Mochi
Member
Snickerdoodle and S’more: Adopted on April 9th, 2021
Posts: 199
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Post by Mochi on Aug 28, 2021 17:33:45 GMT -8
Are Pet Smart/ Pet Co toys safe?
I like to buy new stuff for my gerbil cage but, I’ve heard those pet stores have a reputation for caring more about money than the animals…
Just bought an alfalfa “log”. The Ingredients listed on the front are alfalfa and gelatin?
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION
Ingredients:
Alfalfa, Gelatin
Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein (not less than) 10.0%
Crude Fat (not less than) 1.6%
Crude Fiber (not more than) 34.4%
Moisture (not more than) 6.3%
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Post by PipSqueak on Aug 30, 2021 6:51:50 GMT -8
Not all pet store toys or treats are safe but I think that one should be fine. Make sure there is no honey and it really is only hay and gelatin. Since gelatin (I am thinking of the kind you make jello out of or gummies) is just the collagen taken from animal body parts it should be safe for them. I would avoid store bought treats for gerbils or hamsters since they tend to have sweeteners in them or artificial dyes that just aren't good for them.
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Mochi
Member
Snickerdoodle and S’more: Adopted on April 9th, 2021
Posts: 199
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Post by Mochi on Aug 30, 2021 13:57:06 GMT -8
Great! I couldn’t find hay in any other form….
People also said this was mostly cardboard with a thin layer of of hay! :/
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Post by PipSqueak on Aug 30, 2021 15:45:24 GMT -8
I just thought of this, if this is a bit of a pricey toy/chew I wouldn’t get it because I know that my gerbils would chew this to shreds in 30 seconds.
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Post by teambenji543 on Aug 30, 2021 15:52:38 GMT -8
Yes. I agree, if it’s expensive then don’t buy it. No matter how good of a quality it is, gerbils will always turn it into spreads within minutes. But if it’s affordable, then the ingredients sound ok.
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Mochi
Member
Snickerdoodle and S’more: Adopted on April 9th, 2021
Posts: 199
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Post by Mochi on Aug 30, 2021 17:50:56 GMT -8
Yeah little TOOO pricey to keep buying probably….. Just looking for a little more enrichment… I have a 20 gallon tank- The uh- Kaytee white bedding? I think… I could be wrong! So bedding and their wheel and bottle are separated by two bendable log bridges. The bedding I would say takes up more than half of the tank! They did have a sand bath but an unexpected surprise came along with that…. So no sand bath right now! Hopefully this gives a useful enough description? I have been looking for a new tank though! possibles two levels! Just for maximum burrowing space! How is my tank set up? Constructive criticism is appreciated!
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Post by PipSqueak on Aug 30, 2021 18:31:08 GMT -8
Could you link a photo? It would help me see what the enclosure looks like.
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Post by teambenji543 on Aug 31, 2021 10:35:40 GMT -8
It sounds like you have a decent set up. I would recommend looking for a bigger tank, but a 20 gallon is totally acceptable. I’ve tried doing the bendy bridge method that your doing right now and I found that no matter what I did, my gerbils would always end up throwing bedding over the barrier and covering their sand bath, wheel, and water bottles in bedding. So now I have a tank topper and it’s AMAZING! I love it so much.
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Post by PipSqueak on Aug 31, 2021 11:02:38 GMT -8
I agree with everything TeamBenjii said. I have a 29 gallon tank which I think is too small and am working on convincing my parents on letting me get a 55 gallon tank. I have a topper now but for a few months I didn’t and I also tried the bendable bridge divider but it didn’t work very well. I 100% recommend getting a topper, it’s so convenient.
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Post by Markpd on Aug 31, 2021 11:34:16 GMT -8
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Mochi
Member
Snickerdoodle and S’more: Adopted on April 9th, 2021
Posts: 199
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Post by Mochi on Sept 3, 2021 7:57:15 GMT -8
Yes, heres the deal! My dad wants his tank back… ( he wants another snake ) but has offered to buy a new one for the gerbils. Which works just FINE for me! I was hoping to buy a two level tank? Maybe even wood??? The only thing it can't be too much over 100... Any suggestions? Sorry! PipSqueak, Imgur for some reason does not work on my device…. I tried uploading from the website- also tried the app but it would work for me! Sorry I couldn't provide pictures! Another thing- the bedding I have (white Kaytee) is VERYYYYY dusty and gets (looks) nasty as soon as I put it in. Should I try their brown aka "natural" bedding I think they call it.
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Post by PipSqueak on Sept 3, 2021 8:10:20 GMT -8
I have used the Kaytee white bedding, and yes it gets extremely dirty. I was going to buy the brown color at one point but it had one of those California warnings that made me not want to buy it. I have found that the all living things brown paper bedding is the best one I have found so far and that’s what I currently use. It is still a bit dusty but not too bad in my opinion. As for the cage. I recommend getting a large tank such as a 55 gallon tank or even bigger. They aren’t too expensive and you can usually get them for less than $100. I have been looking into getting a 55 gallon tank. This is just something I found is a great boredom breaker for gerbil. I went to PetSmart yesterday and bought a small hay dispenser for my gerbils. They love it and they pull all the hay out and then bring it to their burrows and nest in it. Just thought if you are looking for some great boredom breakers and your gerbils love hay this is perfect. This is the one I bought: www.petsmart.com/small-pet/toys-and-habitat-accessories/feeders-and-water-bottles/all-living-things-hay-ball-small-pet-feeder-5289298.html
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Mochi
Member
Snickerdoodle and S’more: Adopted on April 9th, 2021
Posts: 199
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Post by Mochi on Sept 3, 2021 16:36:58 GMT -8
Yeah ok! I suppose a tank would be my best bet!
I would REALLY love to get something with two levels built in? Is there such a thing?
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Post by PipSqueak on Sept 3, 2021 17:40:17 GMT -8
You could get a two level cage but I think that usually you have to have them custom build and they are more than $100. I would try checking on Etsy since there might be a shop that sells enclosures like that. If you can’t find anything you could always get a tank and then add a topper. Etsy also has some custom toppers that are wooden or wire mesh.
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Mochi
Member
Snickerdoodle and S’more: Adopted on April 9th, 2021
Posts: 199
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Post by Mochi on Sept 4, 2021 9:45:42 GMT -8
Great! Thank you guys so much for your suggestions!
Pipsqueak, I will look on Etsy!
And thank you for the hay dispenser link!!! <3 Do you buy your hay online or in store?
Is the bedding the odor control? That was the only I found matching Your description!
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