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Post by LilyandDaisy on Nov 22, 2022 15:05:46 GMT -8
If I were in your position, I think I would adopt them (it's better they go to someone who is aware of the risk than someone totally unaware and unprepared), but I would keep them in their original tank for at least a few days to monitor the dynamic.
If the daughters were immature pups, I would split them straight away into mother and daughter pairs, but these gerbils are all of a mature age and you don't know what kind of power structures or hierarchies might have developed which might be messed up by splitting them.
I would gradually add new bedding and toys to the 20 gallon, and once I had a better idea of the dynamic of the group, make the decision on whether to split them or move them all to the bigger enclosure.
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Post by iamplankton on Nov 22, 2022 23:57:47 GMT -8
If I were in your position, I think I would adopt them (it's better they go to someone who is aware of the risk than someone totally unaware and unprepared), but I would keep them in their original tank for at least a few days to monitor the dynamic. If the daughters were immature pups, I would split them straight away into mother and daughter pairs, but these gerbils are all of a mature age and you don't know what kind of power structures or hierarchies might have developed which might be messed up by splitting them. I would gradually add new bedding and toys to the 20 gallon, and once I had a better idea of the dynamic of the group, make the decision on whether to split them or move them all to the bigger enclosure. That makes complete sense and I will certainly do that (it also gives me a bit of extra time to prepare the PawHut with the modifications I want to do). Given they don’t have anything to do at the moment, would you introduce a wheel in to their current setup so they at least have that? I’ve tried to attach photos of their current setup and the girls themselves:
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Nov 23, 2022 7:50:49 GMT -8
If I were in your position, I think I would adopt them (it's better they go to someone who is aware of the risk than someone totally unaware and unprepared), but I would keep them in their original tank for at least a few days to monitor the dynamic. If the daughters were immature pups, I would split them straight away into mother and daughter pairs, but these gerbils are all of a mature age and you don't know what kind of power structures or hierarchies might have developed which might be messed up by splitting them. I would gradually add new bedding and toys to the 20 gallon, and once I had a better idea of the dynamic of the group, make the decision on whether to split them or move them all to the bigger enclosure. That makes complete sense and I will certainly do that (it also gives me a bit of extra time to prepare the PawHut with the modifications I want to do). Given they don’t have anything to do at the moment, would you introduce a wheel in to their current setup so they at least have that? I’ve tried to attach photos of their current setup and the girls themselves: I would say you can probably give them a wheel, yes. You'll need to be careful it doesn't become a source of arguments, although pragmatically speaking, I don't think things like wheels often solely cause declans but if gerbils are going to declan anyway, they could be the trigger. You can also give them hay and cardboard as they're not likely to be claimed as possessions in the same way as other objects.
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Post by iamplankton on Nov 23, 2022 8:57:46 GMT -8
Got the hay added to the Tesco shop on Saturday (burgess with meadow flowers) and have plenty of cardboard.
I’ve unpacked the PawHut today and started spraying the clear lacquer Plastikote so we’re on the way, just hope it goes together well. I’ve got aluminium corners still to come and also turn button hutch latch things and castor wheels came today along with some nails as I plan on nailing the base in given the tray is a bit pointless. Thank you for your help and I just hope things go ok but I’m also prepared in case things don’t!
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Post by Markpd on Nov 23, 2022 13:33:03 GMT -8
They've been together all that time?
Btw Tesco's large meadow hay is great (I must do a review of it), not tried the version you bought.
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Nov 23, 2022 13:41:26 GMT -8
Got the hay added to the Tesco shop on Saturday (burgess with meadow flowers) and have plenty of cardboard. I’ve unpacked the PawHut today and started spraying the clear lacquer Plastikote so we’re on the way, just hope it goes together well. I’ve got aluminium corners still to come and also turn button hutch latch things and castor wheels came today along with some nails as I plan on nailing the base in given the tray is a bit pointless. Thank you for your help and I just hope things go ok but I’m also prepared in case things don’t! I'm not sure whether the Plastikote spray is safe. People usually use the paint on one. The spray definitely needs to be left a while to cure as it contains VOCs, but I'm not sure if it's non-toxic after that.
