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Post by betty on Jul 13, 2020 14:06:55 GMT -8
Yes, but the image isn't showing on that link anymore (?) it's showing here for now. Yes, I'm not sure if it is just individual gerbils rather than the substrate as I worked in the pet trade for years using this bedding (and the firm I worked for (and others) still do) so it is a weird one. I currently have no shavings in my tanks as I swapped to the cardboard as an experiment but was until recently just using a generic no-named horse bale of soft shavings without issue with the gerbils. You can only go with what you are happy with so if Wood Green have had enough issues with it and don't recommend it - then it is up to you whether you avoid it too. I certianly wouldn't recommend any of the harder, straighter wood products for substrate, so perhaps they have used a certain type of 'cut' which didn't work out I don't know? They are a pretty awesome charity but I worked for the RSPCA too and they are totally happy with shavings for all their smalls? As for the freezer boxes - they have a special waxy coating in them to stop the boxes deforming when wet. Some people still give them to their gerbils - but I avoid it myself. I have plenty enough other cardboard to keep them entertained... And yes - start as many threads as you want - the more specific each one is the easier it is for others to reference back specifics things (rather than have them hidden deep within a differently-titled thread).
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Post by Markpd on Jul 14, 2020 4:28:52 GMT -8
Re your link, I'm amazed to see that they don't state it's weight or volume!
Does it say on the bag?
So I guess it's a similar situation to Aspen then, most Gerbils are ok with it, a small number aren't, and maybe it's down to different production quality variations too!? Interesting to know that the RSPCA use it, and I see now it's in their pdf Gerbil advice book too, if the Hemp doesn't work out I'll look at wood shavings, although I would then need to find a good source. Anyway, for now I've gone with the option of hemp, which seems to be the least likely to cause problems, although I have ordered the 15kg Hempbed bale from ebay (£20! (which I could find hardly any reviews ), so it is a bit of gamble as far as dust content & quality goes, if it does have too much dust I will just have to filter it out! I will let you know what it turns out to be like. I did manage to find out it's made by HiBrow Ltd in Canada, even though it's not in their Master catalogue! Only found it in a FB post of theirs (where's the roll eyes smilie??). Anyway, it's certainly a bargain price for such a large bale! Seems to be more widely sold in North Europe than here, couldn't find any reviews there either though! (just 2 Amazon reviews).
Separate thread already started , although no one's answered, I guess not many people use hemp, but I have seen at least a few people here mention that they have.
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Post by gerbilord on Jul 24, 2020 7:15:50 GMT -8
Are Aspen bedding and Hemp just woodshavings or are they different? Also about Aubiose - I've also been interested in it, does anyone know how good it it re dust content, hard/scratchy, tunnel building... Thanks
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Post by Markpd on Jul 24, 2020 8:23:16 GMT -8
Aspen is wood, Hemp is a plant, same family as the marijuana plant, but it doesn't have the psychoactive substances of that. So neither you nor your Gerbil will get stoned! Also Hemp is one of the plants that grow in the Gerbils natural environment, so isn't poisonous and additionally is hypo-allergenic apparently, so neither you nor your Gerbils are likely to react to it . A small number of Gerbils and people are allergic to Aspen, I've no idea on numbers though, just that I have seen a few reports of each reacting to it, could be 0.0001% from each, or much more. Re Aubiose, IIRC that's a hemp bedding too, I steered away from that, but I can't remember why now! lol I think I posted about it on this page or a previous one. Outside of woodshavings, from what I read, none of the substrates hold a tunnel very well by themselves, but if you've got hay and cardboard going in too, they should be ok
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Post by gerbilord on Jul 24, 2020 12:01:36 GMT -8
Ah okay, thanks for the info :) I think I'll try out hemp and see if Pippin's eye problem clears up as well. I might also try mixing the hemp and aspen together with some woodshavings, hay, carboard etc. :)
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Post by Markpd on Jul 24, 2020 12:35:33 GMT -8
