Thea
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Posts: 1,012
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Post by Thea on Feb 9, 2021 0:49:24 GMT -8
Hi everyone,
My new girls Pippa and Mali came to me last Saturday.
I haven't got much to ask, but they've been chewing the mesh on the top of their cage sometimes (they can reach it in the area with lots of bedding) and also the chain on their hanging ladder. They are chewing lots of wood and cardboard too of course, but I'm just confused why they're doing this. Could it be stress? They have plenty of space (they're in an Ikea detolf, but most people know that!) and loads to chew. It is only occasionally though - and not for long periods of time. I just know that this usually indicated either stress or boredom, and they have plenty to do so it can't be boredom! They're busy all day.
Should I worry? I hope I'm not causing them stress.
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Feb 9, 2021 2:07:43 GMT -8
I really doubt they are stressed or bored in a detolf. Bar/mesh chewing can sometimes be a sign of boredom, but also a) gerbils like chewing things b) gerbils like chewing through things, and a mesh lid that's the only thing lying between them and the outside world is just too tempting for some gerbils. It is something you want to prevent however as it can cause issues like fur loss, sore noses, broken teeth etc, but in itself is not always a sign of anything wrong with the cage. I would first try filling the areas they tend to chew with other chewable distractions. Minipetz do some really nice hanging kabobs and things you can bolt to the lid. If that doesn't work, try blocking that area of the lid off, perhaps with a grass mat tied to the lid, or a tile placed on top. If they still don't stop, you might have to get a lid with a narrower mesh. My gerbils have never been able to chew 6mm mesh. I think them chewing the chain on the hanging bridge is probably just experimenting with different textures. Mine have done similar when they come across something new. They'll probably realise soon that chewing metal doesn't feel as nice as chewing wood or cardboard. You could try wrapping the chain in paper or seagrass.
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Thea
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Posts: 1,012
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Post by Thea on Feb 9, 2021 2:30:46 GMT -8
Thank you so much for the ideas! It's only been a couple of days, but if they continue I'll get some chews to hang down. Yeah those were my concerns, one of my old gerbils used to chew bars/metal and had nose fur loss and soreness. The chain chewing isn't as much, but if they do again I'll wrap some paper around it. Thanks!
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Post by yuzername on Feb 10, 2021 9:48:25 GMT -8
My boys started chewing on the mesh after they jumped up on the water bottle because the are the turdest turds in the land of turds
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Post by Markpd on Feb 10, 2021 12:11:17 GMT -8
Huh? lol Thea Blake chews the mesh at the top sometimes too, at the point where they normally go out when I remove that lid. Afraid I don't have a good answer for you, hopefully we can both learn here!
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Thea
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Posts: 1,012
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Post by Thea on Feb 10, 2021 12:54:10 GMT -8
Lol, what??
Markpd - Ah good to hear it isn't just my gerbils! It is more Mali than Pippa but both do it a bit. I'll probably take the lid off and supervise them when they do, but making sure I watch them because they'll escape for sure if I'm not careful (or Mali will at least!)!
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Post by Markpd on Feb 10, 2021 15:36:38 GMT -8
Yea you don't want her doin a runna!
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Thea
Member
Posts: 1,012
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Post by Thea on Feb 11, 2021 0:50:38 GMT -8
No, definitely not, she will if I'm not careful!
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Post by tanzanyte on Feb 13, 2021 3:51:01 GMT -8
Vanilla would do this occasionally which I couldn't understand when she had so much enrichment. However I noticed a lot later on that Vanilla used it as a way of getting attention. I used to try and stop her initially the times I caught her doing it, which wasn't much admittedly, but she did start chewing more after Bubbles died and would wait for me to come over and then not be the slightest bit interested in the bars. Otherwise I do wonder if it's a texture or feeling that they suddenly crave.
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Thea
Member
Posts: 1,012
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Post by Thea on Feb 13, 2021 4:21:13 GMT -8
Thank you for letting me know! The girls are still very occasionally chewing the chain on their hanging ladder, but aside from that they aren't really chewing too much anymore, only a little. I wonder if they are looking for attention (or treats!). I was just so confused because they have all this wood and cardboard of different textures that they could be chewing, but I had a look in their multichamber hideout and realised they actually have bee chewing that as well. They bnever do it for long periods of time either, usually less than a minute. They haven't done it at all today and Pippa only did it once yesterday very quickly, and Mali didn't at all.
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Post by tanzanyte on Feb 13, 2021 5:51:36 GMT -8
I'm thankful that we've never had it repeatedly for long periods of time. It cannot possibly be boredom with all of the space and enrichment they have in the detolf. I think with it being very early days they are just trying everything out and as they realise that other things are better they won't bother much with it.
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Thea
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Posts: 1,012
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Post by Thea on Feb 13, 2021 6:46:57 GMT -8
I hope that's what they're doing too, I'm sure it is as they've slowed down doing it.
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Thea
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Posts: 1,012
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Post by Thea on Apr 29, 2021 9:35:30 GMT -8
Sorry, back here again! The girls still bite the mesh a lot I give them so much to do and so much to chew on, and take them out regularly, and they have plenty of space of course, so I'm not sure why?
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Post by tanzanyte on Apr 30, 2021 9:31:59 GMT -8
I have the same problem Thea I was just about to pm you to see how Pippa and Mali were getting on. I am buying the wooden carrots that you attach to the bars, but Mymble is a beaver is disguise and a whole wooden carrot is gone in 6-8 hours. Thankfully they're reasonably priced. This has helped somewhat, but she will still chew at the bars in between. I have seen Little My do it as well, she's just not as prolific at chewing bars as Mymble seems to be. I honestly don't see what else I can give them to stop it. They have so much space and lots of different things to chew and different textures. It's honestly driving me nuts! I was wondering if there was an easy option of putting lemon juice on the bars or something that they perhaps wouldn't be so keen to taste, but I wasn't sure if the likes of lemon juice would be ok and knowing my luck even if it was safe, she'd probably like it. I've also noticed that Pepsi has started biting the bars a little. However if I go up to him and give him a toilet roll he's easily distracted. The girls aren't so easily deterred. I am trying to put it down to it being a sensory thing that they like, but I'm worried about their teeth. If I do find something I will let you know.
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Post by Markpd on Apr 30, 2021 11:10:22 GMT -8
Sorry, back here again! The girls still bite the mesh a lot I give them so much to do and so much to chew on, and take them out regularly, and they have plenty of space of course, so I'm not sure why? darn, sorry to hear that.
Did you try the hanging toys and blocking off part of the mesh? (if they only chew some areas), as per lilyanddaisy's earlier suggestions?
Another option (maybe?), how about lowering the bedding slightly so they can't easily get to it? Or do they pile it up and get to the mesh there?
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