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Post by imogen on Jul 22, 2023 11:46:05 GMT -8
I've bought my two gerbils different types of gnaw toys for their growing teeth, but they haven't really taken to them in the month+ I've had them. They do love chewing cardboard a lot! I give them new cardboard loo rolls and egg carton etc almost every day, and they dig right into it. Is it alright that they prefer cardboard? It won't be as hard as the gnaws so I'm worried it won't file down their teeth as effectively. Any words of wisdom would be appreciated!
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Post by TJ's Rodent Ranch on Jul 22, 2023 12:31:36 GMT -8
Hey there,
Yes it's fine that they like cardboard instead. However, if their teeth are continuing to grow you might want to find something harder.
I usually give mine lava salt chews, which you can put in the tank specifically for filing down their teeth.
You could also try to find some flavored wood for them, I like to put wooden houses in their tanks, and they always seem to chew on those which seems to keep their teeth down.
Best of luck to you and your gerbs! I hope this helped some 😁
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Jul 22, 2023 13:17:34 GMT -8
Hello,
As long as they're eating normally and maintaining weight/growing, I wouldn't worry. Healthy gerbils won't let their teeth grow too long while they have access to things to chew. They'll chew when they need to.
Even just eating wears down their teeth quite significantly. Plus there's all the chewing involved in the general "maintenance" and "improvement" of their home (chewing things that are in the way, widening doorways, creating new windows in houses etc), so that wooden chew toys are more of a bonus really.
You could try willow/apple/hazel sticks. Those tend to be the most popular with mine. A lot of the pet shop chew toys are made to look nice to humans, with rounded edges, smooth paint etc, but aren't actually very easy for the gerbils to chew. Sticks fit nicely in a gerbil's mouth.
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Post by imogen on Jul 22, 2023 16:20:16 GMT -8
Hello, As long as they're eating normally and maintaining weight/growing, I wouldn't worry. Healthy gerbils won't let their teeth grow too long while they have access to things to chew. They'll chew when they need to. Even just eating wears down their teeth quite significantly. Plus there's all the chewing involved in the general "maintenance" and "improvement" of their home (chewing things that are in the way, widening doorways, creating new windows in houses etc), so that wooden chew toys are more of a bonus really. You could try willow/apple/hazel sticks. Those tend to be the most popular with mine. A lot of the pet shop chew toys are made to look nice to humans, with rounded edges, smooth paint etc, but aren't actually very easy for the gerbils to chew. Sticks fit nicely in a gerbil's mouth. Yeah I bought these very pretty chews..  It does strike me how difficult it would be to put a tiny mouth around most of that, haha. I'll be wiser in future! |
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Jul 22, 2023 16:33:58 GMT -8
Hello, As long as they're eating normally and maintaining weight/growing, I wouldn't worry. Healthy gerbils won't let their teeth grow too long while they have access to things to chew. They'll chew when they need to. Even just eating wears down their teeth quite significantly. Plus there's all the chewing involved in the general "maintenance" and "improvement" of their home (chewing things that are in the way, widening doorways, creating new windows in houses etc), so that wooden chew toys are more of a bonus really. You could try willow/apple/hazel sticks. Those tend to be the most popular with mine. A lot of the pet shop chew toys are made to look nice to humans, with rounded edges, smooth paint etc, but aren't actually very easy for the gerbils to chew. Sticks fit nicely in a gerbil's mouth. Yeah I bought these very pretty chews.. It does strike me how difficult it would be to put a tiny mouth around most of that, haha. I'll be wiser in future! Yep, those chews are pretty much decorations as the smooth sides are very difficult for gerbils to get a grip on. Here are a few things that mine have liked: www.viovet.co.uk/Boredom-Breaker-Fruit-Flavoured-Wood-Gnaws/c11959/www.viovet.co.uk/Interpet-Superpet-Roll-N-Chew/c11956/www.viovet.co.uk/Boredom-Breaker-Woodies-Fruity-Roller-for-Small-Animals/c22303/www.viovet.co.uk/Happypet-Willow-Sticks/c11933/www.viovet.co.uk/Small-N-Furry-Nibble-Bark-n-Bites-for-Small-Animals/c21947/ |
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Post by imogen on Jul 23, 2023 2:08:35 GMT -8
Cheers for these, next time I shop I'll think Flat! |
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Post by betty on Jul 24, 2023 4:12:35 GMT -8
I much prefer collecting/buying chew enrichment that is natural fibres and colours - like the branches mentioned above. not only are they completely natural - but they are are often tasty and contain actual nutrients when chewed - which makes them more interesting overall than just a piece of painted kiln dried wood. Or think house? I used to love putting in houses in the way - as gerbils really don't like things in the way - and will often chew them up because of this. You can buy those lovely kiln-dried pine houses - like the Keytee/Happy Pet chinchilla/rat houses ( link to example house) - and eventually your gerbils will think they need a new doorway and they are off... Not only do they hold their own weight in place so the gerbils can really get a good chew action going, but they also hold up other things you put on top of them or just more substrate to enhance tunnels. Even when they are more than 50% vanished - as long as at least three of the corners are still in place it will hold itself upright still... |
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Post by TJ's Rodent Ranch on Jul 24, 2023 9:35:24 GMT -8
Haha, yes that is usually my tactic: just putting houses in the way, and they decide it's time for those houses to come down. I often still keep these houses in the tank when they no longer stand, and just find a new way to arrange them so they will still act enough as a house, and they will continue to chew it down.
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Post by imogen on Jul 30, 2023 13:11:38 GMT -8
that makes sense, seems fun for them too as they can enjoy a bit of home diy when they chew the house lol
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