I posted prices and some overviews of hemp a page or 2 back. PS Got the tank today, and I've made 1/2 the lid
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Post by gerbilord on Jul 24, 2020 22:17:12 GMT -8
Ooh would love to see a picture when you've got it all done/when the gerbils arrive :)
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Post by Markpd on Jul 25, 2020 4:34:55 GMT -8
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Post by Markpd on Jul 30, 2020 3:25:37 GMT -8
Are Aspen bedding and Hemp just woodshavings or are they different? Also about Aubiose - I've also been interested in it, does anyone know how good it it re dust content, hard/scratchy, tunnel building... Thanks I should've mentioned previously, their are lots of reviews of Aubiose at Amazon and Omlet, (mostly positive judging by the overall rating), so you could look through all the reviews there . Enjoy
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Post by gerbilord on Jul 30, 2020 6:54:15 GMT -8
nothing beats a good read through reviews on pet products! :D
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Post by gerbilord on Jul 30, 2020 7:09:43 GMT -8
also about the aubiose and hemp, the bedding looks quite pointy, I'd just worry it would damage the gerbil's eyes when burrowing in it - most of the reviews say it's good for guinea pigs, chickens, and rats. I have guinea pigs and know they don't burrow, and I'm pretty sure chickens don't either (not sure about rats), the only ones that really mention gerbils (on amazon) are talking about the quantity and price of the bedding, not how it is for the gerbils.
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Post by Markpd on Jul 30, 2020 13:16:23 GMT -8
Hmm, well as far as the Hempbed goes it doesn't feel sharp to the back of my hand, reasonably soft I thought, the only way I got it to felt sharp was if I grabbed a handful and then scrunched it up quite hard, then I had a bit jab me. But the Gerbils are never going to be able to put that much force on it, also, don't they close their eyes when they dig? I'm sure in the thread 'Male/pup intro not going as planned' I saw his Gerbil (Liam) close his eyes each time he dug (even when Scotty wasn't annoying him! ). I tell you what, if you like I'll send you a small portion of it in the post to you! Lol (I'm serious), interested? Btw, have you read all the Amazon and Omlet reviews?
[edit] Yea the Omlet reviews are mostly Chicken owners with the odd Rabbit, G pig, Hamster, Rat & 1 Gerbil owner! On Amazon, so far I've found 1 Hamster owner (3/20) who says it's good and holds burrows, mouse owner (4/20) says it's soft but needs hat to hold burrows, 22/1/20 rats love digging into it, good for hamsters and rats 4/8/19, 4/5/19 says she got a dusty bale, but was otherwise good for hamster to dig in, 3/4/19 1 G pig owner thought it felt sharp, but didn't report actual problems, 17/1/19 good for a hamster, but not good by itself for burrows, 11/6/18 'kind on the feet of small animals', 18/6/18 Good for hamster to dig with, (might read the rest later, unless you have ).......
PS Just found out I can get 20kg Aubiose for under £10 from my local pet/animal store!
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Post by gerbilord on Jul 30, 2020 14:32:16 GMT -8
That's good to know :) Yes, I think they do close their eyes when they dig... at least the eye problem probably won't be an issue!
I don't think I'm comfortable giving you my address, just as I don't know you personally, but I'll probably buy the aubiose/hemp anyway - anything is better than the dusty wood-shavings at pets@home... It'll be nice to try it out anyway, and see if it works for me and the gerbils :)
Ooh £10 is very cheap, can you send me a link to the pet store if it has an online store (or the location of the store) - thats even cheaper than the woodshavings :D
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Post by Markpd on Jul 30, 2020 15:16:57 GMT -8
Yea no worries, I did wonder about that. Could do your work address instead, but if you're buying a bag of your own anyway it's irrelevant . £10 is very cheap because their is no delivery! , and they're showing collect only for that I'm afraid (JFYI it's Rokers nr Guildford, it seems to be a single shop based on a farm). Btw I got the idea to look their because a of comment on Amazon saying they could get it much cheaper locally. Maybe you can find it locally? Check out aubiose stockist list (you can filter by county , it lists a bunch of places that don't have websites (in this day and age! )).
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Jul 30, 2020 18:04:30 GMT -8
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