Sharp claw help?

[jewels1171]

My gerbils have very long claws. They have a wheel and plenty of wood to scamper on, but every time I hold them their claws dig in my hand. I’ve just been ignoring this whatever assuming there’s nothing I can really do, but their claws are worse now. Any suggestions on how I can wear them down?

[Thea]

Putting rocks in the cage is supposed to help wear claws down well. I have them in the cage at the bottom of the ramp going up to the deeper bedding area - and my girls have good length claws. If you have any rocks you can use (and they should be big enough that they can't pick them up/put them in their mouth - mine are just a bit smaller than the gerbils themselves) I suggest you put them somewhere the HAVE to walk, so that they do wear their claws down (like mine at the bottom of the ramp). Not to mention, they add a nice natural feel to the cage too

[Markpd]

What Thea said , but also make sure that the rock is on a solid surface (like the bottom of the cage, or on a platform).

Btw, I wonder how long is 'long' , can you take a photo of them jewels?

[elsaandanna]

Another way to get them to stand on the rock is to sprinkle treats on it. I've got a large rock bigger than the gerbils that I sprinkle mealworm onto, and because it's big enough they stand on the rock to eat it. This then wears their claws down, and I've never had a problem so far

[Thea]

I hadn't heard of it having to be on a flat surface Mark, my girl's rocks are resting on the bottom of the cage, but why is that? Is it so the gerbils can't move them?

[Markpd]

I didn't say flat, I said solid (I've not edited it today either, lol), so it can't drop on them (as I'm sure you knew anyway).

[Thea]

Ah, got it! Sorry for my lack of understanding, lol.

[Markpd]

No probs