Which size tank? New guide for the FAQ, input wanted

[Markpd]

Which Size Tank?

Well you've got so far as deciding on a tank for your gerbils, but which size?! Making sure that your gerbils* have enough space is really important. The tank is your gerbil's house, they'll eat, sleep, dig, chew and play in there and you have to have enough room.

*Generally gerbils should not be kept alone, exceptions are gerbils too elderly for re-pairing, or more rarely a gerbil that's been proven not to get on with other gerbils. At the other end of the scale, especially for inexperienced owners you're better off sticking to just a pair, as larger groups are more likely to declan. In the wild a pair is the natural size of the stable part of the clan (mother and father), with pups leaving when/if grown up through the summer, or they may over-winter until spring if they are of a later litter. Assuming you don't want to start breeding gerbils (if you do, read this), a pair of brothers is the next most stable pair, followed by a pair of sisters.

I'm trying to gather more info here on the relative stabilities of different size and type of clans.

The Rough Guide To Tank Sizes

(please bear in mind, that when we say 'rule' we mean 'rule of thumb'. These are just guidelines)

The minimum rule to go by is, 20 gallons for a pair, then another 20 gallons for each extra gerbil. Clans of greater than four are not advised, except perhaps for very experienced owners.

One-Two gerbils = 20 gallon tank
Three gerbils = 40 gallon tank
Four gerbils = 60 gallon tank

The above rule means gerbils have adequate space to enjoy and exercise in. Your gerbils will still be happy and healthy, but if you've got the means, space and want the best for your pet, then you should try and aim for more . You may be worried about the cost of larger tanks, but you can pick them up much cheaper if you buy them second hand.

If you do have a tank at the smaller end of the scale, then it's important that you shouldn't divide the tank up, for e.g a wheel or sandbath, but instead add a topper or a raised roof with a platform beneath it. This is to allow the full width of the tank for digging, whilst making sure that the wheel and sandbath etc don't get buried. Whilst it is critical for smaller tanks, doing this for larger tanks too, still allows them a greater digging area. The topper/raised roof+platform don't need to be the full length of the tank, but it does need to be big enough to accommodate the various items of course. Examples of a divided tank, raised roof+platform and a topper (note about that topper, plywood should not be used).

Something that should be borne in mind with toppers and cages in general, is to be careful not to create a space where 1 gerbil can block off another gerbil. e.g if a topper only has one narrow entrance to it. Such easily defended areas can lead to territorial-ism and onto de-clanning. So either have a wide single entrance (which can't be blocked off by 1 gerbil), or have 2 entrances.

Gerbilariums

While some of these are a decent size, a common problem with these is that they don't allow deep enough bedding (we recommend a minimum of about 8"/20cm bedding depth), sometimes this can be overcome by blocking off side vents or doors, and then accessing from the top, and providing more ventilation in the lid (or making a new lid).

The 10 Gallon Tank Issue

Is a 10 gallon tank suitable housing for a gerbil? Well the short answer is no, it isn't. Gerbils can't build proper burrows in 10 gallon tanks and they're a lot happier in a larger tank. The 10 gallon tank: fine for a hospital tank, as a split tank, clean-out tank, split-tank (for intros) or temporary accommodation, and that is it.

Typical sizes of a '10 gallon' tank are :-

18"x12"x12" (~46 x 30 x 30cm)
20"x10"x12" (~51 x 25 x 30cm) (US)
= 9.3 UK gallons
= 11.2 US gallons

= 42.4 lts

Below is the minimum tank size guide

Here are the dimensions of the tank (in inches, feet and cm), the volumes in gallons (both UK and US) and litres, and the maximum no. of gerbils you should have in each size of tank.

Actual tank capacities are rather confusing, it seems their labelled capacities refer to the amount of water you would realistically put in them as an aquarium (you wouldn't brim them). Of course we're not, we're interested in the whole volume, hence the different figures!

