Topper recommendation

[terrym]

Hi all! Since I have zero DIY skills I'm contemplating getting someone to make me a topper. I came across this Etsy seller: www.etsy.com/shop/magnumpie. Any thoughts on the materials used here?

[tanzanyte]

They really need to have solid bases to them so I wouldn’t recommend a wire base. Rodents end up with something known as bumble foot (pododermatitis) which case cause a great deal of pain and difficulties for them.

It may be worth contacting the seller to see if they can adapt it to include a solid base. Alternatively you could get some Perspex or wood cut to fit the base of the topper from your local hardware store.
Failing that maybe there’s somewhere else that also makes toppers, or is this the only one that you’ve found?
Do you ever get groups stateside of local people that are retired that make items up for fun? We have something here called men in sheds and there’s always the possibility of asking them to make something as they usually just want payment for materials.

I’m not sure if a few people on here have made some toppers without being overly hands on at making items so it may be worth doing a search and seeing what you can find.

[ConnieW]

I can only give you my opinion. I also needed someone to build a topper for me and I looked into this same site. It is very expensive for one. And Shipping is also expensive and I understand it takes several weeks for delivery. I didn't like the idea of the gerbils always on wire when on their topper so I opted for a wooden base.

I assume you have a tank type habitat for your gerbils and you want a topper. I can only tell you what I did. I also have no ability to build a topper. I found someone who could put together a wooden base to go over the tank and then bought the Prevue 528 Small Animal cage and only used the wire top of this cage. I coated the wood with bees wax and secured the wire topper with small bungee cords. Total cost for Poplar wood, supplies and the wire cage was just under $200. Poplar wood is rather expensive where I live but it was the least expensive safe wood to use and the lightest. I didn't want to use any wood that had any glue in it.

One plus for those wire toppers on Etsy is they are probably lighter in weight than a wooden/wire cage topper. I got so much good advice from members here when I designed my topper. I am sure others will be better experienced to tell you more.

This wire top of this Prevue 528 cage might be something you could use on top of your tank.

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074FH47MQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Not knowing the size of your tank it is hard to suggest other things to use. My tank is a 40 gallon breeder tank. My son was able to make me the wooden base part of my topper for this wire cage to sit on. There are lots of ideas online for different ways people have made toppers for their tanks. Here is a picture of my tank with topper. Good luck!

[terrym]

Thank you both! This is super helpful. I think I'll go the plexiglass route to help out their feet. Seems easy enough to find at custom sizes.

Conniew - amazing setup you have! Thanks for sharing that. I love the stuff scattered around the bottom - I'm going to try that out for sure.

[ConnieW]

May 2, 2024 13:41:02 GMT -8 terrym said:

Thank you both! This is super helpful. I think I'll go the plexiglass route to help out their feet. Seems easy enough to find at custom sizes.

Conniew - amazing setup you have! Thanks for sharing that. I love the stuff scattered around the bottom - I'm going to try that out for sure.

You are very welcome! Here is a pic of some of what is under the bedding taken when I was first setting it up. I did add more later. The Hamster/gerbil cardboard tubes on Amazon are great, they love them and you can put them together however you like. I added more tubes later.



Here is it today. Those tubes they love and I get to see them with they go through them. Sometimes they sleep in them. It adds so much to the enjoyment of owning gerbils. Those half tubes are so fun to watch them run through.