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Post by milliemonster on May 3, 2022 11:13:27 GMT -8
We've bought loads of gerbil toys for our new gerbils (had about 2 weeks now) but they're just not interested in any that aren't food related except there ball.
We've tried loads like the wheels, wooden chew toys, a ball etc but they don't use them. They do use there hideaway part, a plastic tube and toilet rolls but they mainly like using it for bedding or eating. They like food toys but I'm worried they'll get too fat too quick if we keep giving them the toys they love.
If we get loads of different bedding and put bits in different places does that count like a toy? So they can organise it all? Running out of ideas and they recently started chewing on the bars and biting a bit more so really worried about them. They're around 3 months old I think 😕 thanks
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Post by Markpd on May 3, 2022 11:57:03 GMT -8
Hi, welcome to forum I don't know if you had an internet glitch, but you posted this thread twice, hence why I locked your other one . To your questions, gerbils won't normally eat toilet rolls but chew them, that's fine and is normally behaviour which helps keep their teeth trimmed. How big is the wheel? What sort of wooden chew toys do they have? Re bar chewing, how big is the cage and how is it setup? (Perhaps a photo might be easier to answer with their? See my signature for a 'how to' for that). Re the plastic tube, you shouldn't really have that in their cage at all, because if they chew it pieces of plastic could cause a blockage in their stomach. Unless the tube has metal rings protecting the end?
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Post by LilyandDaisy on May 3, 2022 13:00:46 GMT -8
Hello,
To be honest, gerbils don't need that many toys. If you have deep bedding (at least 8 inches, ideally more), and things for them to shred such as hay, paper, cardboard and tissue, you are 90% there in terms of enrichment. Wood chews are also good but a lot of ones sold for gerbils aren't actually a good shape for them. They can be too chunky or too rounded, very pretty to human eyes, but difficult for gerbils teeth to get a grip on. I recommend willow, apple and hazel twigs. They will also like "redesigning" any chewable structures in their tank such as wooden houses and cork logs.
Not all gerbils use a wheel but keep it in the tank if possible as one day they might figure it out. You can try putting treats in it to encourage them to sit in it, which might be a first step to walking in it. Make sure it's a good size for them for as gerbils are less likely to use a wheel that's too small. Most gerbils do best with a wheel at least 28cm in diameter.
Gerbils don't really play. Fun for gerbils means digging, destroying things and running around, hence the deep bedding, things to shred, wood, a good size tank and maybe a wheel, will be enough for them.
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Post by milliemonster on May 7, 2022 23:36:44 GMT -8
They seem a lot happier at the moment I've checked there tube and they don't chew it as the edges are too smooth for there teeth to get into. I'm gonna get loads of bedding types and give them plenty of bedding to keep them occupied. There's been no more chewing and lots of happy sounding squeaks so I think they were probably just being a bit grumpy for a while
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Post by Markpd on May 9, 2022 12:26:24 GMT -8
Lots of squeaking? That's unusual in itself...
Re plastic tube chewing, it's the ends that they go for, not the sides, assuming they can get to the ends. Good to hear they're not bar chewing atm (I assume that's what you meant?).
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