2 gerbils

'20' gallon tank

24"x18"x12" (2 ft x 1.5 ft x 1 ft) (~60 x 45 x 30cm)

= 18.7 UK gallons

= 22.4 US gallons

= 85 lts

3 gerbils

'40' gallon breeder tank

36"x18"x16" (3ft x 1.5 ft x 1.25 ft) (~90 x 45 x 40 cm)
= 37.4 UK gallons
= 44.9 US gallons
= 170 lts

4 gerbils

'60' gallon tank

48" x 13" x 23" (~122 x 33 x 58 cm)

= 51.7 UK gallons

= 62 US gallons

= 235 lts

'Good' size tank guide

2-4 gerbils

300 ltr tank/4 ft tank (not cheap new, currently £229)

120 x 50 x 50 cm (47" x 20" x 20")

= 66 UK gallons

= 79 US gallons

450 ltr tank/5ft tank (when new, these are really expensive! Currently £345)

150 x 50 x 60 cm (59" x 20" x 24")

= 99 UK gallons

= 119 US gallons

540(!) ltr long/6ft tank (when new these are ludicrously expensive! Currently £683! )

183 x 50 x 60 cm (72" x 20" x 24")

= 119 UK gallons

= 143 US gallons

Some random info for typical bigger tank/cage sizes + volume and floor area

Germany - Min. recommended. 100x50x50cm (2-6 Gerbils) ........... (250 lts, 55 imp gall, 66 US gall, 5000 cm2)

Swiss - Min. required 100x50x30 (2-5 Gerbils) .............................. (150 lts, 33 imp gall, 40 US gall, 5000 cm2)
Swiss - recommended 120x60x60 ................................................. (432 lts, 95 imp gall, 114 US gall, 7200 cm2)

120x50x50 cm aquarium ............................................................... (300 lts, 66 imp. gall, 79 US gall, 6000 cm2, 930 sq inches floor area)
150x60x60 cm aquarium ............................................................... (540 lts, 119 imp. gall, 143 US gall, 9000 cm2 floor area)
Ikea detolf 163x43x37 cm ext, int. 158x38x36(?) cm .................... (216 lts, 47.5 imp gall, 57 US gall, 6004 cm2 floor area)

What happened to the max size 'rule'?

This rule was in place because it was thought that bigger tanks could supposedly cause de-clanning between gerbils (hostilities which can lead to lethal fighting), however it would appear that idea was misplacing the cause of declanning. Many owners, breeders, rescue ctrs, and researchers in the UK, US, and Europe believe that large cages causing declanns is a myth. I did some research on it myself here.

Article contributors:-

Myself! (see above link)

betty

LilyandDaisy

PipSqueak

ashgerbil, from her original Which Size Tank guide from 2007 for the FAQ.

__________________________________________
Thanks To...

Danielle (Shootingstar) for some of the US tank sizes

**********************************************************************************************************************************************************

Rather than edit her original guide to modernise it (to something she may or may not agree to), we've decided to do a re-write, although it has included some of her original post, hence listing her as a contributor.

We decided to move the discussion (and partially done guide) to the main forum so we can have some input from you guys. As well as cage info, grammar, layout and clearing up any ambiguities are welcome .

I'll temporarily stick this thread, until we've finished the guide.

I'm also curious to know what people think should be a mid range/optimal cage size we should recommend here, and why.

[LilyandDaisy]

This looks good. One thing I would clarify is that the 10 gallons per gerbil minimum assumes you have at least two gerbils If you have a lone gerbil, a 10 gallon still isn't really suitable. So I would say it's 20 gallons minimum for one or two gerbils and 10 gallons for each additional gerbil. Although I have to say, personally I'm not a big fan of the 10 gallons per gerbil rule, because I think the more gerbils you apply it to, the more absurdly small the tanks get compared to the number of gerbils they're supposed to house.

20 gallons for two gerbils? Ok, just about.
30 gallons for 3? Hmm...
40 gallons for 4 gerbils? No, that's just too small, and thereafter the rule just doesn't work at all.

In practice, people rarely keep more than 4 gerbils so perhaps it doesn't matter too much but I think we could perhaps look at coming up with a better algorithm for tank sizes, if we're going to give one at all.

I think there should be a bit advising people that pairs are best, because sometimes people get a 50 gallon tank, see the tank size rules, and think, great, I can fit 5 gerbils in this tank!

[PipSqueak]

I’m glad you posted this for the members to give us feedback Markpd like we discussed. Thanks LilyandDaisy we thought you would be able to give us some great feedback.

I agree with LilyandDaisy , the more gerbils you have the rule doesn't work anymore. We can try to find a better rule on how many gallons per gerbil or perhaps just give a minimum amount of space for each amount of gerbils. Possibly instead of 20 gallons for two gerbils and 10 gallons of additional space per gerbil the new rule could be 20 gallons for two gerbils and then 20 gallons for each additional gerbil. So the bare minimum for 2 gerbils would be 20 gallons, for 3 gerbils it would be 40 gallons, and for 4 gerbils it would be 60 gallons. I only have experience with two gerbils but since mine live in a 55 gallon tank and some live in even larger tanks the rule doesn’t sound too crazy. Right?

