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Post by wonderz on Nov 8, 2021 16:03:32 GMT -8
Hi, I’m a new gerbil mom! I just adopted two boys (who are 2 months old) this past weekend. I currently have them in a 20 gallon tank. I’m thinking of getting a tank topper but I’m not really sure where to look for one, or if it’s the best option. I’d like them to have a bigger tank (like a 29 gallon), but the ledge I have them on is only about 13 inches wide. I don’t have the space to place them anywhere else, and I don’t want to spend a lot of money on a custom tank. What should I do?
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Post by PipSqueak on Nov 8, 2021 16:11:40 GMT -8
Welcome to the forum, I had my gerbils in a 29 gallon tank and it's not much different in size to a 20 gallon. The base is the same size it just has a few extra inches of height. I also had a tank topper which was just a 10 gallon topper I bought from PetSmart. It ended up causing problems for me and they would climb the bars and chew despite the burrowing space and enrichment there was in their cage. If you have cats this is something to consider as well, I have heard stories of cats biting the gerbils tails through the gaps. If you have absolutely no other place to put them a 29 gallon tank would be better than a 20 gallon but it just depends if you are willing to spend the money for such a small upgrade. If you could fit a larger tank on the floor that could work. A few months ago I upgraded my gerbils tank from a 29 gallon to a 55 gallon and even though it was expensive it was worth it more than a smaller upgrade which would have saved money. The new tank is on my bedroom floor and that works great. It just depends on your situation.
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Post by wonderz on Nov 8, 2021 16:35:03 GMT -8
Welcome to the forum, I had my gerbils in a 29 gallon tank and it's not much different in size to a 20 gallon. The base is the same size it just has a few extra inches of height. I also had a tank topper which was just a 10 gallon topper I bought from PetSmart. It ended up causing problems for me and they would climb the bars and chew despite the burrowing space and enrichment there was in their cage. If you have cats this is something to consider as well, I have heard stories of cats biting the gerbils tails through the gaps. If you have absolutely no other place to put them a 29 gallon tank would be better than a 20 gallon but it just depends if you are willing to spend the money for such a small upgrade. If you could fit a larger tank on the floor that could work. A few months ago I upgraded my gerbils tank from a 29 gallon to a 55 gallon and even though it was expensive it was worth it more than a smaller upgrade which would have saved money. The new tank is on my bedroom floor and that works great. It just depends on your situation. Yeah I’d rather not get a tank topper, I would just be worried if they got their little feet stuck when I’m gone. They also just look hard to clean, but it might be my only option. I have one spot on my floor that would fit a bigger tank, but it’s right under a window, the air conditioning, and my room is half underground (I know, sounds weird lol). Also starting to scratch at the glass which makes me think they need more space because my past hamster used to do that. I’m thinking I could sell my 20 gallon and get a 29 gallon just so it gives them a little more room to burrow. Or I could make a custom one? Let me know what you think!
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Post by PipSqueak on Nov 8, 2021 16:41:33 GMT -8
It is not as common for gerbils to get bumble foot like hamsters with mesh floors but it can happen. I just covered the floor with a massive sand bath, wheel, clean bathroom tile, and bendy bridge. If you can fit even a 40 gallon tank that would be amazing but I wouldn't want you to block your air conditioning. I remember someone on here moving their gerbils into their closet if that's an option. I will try to find that thread for you if you could do that.
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Post by PipSqueak on Nov 8, 2021 16:46:43 GMT -8
Hmmm, I can't seem to find the thread. Markpd I'm pretty sure you had a part in the thread, do you remember?
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Post by wonderz on Nov 8, 2021 17:28:30 GMT -8
It is not as common for gerbils to get bumble foot like hamsters with mesh floors but it can happen. I just covered the floor with a massive sand bath, wheel, clean bathroom tile, and bendy bridge. If you can fit even a 40 gallon tank that would be amazing but I wouldn't want you to block your air conditioning. I remember someone on here moving their gerbils into their closet if that's an option. I will try to find that thread for you if you could do that. Unfortunately, I have a pretty small closet so I don't think that would work a wider tank, but maybe! I'd have to test some things out. If not, I do remember that I have a family member who actually built me my old chinchilla cage, so I think he could help me build another one for my gerbils. So I'm going to try and look for some threads based on that just to get a few ideas!
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Post by wonderz on Nov 8, 2021 17:50:51 GMT -8
Do you know if lumber from Lowes and Home Depot safe? ^
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Post by PipSqueak on Nov 8, 2021 18:20:22 GMT -8
It depends on the wood. First of all you need a wood that is not plywood or chip wood. It must be a solid piece of wood that is untreated. The reason for this is that the wood that isn’t solid wood and has layers contains a glue that’s toxic to small animals especially when they chew it, which is definitely going to happen at some point. Then you need a safe type of wood. I suggest getting a birch or poplar wood. Other safe woods are aspen and KILN dried pine. This must be kiln dried in order for the resin to be gone. I recently made wooden platforms and I used poplar wood from Home Depot and it wasn’t too expensive. It also depends on the size of your build, I wouldn’t make it out of too much wood. You wouldn’t want you gerbils chewing your nice new custom cage.
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Post by wonderz on Nov 8, 2021 19:24:17 GMT -8
Okay, good to know which woods are safe. Only the structure will be wood, but I think I’m going to use metal barriers to cover the inside wood so they can’t get to it. As for the walls, I was thinking plexiglass, but I would still use wire mesh for the top.
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Post by PipSqueak on Nov 8, 2021 20:15:53 GMT -8
I wouldn't use plexiglass personally. Gerbils chew A LOT and plexiglass is like acrylic plastic which my gerbils have chewed before. I recommend using just regular glass. The mesh covering the wood might also not be the best idea (I don't know your gerbils and what they would do) but they might start chewing it or bedding could get stuck and I'm sure it would just like how you said it might happen with the topper. Tomorrow I will try to find a video I remember watching of someone making a diy cage. You could look it up, it is made from Ikea linmon table tops and its pretty cheap (around $60 I think.) It's not the most customizable but there are two sizes of the table tops. If you have some power tools you could make it pretty easily.
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Post by wonderz on Nov 9, 2021 6:43:09 GMT -8
Okay, I’ll definitely stick with glass then. I think I found the video you’re talking about! Do gerbils chew ikea wood though? I’ve also never owned ikea furniture , is it cheap wood and something that could easily break? Since they sit on a ledge I might have to take it down every so often, so I don’t want it to fall apart.
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Post by PipSqueak on Nov 9, 2021 15:16:54 GMT -8
I think that Ikea has pretty sturdy materials. Since the wood is flat and the gerbils won't have anyplace to start chewing I doubt that they would be able to chew it at all. What type of ledge are you talking about?
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Post by wonderz on Nov 9, 2021 15:22:09 GMT -8
I think that Ikea has pretty sturdy materials. Since the wood is flat and the gerbils won't have anyplace to start chewing I doubt that they would be able to chew it at all. What type of ledge are you talking about? My ledge is connected to my wall, its actually kind of like a half wall. It's above my bed so I just want to be able to easily take it down.
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Post by PipSqueak on Nov 9, 2021 15:24:04 GMT -8
Your gerbils cage sits on it or you let your gerbils sit on it out of their cage?
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Post by wonderz on Nov 9, 2021 15:28:40 GMT -8
The cage sits on the ledge, sorry for the confusion.
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