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Post by g on Sept 5, 2021 10:07:29 GMT -8
I just adopted two gerbils and they came in a tank with a few inches of bedding that reeks.
I hadn’t planned on cleaning their enclosure out right away, but it smells so bad I feel like I have to. I do plan to reuse some of their old bedding. How much should I reuse? I know 1/2 is recommended but this cage is so foul half may still reek.
Also, would it be safe to relocate them from their 20 long to a 10 gallon for now until I get their old tank washed? I do plan to upgrade them to a 40 breeder ASAP. These two kind of fell in my lap.
Thank you.
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Post by yeti218 on Sept 5, 2021 11:04:45 GMT -8
Yeah sounds like you'll need to deal with the state of their enclosure right away. Leave them some of their familiar bedding and replace the rest with clean stuff. I would just leave as much as you can without it being disgusting to a humans nose, and replace the rest. Putting them in a smaller tank while you clean seems to be the most practical way, just put some of their old bedding in the tank with them and I'd also give them some cardboard and hay to chew for something to do. When you put them back in their 20 gallon tank, make sure to give loads of hay and cardboard so they have some activities to keep them occupied. Cage cleans and changing homes can be really stressful.
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Post by g on Sept 5, 2021 11:21:56 GMT -8
Yeah sounds like you'll need to deal with the state of their enclosure right away. Leave them some of their familiar bedding and replace the rest with clean stuff. I would just leave as much as you can without it being disgusting to a humans nose, and replace the rest. Putting them in a smaller tank while you clean seems to be the most practical way, just put some of their old bedding in the tank with them and I'd also give them some cardboard and hay to chew for something to do. When you put them back in their 20 gallon tank, make sure to give loads of hay and cardboard so they have some activities to keep them occupied. Cage cleans and changing homes can be really stressful. Thanks! I transferred one bowl (disposable paper bowl) of old bedding and dang it still reeked! But I wanted to play it safe. |
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Post by yeti218 on Sept 5, 2021 11:49:19 GMT -8
The purpose of leaving the old bedding is so the place still smells familiar. If the bedding smells strongly, you probably dont need to use as much, so that's probably fine. In a few days you can take some more bedding out and replace it.
When you put them back in their newly cleaned tank, just keep an eye on them for a few minutes to make sure all the changes arent stressing them out to the point where they start fighting or something. That's why I recommended all the cardboard and hay to distract them.
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Post by g on Sept 5, 2021 13:37:05 GMT -8
The purpose of leaving the old bedding is so the place still smells familiar. If the bedding smells strongly, you probably dont need to use as much, so that's probably fine. In a few days you can take some more bedding out and replace it. When you put them back in their newly cleaned tank, just keep an eye on them for a few minutes to make sure all the changes arent stressing them out to the point where they start fighting or something. That's why I recommended all the cardboard and hay to distract them. They’re doing great. They were super curious and came out to investigate me while I was transferring bedding, which surprised me. |
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Post by yeti218 on Sept 5, 2021 14:56:56 GMT -8
That's awesome. I'm sure they're happy to be in a clean cage.
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Post by Scott on Sept 9, 2021 10:54:55 GMT -8
They’re doing great. They were super curious and came out to investigate me while I was transferring bedding, which surprised me. Don't be surprised--I can't ever do anything in their tank without them coming over to investigate (and getting in the way). When I clean their tank I put them into another container along with several handfuls of their old bedding (my thought being keeping the familiar smell will stress them less) and toss some of that back into the changed tank before I put them back. I've never put all that much back in; AFAIK their sense of smell is stronger than ours, and they're literally sitting in the stuff, so I presumed that not much would be needed. |
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Post by Markpd on Sept 9, 2021 14:42:07 GMT -8
That's true actually, my boys are right nosey parkers  , even when I just sweep up the platform they're zipping around me sniffing around and sometimes chewing the brush!  |
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Post by Scott on Sept 9, 2021 15:44:25 GMT -8
That's true actually, my boys are right nosey parkers , even when I just sweep up the platform they're zipping around me sniffing around and sometimes chewing the brush! Mine hop into the dust pan, too. I wonder if they think they're going for a ride. |
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Post by Markpd on Sept 10, 2021 3:28:36 GMT -8
Heheh , I sometimes wonder if my boys think the brush is an enemy, as they sometimes 'attack' it with quite some gusto! |
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Post by Scott on Sept 10, 2021 7:28:04 GMT -8
I think gerbils, as prey animals, would tend to run from an enemy. A brush, OTOH, falls into "oh boy! Something to chew!"
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Post by Markpd on Sept 10, 2021 12:07:00 GMT -8
True! |
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, even when I just sweep up the platform they're zipping around me sniffing around and sometimes chewing the brush! 