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Post by Kenshin on Oct 6, 2004 6:27:02 GMT -8
Hello, Even though so far the PIne Shavings have been great I have decided to move over to Aspen wood shavings because I have heard they are great for gerbils, I will still use pine for my mice though, How much more expensive is aspen? And is it true that it works great? Thank's in advance
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Post by Kenshin on Oct 6, 2004 6:39:02 GMT -8
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Post by paws on Oct 6, 2004 7:03:47 GMT -8
Pine can cause allergies in gerbils, and respitory infections (?) It is a good choice to switch to aspen.
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Post by RyanF on Oct 6, 2004 12:16:49 GMT -8
Pine and apsen are usually very similar in pricing. I buy aspen in bulk. I think I bought like 20 lbs or more for about $10.
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Post by Kenshin on Oct 6, 2004 13:08:21 GMT -8
Ok, I bought two bags from petco today.. what a rip off I need to start going to Petco two bags *Not the big size* costed me 19.96 >.<
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Post by j on Oct 7, 2004 20:46:17 GMT -8
Ok, I bought two bags from petco today.. what a rip off I need to start going to Petco two bags *Not the big size* costed me 19.96 >.< I hate petco. They're expensive. Try Petsmart. They sell a huge bag of Kaytee Aspen (5 cubic ft) for less than $15. I have 14 gerbils and it's been 3 months and I still have some left ;D
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Post by sweetie on Oct 8, 2004 10:57:19 GMT -8
Aspen is better for the gerbils. Pine and Cedar have heavy oils which are harmful to the gerbils skin and kidneys.
I get mine at PetSmart. WalMart also used to carry it. I am not sure if they carry it any more.
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Post by dapple on Nov 1, 2004 23:51:44 GMT -8
Please switch to the aspen for your mice too! Pine is too dusty for them
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Post by Tasha on Nov 23, 2004 7:52:59 GMT -8
I would strongly suggest not buying that brand of aspen shavings from Petco (Premier Pet). I bought a bag of it, and noticed it had a VERY strong scent when I was taking it out of the bag and my hands smelled very strongly of wood oils after I put it in the tank. I know it says it is aspen, but I would swear it is red cedar. When the breeder came over to drop off my new gerbils, she said she had never seen (or smelled) aspen like that. She said aspen shavings were usually lighter in color, less aromatic, and in smaller pieces. One of my gerbils developed a red nose almost right away and I switched to Ultra Carefresh the next morning. Still waiting to see if the red nose is getting better.
Sorry if this post is too late. Tasha
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simcoe
Member
Ginger & Bucky ? My girls.
Posts: 62
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Post by simcoe on Nov 23, 2004 13:27:53 GMT -8
I see a lot of mentions of Petco in this thread, so I'd like to take a moment to ask those who have a choice to NOT shop at Petco. Petco has been on the losing end of several cruelty and abuse lawsuits ( think.100acrewood.net/boycott/news.asp) for their disgusting treatment of small animal, bird, fish, and reptile stock. Complaints to their management at all levels are regularly ignored or paid the most minimal of lip service -- I know, because after observing several small animals injured and living in rancid filth at the Petco in my town I wrote a thorough complaint letter and received a form letter in response. It was then that I began searching on the net for people who may have had similar experiences and I found dozens of stories like mine. Peta has a comprehensive site detailing the abuses at Petco, and offers specific examples of their indefensible maintenance, health, and breeder violations. The site hosts numerous letters from distressed, low-level Petco employees whose concern for the welfare of animal stock is met with continual ambivalence on the part of management. Before shopping at Petco, please take a good look at this site: www.petcocruelty.com/ I'm sure it will change your mind. "Big box" pet stores all have problems, but if you must shop at one then Petsmart has a much better track record and gives its animals much better care. But don't take my word for it, Google search on the words petco, cruelty, abuse, lawsuits, and look at the results. Then do the same for Petsmart. One search will yield stories of a store charged with animal cruelty, the other will give you stories of a store fighting animal cruelty. Thanks for letting me speak out on this, my experience at Petco really scarred me and I can't stand to see them making money off the suffering of their little critters. Sim
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Post by tasha on Nov 23, 2004 15:12:52 GMT -8
Couldn't agree with you more Sim. After my first trip there (I was desperate for bedding/food right away and have no other options that don't require a car), I felt sorry for the animals and will not go again. The gerbils they had looked absolutely neurotic and had patches of fur missing! I was so lucky that a breeder offered to deliver mine to me. She was a real angel.
Anyway, now I will order online. Tasha
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Post by j on Nov 23, 2004 16:28:29 GMT -8
I don't shop at Petco just because the prices are more expensive than Petsmart and Petsuppliesplus. And they don't really have anything good in general..
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Post by sandy on Nov 24, 2004 10:02:27 GMT -8
Just wanted to offer another option. I use recycled newspaper pellets-type kitty litter, with a handful of Aspen thrown in for bedding. I had one gerbil that was allergic even to Aspen and she did just fine on the paper based kitty litter. I also find that if I throw in a cupful of paper based kitty litter mixed with my aspen bedding the aspen keeps far longer as the paper pellets provide additional dryness. I find them less dusty, too, and far less messy in my gerbil room because they don't track everywhere like wood shavings.
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Post by Kenshin on Nov 30, 2004 15:11:35 GMT -8
Man, I only goto ONE Petco and that's in Sandy Springs here in Atlanta, they are GREAT and extremly nice people all pets are in great shape, they have Ferrets\Gerbils\Mice\Fancy Mice\Rats\Fancy Rats\Guninie Pigs\ Annoying Hamsters and birds, The service there is quite good and the guy that look's over the small animals is very very nice he loves them and alway's tames them daily, I actually just applied for a job there and I get my test this wensday Petco has set rules, Sadly, wrong people get hired and do not follow these rules, If they had good hired people in each store *I know they do in this one* It would be perfect of course, But not all petco places are bad!
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