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Post by birchmoon on Sept 25, 2004 19:35:38 GMT -8
Right now they have ceramic dishes for their food. Problem is, no matter how I position it, they always bury it within minutes. And because they put so much bedding in it, I end up throwing away perfectly good food every day.
Does anyone use one of those metal feeder bins that you hook to the top of the tank? What are the downfalls to that kind of dish?
heather
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Post by Ritzie/Admin on Sept 25, 2004 23:38:23 GMT -8
My gerbils do this too, however not all when I placce their dish on a high place!
And if they do, they dig it out when they are hungry! Don't they do that at your place?
And you can also just spread their food over their bedding! Research has even found out that they then eat better, and it prevents boredom. They have to search for their food, like in the wild (almost like it ;D).
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Post by j on Sept 26, 2004 0:44:17 GMT -8
Why are you throwing food away because they bury it?
Besides, burrying food is natural for them. They like to dig it up later..and will dig it up later.
What I do with some of mine is tape an empty glass jar to the corner of the tank, nice and high up so they have to jump or climb to get in it. Can't bury it and I only have to feed them once a week.
The tanks with 2 gerbils in them, I fill their dish up and it always ends up on the bottom of the tank. But it's still full of food and they dig it out when they want it. Once a week, I dig their dish up and check the food in it.. usually almost empty at the end of the week.
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Post by queenofthenile on Sept 26, 2004 5:28:32 GMT -8
I used to feed my gerbs everyday, but as you found, I wound up throwing away food. Now I just fill their dishes to the brim and place them in a spot that it is more difficult for them to cover. That way, I can see how much food they have left. I have three tank/aquariums that I have added a second story to using a wire cage. For these three tanks, I put the food in a dish in the cage part because there is no shavings to cover up the dish. For the one tank that doesn't have a cage on it, I just stick my finger in their dish everyday to make sure there is still food. They will dig all the shavings out and leave the bowl empty when there is no food left. Of course you should catch that their running low before that  . |
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Post by sweetie on Sept 26, 2004 6:42:47 GMT -8
I used to use a dish until they chewed it up and would always bury the food any way. Burying thier food is a very natural behavior almost like squirrels burying acorns for the winter!Then I started throwing it in the cage since they used to bury it anyway. I also threw away a lot of food since I fed them 1 tablespoon per gerbil per day and they did not eat it all. I got nervous that they were not eating enough since the amount given was the "serving size suggested". I now have the food on the top cage like Queenies set up so that I can monitor the amount eaten and I will not waste the food by throwing it away!! I have noticed however that they definitely have their preferences. The stuff they like least, they leave on the bottom and hold out for fresh food LOL. Picky little buggers  |
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Post by birchmoon on Sept 26, 2004 8:10:28 GMT -8
I know they naturally are going to bury their food.  I have started sprinkling food in their tanks, even in the sand side. They really seem to have a blast digging around for their seeds. But I also have a food dish in there. I guess I'm just paranoid that someone won't be eating enough. I put the food dish on a mountain of bedding, and instead of throwing bedding up to it, they dig so the dish comes down to them and it's easier for them to cover. Little brats. ;D. I think I'm going to figure out a way to get the dish higher, maybe build some kind of platform for it. Will give my hubby something to build. Thanks everyone for the great advice! heather |
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Post by andrea on Sept 26, 2004 9:28:29 GMT -8
I think i may have it down to a fine art. I measure out the food perfectly, they now beg for food on a daily basis and all have a right hump if they are not fed on time .. ;D They all get a measured amount of food, just enough for them to eat all of it including the bits they are not so kean on but good for them, but not left hungry and begging. They all start begging at 6pm, if I am late I get upset gerbs.. becuase I have so many tanks now, everyone has a strict rountine. Food and water at 6pm every day. clean out for everyone once a fortnight, bushies every once a month and the rats & G-pigs once a week, including a rattie shampoo and blow dry once a week for the rats .. that was fun yesterday LOL, they now the rats smell of Pantene shampoo lol.. Andrea |
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Post by fish on Nov 3, 2004 10:54:39 GMT -8
well i got a medium sized teraccota pot and made a crack in it so the gerbils can run inside it then pot the pot on top and the little ridges in it will stop it falling off. i only had this idea bout a week ago. hope it helps ;D
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Post by sandy2 on Nov 3, 2004 11:01:24 GMT -8
I, too, sprinkle and let them dig. I feed 2X a week, that way I know they have to eat their more nutritious food and not just the sunflower seeds.
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I have started sprinkling food in their tanks, even in the sand side. They really seem to have a blast digging around for their seeds.