I definitely think that we should include the portion about why larger tanks aren’t bad as it was previously thought. Many people still believe that larger tanks can lead to de-clanning and there are still many articles out there that say this.

One more thing I think we should add (and I can help with this if you need me to) is that we should briefly write about how tubes and toppers with only one entrance could lead to de-clans since one gerbil can block the food and water from the other gerbil(s). That’s just my thinking since a lot of articles don’t say this.

[Markpd]

I definitely think that we should include the portion about why larger tanks aren’t bad as it was previously thought. Many people still believe that larger tanks can lead to declanning and there are still many articles out there that say this.
Can you PM me those articles? When I looked I struggled to find more than a few, and none had anything to back up their claim of course

One more thing I think we should add (and I can help with this if you need me to) is that we should briefly write about how tubes and toppers with only one entrance could lead to declans since one gerbil can block the food and water from the other gerbil(s). That’s just my thinking since a lot of articles don’t say this.

Good point, will add that later, and yea if you'd like to write the draft on that bit, go for it

I'll (attempt ), to answer the cage size questions later. Off for a walk now in this rare sunny weather! 

[betty]

Yes, I love the sound of the 20gallons starting for up to 2 gerbs - then 20 gallons for each extra gerbil.

That works out much better as a preferred minimum all round doesn't it. Great idea. The thought of 4 gerbils in a 3ft tank with no topper would be pretty crowded.


And I really could get behind advising here about the 'pairs are best' rule. I have always tried to offer this as a 'safe/preferred' option for newbies (where appropriate) and I still stick by it. Having a pair of same age gerbils in of themselves is 'safer' in terms of declans anyway - but also means more room in general in their tanks. If people have a big tank - they automatically think 'more gerbils' however a single hamster, duprasi or a pair of gerbils could have such a better life in a giant tank than a crowd of gerbils in the same space.

As for enclosures - I am just about to start researching available enclosures (as promised) so hopefully I can at least pull up a list of them and we can then pull it apart?

[betty]

I mean, I haven't worked out all the gallons yet - but none of the first 11 gerbilariums (cages with a base deeper than a standard cage) I have found online are any bigger than the Savic XL; or deeper than 15 inches.

Hmm. No wonder people buy them if they are so much 'better looking' than a normal tank - and usually all that is available in stores suitable for any kind of digging. I suppose impulse animal purchases will always come with an impulse enclosure purchase won't they - noone will walk away from the gerbils of their desire to go elswhere and buy a giant fish tank or chest of drawers to convert first.


Preliminary list if interested in size order (cms) as best I can:

Ferplast Gabry 80    79 x  30  x  51  £154
PAH XL Gerbilarium  70 x  37  x 51  £71

Little Friends Savoy   58.5 x 38 x 48  £100
Ferplast Gabry 60      60   x 32  x 52  £69
Ferplast Gerbi           57   x 31  x 51  £90
Savic Geneva/Lugano 60  x 29  x 44  £56
_______________________________________________ (around or above 20 gallons based on total volume*)

Omlet Qute                  48    x 37 x  64  £79
PAH Classic Premium    47.5 x 38  x 59  £95
Ferplast Gabry 50         52   x 27  x  44  £63
Little Friends Mayfair    51.5 x 28  x  40  £80
PAH Savic Gerbilarium  51   x 26  x  52   £43
 
_______________________________________________ (around or above 15 gallons based on total volume*)

For scale: PAH 'Duna'    55  x  39  x  27   £22 (where the 'ground floor' is bigger than all the 15 gallons)


* total volume if height and depth are interchangeable on the original listing and toppers included just to confuse things for new buyers who might not realise the topper is, overall, a waste of 'space' and so isn't actually included in the gallons calculations - although using the word 'tank' may not make that clear enough for those not really looking. I know if some of my non-gerbil friends brought home a complete gerbilarium they would call that 'the tank' for sure. 




And is there a way to line up the columns - I remember trying before and failing? They look so perfect in the BBC code version - but never hold that spacing in the preview version?

[Markpd]

I find even if I get the spacing right in the preview version (using dots or underscores), it doesn't hold when it's posted! I think it's a different size font? (look at the "Some typical bigger tank/cage sizes + volume and floor area" section, those are perfectly aligned in the preview!).

(answer rest tomorrow).

