[Markpd]

Sure would, and yea sounds like a good setup .

I do wonder though if that (great! ) bedding height will result in some being kicked out the top? It depends on your lid I suppose.

But for my boys cage (a tank) I start off with ~23cm/9" bedding, by the time they excavate their burrows this ends up being 10-11", with 1 corner in particular being piled right up to the edge (early setup, little house is now at the front) (later setup, back corner piled up now) sometimes, with some bedding kicked out so I have to move or ditch some.

Lid is made from 1/2" mesh, tank is 50cm/~20" tall.

What do you guys reckon?

[Pim]

I've never had a problem with bedding being kicked out as it can't really go through my lid since the mesh is smaller even when it is up only a few inches from the lid it never actually comes out. I guess it just depends on your lid.

[Markpd]

Maybe I should add some finer mesh to that corner, then they could have deeper bedding .