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Post by allison on Jan 30, 2005 23:48:47 GMT -8
My two gerbils are going nuts with the chewing. They are ruining my cage. I don't mind little chew marks or nibbles on the wheels and ladders, I knew they would, but didn't think they'd go nuts. I have this plastic twirly ladder thing going up to a wheel (I'll post pic) and they've chewed 1/4 of it off. I went away on a weekend trip and bought them this giant carrot wood thing, and they seamed to like it thought I finally found something to get them away from the ladder. When I came back it was chewed up alot more but I noticed they've started chewing up the wheel now and a little more of the ladder is gone. I put card board in there when ever I can, it's their favourit but it's not enough, they finish it in like 10 minutes then go straight to the plastic ladder. I've put these little flavoured wood sticks in, they never touch those, then I bought one of those hallow logs and they started chewing on that a bit but it's like they get bored of it and go back to that ladder. They always do it at night but I'm pretty sure it's the younger one doing the most damage. I'm not even sure if the older one does it, I haven't caught him in the act, only the baby. (Well guess he's not a baby any more) So does any one know whats up? Why are they so obsessed with the plastic ladder and now the wheel? Why do they get bored of the wood so easily? Any idea on what I can give them for their chewing? Is it just some weird random compulsive behaviour that the younger one developed? Thanks for any help.  |
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Post by allison on Jan 30, 2005 23:55:09 GMT -8
 Theres the ladder thing that's being chewed. The bottoms being chewed it's like they're working their way up, a little bit of the top is chewed as well. |
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Post by Ritzie/Admin on Jan 31, 2005 4:34:46 GMT -8
Chewing is normal! They need to do that in order to keep their teeth on te right lenght. I've noticed too that they prefer plastic items over wooden items. Probably because it is more easy! You can give them cardboard, branches, pieces of wood, wooden items, hay, toilet rolls, dried corn cobs, dried bread, etc. To limit chewing you can give much to climb and to dig! But I think as long as they have plastic items, they will continue chewing that much!  ;D |
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Post by doomgerbiluk on Jan 31, 2005 5:51:50 GMT -8
Re: chewing plastic. Gerbils swallow soem of what they chew. Plastic in the gut does not break down or pass through and a significant number of gerbils have died excruciatingly painful deaths due to compaction from plastic blocking their digestive systems.
I would recommend avoiding plastic and removal of that ladder. I keep plastic toys for out of cage time when I can supervise my gerbils and try to reduce any opportunity to chew on plastic. It is your decision but I feel it is important to alert everyone of the danger.
Chewing is vital so wood, terracotta, dog biscuits, cuttlefish bones, commercial chew snacks etc are worth collecting/ purchasing along with LOADS of card.
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pixytwinkle
Member
Molly and Misty, my lovely gerbils.
Posts: 737
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Post by pixytwinkle on Jan 31, 2005 9:42:27 GMT -8
mine used to chew alot of plastic too but couldnt you get them a tank instead of a cage this way they wouldnt have any plastic to chew and then provide them with lots of wooden items to chew? pixytwinkle  |
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Post by Ritzie/Admin on Feb 1, 2005 7:18:24 GMT -8
Indeed plastic is not good for them when they get it in their digestive system. Removal of the plastic items is indeed better. They will not always eat it, but prevention is always better than...treatment!
Looking at your photo, do they not chew on the bars of the cage? That can turn into compulsive behaviour after a while and they can get bald and red noses from it (by rubbing their nose on the bars). Beside that it will make a lot of noise, because the whole case will vibrate while chewing! A glaze or duna tank is always the best "cage" for (Mongolian) gerbils.
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Post by sweetie on Feb 2, 2005 9:40:59 GMT -8
I do not put in plastic. Mine also do not like the flavored, colored, wood sticks. They also chew most of the card board I have. I run out at times. I have asked others to save thier cardboard. I also bought some plain white *paper* plates. They love them. That way when I run out of cardboard, it is cheap and readily available. Also they may be chewing it because it is a different texture. I find that they like a variety of chewable items (except those chew sticks that I bought  ) |
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Post by allison on Feb 2, 2005 13:15:50 GMT -8
They don't chew the plastic nearly as much any more. They really like the carrot wood thing. Since I got it I've only heard them chew twice and only for a second on the plastic. I would get a tank but I spent so much on the stupid cage. I bought the cage for my hamster but he died only a monyh later and I wanted to try something different, I asked what else would be happy in a hamster type cage and the lady said gerbils. It wasn't untill I got home that I found out tanks are better. I must have spent close to $150 on that stupid set up...and I don't want it to go to waste.
No they don't chew on the bars.
I was thinking maybe to get a small tank and connect it to the cages....but I don't see how I can do that. I know they have those cages you can put on top....but how could I connect it to the cages I already have now?
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Post by RitzieAnn on Feb 7, 2005 19:46:14 GMT -8
Someone here used an aluminum dryer hose. You can get wire mesh stuff at any feed store, or harware store. It doesnt cost much, and then you just shove the tube in. You could even use the plastic tubes that match the cage you have. Just cut the opening in the mesh really small and shove the tube in so it's a tight fit. I got my lid from a garage sale. Check out your 2nd hand stores for lids and things. And the cool part is that your cage (I have one similar) will sit on top of a 10gal. So you wouln't even need all that much tubing, and it'll take up less space!
My male gerbil destroys all plastic! I had blocks and a ramp type thing, and it was pointless! He never ate his wheel though. You could also try to put bird ladders in there since you said they eat less wood.
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Post by spaniard on Feb 9, 2005 13:39:25 GMT -8
Hey Allison, I have the same cage as you do, but now its attached to a tank and a tub, and they completely chewed the ladder in a month. But I like it better without the ladder because there is way more room. Mine can get to the wheel without the ladder by jumping or climbing on the side, so yours probably can too.
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Post by spaniard on Feb 9, 2005 13:43:59 GMT -8
My cage only cost 20 dollars  |
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Post by sweetie on Feb 9, 2005 17:16:01 GMT -8
Hey Alli,
I can relate to spending a bunch and then having to spend more for tanks. You can look for used tanks in the classified, ask for damaged tanks at the petstores.
You can connect them with the tubes that you already have. I made a home-made lid with wire fencing and cut a hole through the top and put the tube in. It is possible.
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;D
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