Who has gerbils?

[Nikorusama]

I know I know I shouldn't get any more pets (I already have 3 rats and 3 hamsters and my landlord is only allowing 2 cages but shhhh what he doesn't know won't harm him) but I would like to try my hand at gerbils.

Is it possible to keep them in a bin cage? I've heard that they chew so perhaps a tank would be better. Also I have heard that some people are not a fan of the wire toppers yet on a gerbil forum they said it was better to have them so I'm confused. The housing they recommend seems quite small considering that gerbils are in-between syrians and cambells in size. Preferably I'd like to make a bin cage if I can.

Also do they need a wheel and what size is best?

What do you use for substrate?

[SnickersTheFirst]

Some people do keep them in bin cages but tbh I'd never recommend it, they can escape and they also have a habit for actually swallowing the plastic -.- Murphy has a 20gallon tank with a topper, he used to share this with his brother who sadly passed away. I see no problem with a topper, tbh a 20gal tank alone isn't really big enough. Plus they tend to bury their water bottles.

No wheel is needed. :D

And for substrate I mix Megazorb and hay! :)



http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s320/Ronaldo2007_2007/DSCF6159600x450.jpg
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s320/Ronaldo2007_2007/DSCF6158600x450.jpg


Buddy - RIP:
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s320/Ronaldo2007_2007/DSCF9833600x450.jpg

Murphy:
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s320/Ronaldo2007_2007/DSCF2347600x450.jpg

[debs]

and shes aways showing off she likes Justin lol :P

[Nikorusama]

Aww yours look lovely! And your set up looks pretty awesome...better than those on the gerbil forum I was on. Where did you get the cage & what type is it?

[SnickersTheFirst]

Shh Debs ;)

Both bits were bought seperately from P@H. They still sell the tanks but not sure about toppers. All in all this cost me £110 but they regularly appear on ebay as a set for like £20. :D

[Gamina]

I have keep gerbils for a while and always used to keep them. I had a group of 4 in a tank (I am not sure what size but I believe it was a 100 gallon) when I was younger. I then moved and took in a rescue group of 3 very much on the spur of the moment. Two of the group passed quite quickly and so Starscream was moved into this cage http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v219/ncfc309/Pets/DSC00192.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v219/ncfc309/Pets/DSC00432.jpg (this is not him in it though)
He lived to the ripe old of 5 and then I took on three more with the idea of getting my large aquarium back from my parents loft. Sadly Carbuncle passed quite quickly he had internal problems and Serket followed quickly. I believe it was a genetic fault but not know the history I can't confirm that so now Odin lives here alone.

I know a lot of people will say no to tank topper but I find that the best thing about them is that they allow for a very good level of interaction. I couldn't interact with Odin in his tank as it is a maze of tunnels and substrate. But he will come up to the tank topper and interact with me of his own choice.

[Queen Of The High Teas]

I have 3 gerbils. Best bits of advice I can give you is:

1. They looove to dig. Endlessly. All the time. So you'll deffo want a cage that holds a lot of bedding.

2. They make awesome cardboard destroying machines!! Seriously, you can cut down loads of your recycling box by giving them empty cardboard boxes, tubes, and tubs, like cake boxes, toothpaste box, kitchen roll tube, empty food boxes. This is a nice cheap way of giving them toys and something to do. In fact, they destroy stuff so quickly I wouldn't bother buying any real expensive toys, they'd be rather a waste of money.

3. You don't actually need to use up loads of bedding in the cage. It will get expensive and won't last long. I just put enough in to cover the floor and then put in loads of cardboard, mainly old boxes that parcels and stuff has come in, that I tear into big flat pieces to store. If you do this, although there won't be anything to actually dig in straight away, they will chew it up to bits and therefore make their own bedding in it. I gave mine 2 huge boxes that my zoozones came in, and within a week they had megazorb/carefresh style bedding. IMO this is better for them as it gives them something to do rather than just a ready made bed.

4. Buy some super cheap toilet paper. Then unravel it a bit and put it in the cage. They will pull it to pieces, loads of fun and cheap to do. The hay I feed the buns seems a firm favorite too.

With the wheel it depend on the gerb. I gave mine one and they never used it. Intact all it seemed to do was fill up with bedding and take up unneccesary digging space so I ditched it.

I couldn't find a cage I liked that seemed big enough, so I converted an old wooden clothes chest (ottaman) into a cage. I bought the chest for £19 off eBay, cut out the whole front and put plexiglass in it, and fixed some old wire from a spare cage into the roof. Whole thing cost £35, and the top opens lovely and big to get them out or clean it. I will put a pic up if you want to see it.

[fluffymunchkins]

I have a pair of males, that are nearing 2 years now :) Lewis, Lilac and Button, cream + white. They were from a local pet store, but they were handled well and have been brilliant. Though gerbils are never particularly cuddley.
http://i741.photobucket.com/albums/xx57/Piggylicious2009/Gerbils/DSCF1677.jpg
http://i741.photobucket.com/albums/xx57/Piggylicious2009/Gerbils/DSCF1676.jpg

I use megazorb, which is brilliant for tunnel making.
And this is the 4ft tank - £10 bargain from ebay and the topper is homemade from a cut up hamster cage that cost me £5 ;)
http://i741.photobucket.com/albums/xx57/Piggylicious2009/Gerbils/gerbiltank2.jpg
I wouldn't risk a bin cage for mine, though it might suit some if your lucky.
I would get a wire wheel like shown, as they usually chew it, but you can use a hard plastic wheel like the silent spinner (but it may need replacing after a while).

Gerbils are so entertaining to watch, especially when they sleep upside down ^_^
As long as you have a decent cage, they don't cause much trouble at all and most are really curious and friendly x

[Nikorusama]

Wow your gerbils are spoilt :) unfortunately my OH has said no more pets and I think I'm really impulsive So I need to stop. I mean I'm not so impulsive to just go and get a pet without research but I'm the type who loves getting new pets and I should really think it through a lot more. So I guess I'll wait until I have less pets and then think about gerbils. Thank you for all the set-up pictures :) Very interesting. Hope I haven't wasted your time.