[PipSqueak]

Dec 4, 2021 6:09:50 GMT -8 Markpd said:

Can you PM me those articles? When I looked I struggled to find more than a few, and none had anything to back up their claim of course

I tried searching for the articles again but ran into the same problem as you. I remember reading about this while I was doing research on tank sizes but I can't seem to find them. I will try to look some more but none of them seem to have any actual information to back up their claim as you said.

[Markpd]

*ahem* anyone else want add their thoughts/opinions?

Btw folks, are we talking US or UK gallons? Just to confuse matters! (although the figures I've copied from the original guide seem to fall in between! ).

I've edited the min size rule btw.

[LilyandDaisy]

I think we're talking US gallons but only because they have standard sized tanks over there that serve as easy reference points.

You could "de-americanise" it a little in places by, for example, referencing "10 gallon tanks or tanks that are smaller than 60cm long" because most non-American people who are new to gerbils won't have any idea how big a 10 gallon tank is. I know when I used to see people online say a 10 gallon was ok for two gerbils, I just took them at their word because I didn't really know how big a 10 gallon was. It's only when actually measuring it out that you see how tiny it is (about 50x25x30cm).

It's quite dismal to see from betty's list how small all the commercial gerbil enclosures are. We can't even get the Falcos or Marrakeshes anymore. I actually wrote to Savic once asking if they had any plans to make bigger gerbil enclosures. The answer was basically no, although a nice no and apparently they passed my comments on to their product design team.

The reason I wrote is because Savic as a company is very responsive to customer requests and feedback in my experience, and their 100cm Savic Plaza hamster cage is apparently at least partially the result of people contacting them to express a preference for bigger cages.

[betty]

Interesting on the Savic situation - however as with most larger enclosures - there is SOOOO much wasted space up the top where the topper part is so under-used each time.

Also, the Skylines are still made by the same German company - but I can't seem to find out if/why they aren't selling in the UK just now - as they may return in the future? I have just written to them...

[Markpd]

Will be interesting to see if you hear back from them.

lilyanddaisy
I've put back in the sizes for a 10 gallon tank and added metric measurements.

Btw, if we're saying that 20/40/60 gallon tanks are the min for 2/3/4 gerbils, what should be the optimal sizes?
Should we be guided by the German recommended minimum (as per my table above?).
Also, we haven't mentioned it yet (directly), but worth stating is the minimum and optimal bedding depths. Am I right in thinking the typical min recommended is 6-8"? (15-20cm). So would from 12" (30.5cm) depth be ideal?

[LilyandDaisy]

Perhaps optimal would be 40 gallons for the first two gerbils and another 15-20 gallons for each additional gerbil.
Minimum could be 20 gallons for the first two gerbils and 15-20 gallons for each additional gerbil.

It's difficult to think in terms of gallons though as a tank can be taller rather than longer, and it adds gallons but it doesn't add floorspace which is the most important thing really.

The minimum bedding depth is usually said to be 8". 10"+ would be more ideal and 12" optimal.

[thegoldbering]

This is an absolute great thread. I have my two boys right now in a 20 gal because I just adopted them from a person who , in simple words, got tired of them.

She was going to take them to the shelter but my wife heard about it and went straight to her house and asked for them. We are now proud gerbil parents of two boys: Choco and Late ... yes, at least she was clever at naming them hahaha, love the names.

Anyway, I am looking for a new tank because I want to build them a wonderful BIG home, this is the first time I have gerbils in my life, so big question, does this terrarium looks like a good idea? It has mesh in one side but it's tinny mesh, still, would that be problematic? www.amazon.com/dp/B08L6GCTPK/ref=sspa_dk_detail_5?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B08L6GCTPK&pd_rd_w=KahZI&pf_rd_p=887084a2-5c34-4113-a4f8-b7947847c308&pd_rd_wg=QT4V1&pf_rd_r=4SNY5G1AX7KBYB66S685&pd_rd_r=c126d7c2-e71e-4fbf-9aef-6db40e739819&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFOS0tHQVFFWkhDREsmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA4MjI0MTQxT1JBU05JWURRTjdLJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAyNTYxODYxSzk3N1pUQ0tMRDJDJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfZGV0YWlsJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

Thanks in advance for the advice
-Mark

[Markpd]

Their seems to be 2 versions of that cage, one with side mesh, one without, unless your enjoy hoovering (vacuuming) every day I'd get the one without the mesh

That said, is the top mesh removable? If not then you wouldn't be able to have deep enough bedding in there due to the large front doors.
I'm not seeing a price there (currently unavailable), how does it compare price wise to a similar sized tank?