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Old 11-06-2018, 01:10 PM   #1
flowerfairy
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Default Good gerbil cages please?

Not necessarily going to get some but would be interested to know what kind of housi g works best for them.

I have a spare barney cage but have heard that they chew plastic ...
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Old 11-06-2018, 01:19 PM   #2
mangoandmimi
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Default Re: Good gerbil cages please?

They definitely need a tank as they need a good 8+ inches of bedding, I'd go towards 12" to be honest. And they will chew anything and everything! A 4 foot fish tank would be ideal, bigger is better. I wouldn't go smaller than you would for a hamster even if you do read that they're happier with less space. They're really energetic!

I've heard they do well in eco habitats although I've also read they can chew through the wooden base and get their teeth through the air holes. So a glass tank might be more suitable!
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Old 11-06-2018, 01:25 PM   #3
flowerfairy
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Default Re: Good gerbil cages please?

I would love a glass tank. The only one I can think of would be the kerry on zooplus which seems rather small. Its 75 x 45 x 37 high (cm).

Then there is the detolf ... Hmm might be the best option with all that chewing.

Could always use it for Popcorn if I dont get gerbils!
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Old 11-06-2018, 01:46 PM   #4
mangoandmimi
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Default Re: Good gerbil cages please?

Yeah the kerry would be a bit small for 2 gerbils really. That and the detolf are also quite low, with a robo I can just about get 8-9 inches up one end but with larger gerbils you need more overhead room. So probably only have 7 or so inches. Might be okay if it was all at that height but I don't know, they love burrowing in deep bedding more than anything. Some people have made detolf toppers but to be honest a wooden frame seems very chewable! Meshing the inside of it might work. I still think the best option is buying a fish tank, maybe second hand unless you have over £120-150 spare!
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Old 11-06-2018, 05:36 PM   #5
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Default Re: Good gerbil cages please?

I’ve seen large fish tanks pop up for cheap on facebook sales and gumtree a few times! I’m sure you could find a good deal if you hunt around a bit (maybe join some aquarium sales groups on fb).
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Old 11-06-2018, 05:55 PM   #6
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Default Re: Good gerbil cages please?

I've seen gerbil set ups in the 100cm Falco and the Eco Habitat. Both with deep bedding and plenty of height. The Falco seemed very popular with gerbil owners but it's also very expensive - haven't even seen the 100cm one for sale for a while. You might find a used one on ebay though. The set ups I've seen have tunnels submerged in the substrate too and branches etc for jumping onto.
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Old 11-07-2018, 02:36 AM   #7
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Default Re: Good gerbil cages please?

I have a Kerry for 2 gerbils but I have it topped with the XL Gerbilarium topper so they have loads of digging space then come upstairs for food etc
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Old 11-07-2018, 05:56 AM   #8
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Default Re: Good gerbil cages please?

Hi All,

I've had 2 gerbils in a skyline Marekesh 100cm tank ok. also the 145L Really useful box is great as well. I made a topper out of wood and mesh for a smaller tank as well before. It worked ok, they didn't chew, but i just felt they needed more lateral space. I really don't understand the sizes given as appropriate for gerbils vs hamsters. they're so energetic that the idea they can be happy in a 10L tank just doesn't make sense.

They're a lot of fun, but you have to be prepared for a falling out just like pairs of dwarf hamsters.
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Old 11-20-2018, 01:14 AM   #9
Ellie Bee
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Default Re: Good gerbil cages please?

Sorry I'm a bit late, just wanted to add something on. I'm on a gerbil forum as well as here, and the general consensus is that the reason people would opt for smaller tanks with gerbils than hamsters is the risk of de-clanning. This is when two or more gerbils fall out after becoming territorial over different parts of the cage, leading to fighting and having to separate the gerbs (there have been accounts of successful re-introduction by the split cage method and then placing them in a smaller permanent home than before). The best way to combat this it seems is to give them lot of height and burrowing space, but not necessarily as much floor space as hamsters. My gerbil pairs have always been happy in glass tanks (~400 sq inches) but I have noticed a correlation between reports of de-clanning and tanks being bigger than or the same as the American 40 gallon tanks. These seem to be 570-650 sq inches depending on the type you get, so I would aim for a tall tank or gerbilarium with topper with between 400 and 500 square inches of floorspace.


Hope this helps, good luck with your new critters if you get some!
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Old 11-20-2018, 05:58 AM   #10
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Default Re: Good gerbil cages please?

Thats interesting Ellie, similar to dwarf hamster pairs.

Not going to get gerbils after all but do love researching all kinds of pet care.
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