my gerbils are really bored

[pixytwinkle]

does anyone have any good ideas to entertain gerbils. Both molly and misty seem bored and any toys i buy even hick wooden ones are destroyed by molly in a matter of hours. Does anyone know any good ways of keeping them happy like simple games or mazes etc. thanx

[RyanF]

Lol. Let them out of their tank into some type of different eclosure and let them explore! Mine love doing that.

[SuperGirlH]

Once my gerbils dig around and have their stuff the way they like it, I just mess everything up, moving bedding to the other end of the cage... It sounds mean, but they seem to enjoy putting everything back and digging in the bedding once it's moved. It keeps them busy for a while. Also, cardboard seems to be the best bet when it comes to chewing, it's prettymuch free, and I don't think they ever get tired of it. so just put like a whole cereal box or something in there and that will keep them busy for hours!

[tirilliel]

Here are some things I have done to make my gerbils cages more interesting..

1. Took pieces of plywood and nailed them together to make three-sided platforms, (one piece of plywood on either side, and one on top, creating a tunnel underneath. You can make as many of these are you want to create different levels in the cage.

2. Added a smaller ten-gallon tank on and attached a tubing system.

3. Make a sand box or sand tunnel. I used an old oatmeal container and cut a whole near the top and added a tube to help them climb in and filled the container with sand for them to roll in play in. You could also maybe make a shallow box to fill with sand.

4. I’m always adding tissue boxes, paper towel and toilet paper rolls, cereal boxes pasta boxes they love chewing them up and running through them!

5. Add a tank filled with bedding so they can burrow ( if you have the right enclosure of course)

6. Offer interesting treats.

If you have the money and can build stuff then all you need now is a good imagination! Let me know if you want to see pictures ...

You can buy a playpen for them to run around in and put some new and interesting objects in there for them to explore.

[pixytwinkle]

hi thanks for all the advice. I do sometimes let them come out but they cant come out together as one is male and one is female and they have already had 2 litters. I have a playpen which misty enjoys going in but molly just jumps straight out of it!Cant you tell she is the more difficult one lol ;D If i was going to build them something what sort of wood would be best? Can they have any types of cereal boxes, how about the ones from golden nuggets are they ok?
thank again
pixytwinkle

[whitmoregirl]

Six words: let them run around a room!!
Mine love it!

[tirilliel]

pixytwinkle said:

hi thanks for all the advice. I do sometimes let them come out but they cant come out together as one is male and one is female and they have already had 2 litters. I have a playpen which misty enjoys going in but molly just jumps straight out of it!Cant you tell she is the more difficult one lol ;D If i was going to build them something what sort of wood would be best? Can they have any types of cereal boxes, how about the ones from golden nuggets are they ok?
thank again
pixytwinkle

Im sure any wood would be fine, so long as it not painted stained or treated in anyway. And Im not sure what you mean about golden nuggets cereal boxes? Any cereal boxes are fine, if there is any clear plastic in the box simply remove it. ( For example, sometimes pasta boxes have spots with a clear plastic over it so it allows you to see the contest inside.)

[pixytwinkle]

ok thanx alot i gave them a box yesterday and they loved it. ;D
I am letting them out tonigh too as its a little too hot at the moment so i might wait until it cools down a little. ;D