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Post by iamplankton on Nov 23, 2022 13:48:22 GMT -8
They've been together all that time? Btw Tesco's large meadow hay is great (I must do a review of it), not tried the version you bought. Yes they have and the current owner says they are very well bonded but we shall see! I am going to keep them in the small tank for a good few days to assess the dynamics
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Post by iamplankton on Nov 23, 2022 14:01:03 GMT -8
Got the hay added to the Tesco shop on Saturday (burgess with meadow flowers) and have plenty of cardboard. I’ve unpacked the PawHut today and started spraying the clear lacquer Plastikote so we’re on the way, just hope it goes together well. I’ve got aluminium corners still to come and also turn button hutch latch things and castor wheels came today along with some nails as I plan on nailing the base in given the tray is a bit pointless. Thank you for your help and I just hope things go ok but I’m also prepared in case things don’t! I'm not sure whether the Plastikote spray is safe. People usually use the paint on one. The spray definitely needs to be left a while to cure as it contains VOCs, but I'm not sure if it's non-toxic after that. I have been wondering the same so did some googling and I think the opinion is that it should be ok when dry. They won’t be going in it for at least another week so am hoping it’ll be ok and I haven’t messed up
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Post by iamplankton on Nov 24, 2022 4:13:27 GMT -8
The PawHut is mostly assembled with some last things still to do but overall it’s gone together ok and I’ve nailed the base in:
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Nov 24, 2022 8:31:46 GMT -8
Was it the Fast Dry Enamel 100ml you used? That one says it's safe for children's toys so should be non-toxic when fully dry.
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Post by iamplankton on Nov 24, 2022 15:55:17 GMT -8
Was it the Fast Dry Enamel 100ml you used? That one says it's safe for children's toys so should be non-toxic when fully dry. Yes and phew! I also didn’t go too mad and did 2 extremely light coats on everything and still have probably a third of the can left. I wasn’t sure if I was going to put both platforms in but chose to but if it ends up being a pain I can always remove one. There’s a very small gap at the back where the tray goes in despite being nailed in so am planning on covering that. Did you find the same? It’s only a few mm but enough to need covering over for sure
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Nov 24, 2022 16:16:47 GMT -8
Was it the Fast Dry Enamel 100ml you used? That one says it's safe for children's toys so should be non-toxic when fully dry. Yes and phew! I also didn’t go too mad and did 2 extremely light coats on everything and still have probably a third of the can left. I wasn’t sure if I was going to put both platforms in but chose to but if it ends up being a pain I can always remove one. There’s a very small gap at the back where the tray goes in despite being nailed in so am planning on covering that. Did you find the same? It’s only a few mm but enough to need covering over for sure I did find that, and at first I thought I must have followed the instructions wrong but I couldn't figure out how else it could possibly go. I filled the gap with a length of timber (I conveniently had one just the right width and length).
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Post by iamplankton on Nov 24, 2022 23:48:09 GMT -8
Yes and phew! I also didn’t go too mad and did 2 extremely light coats on everything and still have probably a third of the can left. I wasn’t sure if I was going to put both platforms in but chose to but if it ends up being a pain I can always remove one. There’s a very small gap at the back where the tray goes in despite being nailed in so am planning on covering that. Did you find the same? It’s only a few mm but enough to need covering over for sure I did find that, and at first I thought I must have followed the instructions wrong but I couldn't figure out how else it could possibly go. I filled the gap with a length of timber (I conveniently had one just the right width and length). Luckily mine seems not to have been too bad with things that didn’t align quite right. I am just waiting for the corner profiling to come and I also need to install the castor wheels and turn buttons to better secure the lid as I have cats who can open things!
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Post by Markpd on Nov 27, 2022 5:56:18 GMT -8
Turn buttons?
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Post by iamplankton on Nov 27, 2022 11:12:08 GMT -8
The little rectangular metal things that people tend to put on hutches to keep the doors shut
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