Housing my gerbils

[blackie]

I heard that some people said that gerbils shouildn't be kept in a cage with bars at all. I kind of agree with you. Gerbils need to burrow and they can't do that in a cage. Problem is (some of) my gerbils already live in a cage! So I've been thinking that I could connect a big plastic tank to the cage with a tube, and they could dig in that and use the cage for eating and sleeping...
I know it's possible but I have no idea how to connect two units
of cage/tank. The type of cage that I use is a very practical good quality hamster type of cage and it doesn't have any dangerous wheels or wire floors or anything. There used to be a plastic level with a tube but they chewed that off. My gerbils like to climb too actually. I've also considered getting a hamster duna (the large one) for my slightly epileptic gerbil, and maybe that would make him less stressed and that might help. Then I would sell the cage to someone who has hamsters...
So I just have to take things step by step. So if anybody have any old vacuum cleaners ...

[RyanF]

I have done that just yesterday! They love the plastic box with a wire mesh top that is filled with bedding. I put one of those little wooden huts under all the bedding and made a hole to it. It supports the bedding so it feels like a natural hole. They love it!!! ;D

[queenofthenile]

I'm using a flexible dryer exhaust hose (aluminum) to connect my two tanks. You could just cut out a small square of wire mesh that is a few squares bigger than the cage door on both sides. Then you can attach the square to the inside of the cage with twist ties to close up the cage door (from the inside). Then cut a hole in the wire mesh square to fit the dryer exhaust. That way the hose is secure and there is no space between the hose and the door that the gerbs can squeeze through.

[sweetie]

Hey,

Could you please put in pictures? This sounds really great but I am having a difficult time trying to envision this. I would like to give my guys more room and would rather recycle parts I have in the house so that I don't have to spend more money. I was not expecting to have to purchase a second house or additional accessories. The surprise opposite sex threw a kink in my original plan.

The great thing about the Hartz cages is that the tunnels are excellent since you can change the set up so they don't get bored as easily. If I could attach another area so that they could tunnel, it would be ideal.

[queenofthenile]

Ok, here's some really funky pictures . I hope they make sense.

He is your wire cage (drawn without the bars because it would be too confusing). It has the door open. The gray square is the open door.


Cut a square of wire mesh that is slightly larger than the opening, so that you can attach it to the cage bars.


Attach the wire mesh square to the inside of the cage using the cage bars. You can use either pliable wire or twist ties.


Now that the square it attached to the inside of the cage, cut out a hole that is just the right size to squeeze the dryer exhaust in.


Insert the dryer exhaust. If you have done this correctly, you will need to do some manipulation to actually get the hose in there. That way, there is no space between the wire mesh screen and the hose. No escapes!


Here's a pic of the finished product. I realized afterwords that instead of attaching a wire square, I could have just cut the hole for the exhaust directly in the lid . When you use a cage, however, you have to cut the wire mesh square first.


I hope that wasn't too confusing. Ask more questions if you are still baffled.

[sweetie]

Still baffled? You are being too kind Queenie. where you are queenofthenile, I am queenoftheconfused!!!! I have a real hard time putting together kids toys with pictures and directions. Once, I got so stressed out just helping my brother put an entertainment center together, I had to leave for a couple of minutes. I am not very hands on!

I love the craftiness of your work. Thanks, the pictures are great. Did you do all that yourself? I bet they love the house!! I am glad that you left out the cage bars that would have sent me over the top LOL.

Ryan, After re-reading your post, lets see if I have this correct. You added a plastic box to your CURRENT plastic housing and inside the box, you added bedding and a wooden hut to support the bedding to simulate a little under ground den?
What kind of plastic box did you use? Is it a 30 gal Rubbermaid or something?

[queenofthenile]

Hmm... I don't know if I can explain it any better. I wish I had taken pics while I was putting it together. I must admit that my little sketches aren't all that realistic .

[sweetie]

Your scetches are perfect. I am the craft challenged one!!
My husband is sitting here reading this with me and he understands perfectly. He is the crafty hands on one. With your pictures, and scetches, he can figure it out. Thanks ;D

[RyanF]

Ok. I will send pics of how I do it. Well.. Mine is much easier I think. I have to take a few pics first! ;D

[blackie]

Thankyou Queen-of the-Nile for explaining the whole set-up for us.Great Pictures! I wish I was as creative and innovative as you. I did make the lid for my aquarium myself. Now I just have to get the nessecary things before I can try this myself.
(PS You saved my life with the home made bottle guard idea) ;D


"Blackie"

[blackie]

I would probably have to use some type of commercial tubes like habitrail or similar. I don't have an old vacuum cleaner hose, and I need the vacuum cleaner I have,beside it has a plastic hose
Then the problem arises will the gerbils destroy the tubes?
I think a "tank" or container would have to be close to ten gallons if it is going to work for them to burrow in. Actully this project will cost some money and take some time because I'm very busy right now. It seems kind of hopeless... All I have now is some wire mesh. My local pet shops are so useless when it comes to practical housing for gerbils and rats. The only thing they really sell for is hamster,hamsters.... don't hamsters burrow at all? I readd in a book that hamsters also burrow. (Then, is a hamster cage sufficient for hamsters??? )
The only pet store that sells habitrail tubes are the one that I am in the process of reporting ...so i don't shop there anymore.

[RyanF]

I used a CritterTrail tube. Since I have a CritterTrail cage, I hooked the tube into one of the available portals and directed it into the box. I will post some pictures of my setup later today.

[sweetie]

Hey Blackie,

I had the same issues with my Hartz cages. I think the pros of tanks far outweigh the expense. I spent a lot of money on the Hartz houses and attachments. The tanks were cheap enough but I did not have a lot of money to buy stuff to attatch the tanks to the cages so I used the tubing from the hartz cages. I am not as creative as Queenie but at least I re used the tubing from the cages.



Here is a picture of they way I have it set up now. I have two Hartz Houses attached by tubing to two tanks. The gerbils love it. They still sleep in the Hartz houses though. Actually since I heard all the stuff about the water bottle chewing, I decided to leave the bottles where they were instead of putting them in the tanks. Also for the top, we bought 5 yrds of metal fencing for 5$ US at Lowes and we fitted it to the top with a hole cut with enough space for the tubing. The wire is thick enough that the gerbils will not be able to lift it or bend it.

[RyanF]

If you have a surplus of bedding or you can get it really cheap, you should fill the tanks up higher! I will show you my set-up in a few minutes once I clear the area, take a picture, download it to computer, upload it to website and make another post lol.

[sweetie]

The picture was taken when I first set it up. I was nervous that they would get stuc under the aspen and suffocate. There is now more bedding in it!! Thanks for the feed back. I can't wait to see your set up. It sounds great. Thanks.