Gerbils in Bin Cage? Wheel Size? - Page 2

Omnomnompets · 10-29-2012, 11:33 AM

I sit by the cage everyday while doing something (hw, watching tv etc..) and I just stick my hand in the cage and let it sit and sometimes run my fingers through the bedding, if their sleeping I dont try to wake them or stuff treats in their face or anything, I wait for them to acknowledge me and if they want they'll sniff and walk all over my hand. My male Shadow likes just sitting on my shoulder so when I stick my arm and hand in he automatically walks onto my hand and up my arm to my shoulder, I dont try to put him there ever, he goes where he wants :3 Just thought id share that it amazing if they trust you

(fyi about the treat thing, IF he's sitting nicely and not trying to run away on the floor or anything he does get treats

but while they're in the tank I never shove treats in their face in order to get them out)

Jessie · 10-29-2012, 11:37 AM

When I kept my gerbils I used aspen mixed with coconut husk and because they love digging they also had pvc pipes made intot unnels and put under sand mixed with coconut husk to keep it together. They loved it. I always had problems with letting kids handle my gerbils until I had my first litter. they were more like rats which tells me like any animal they can become extremely tame. But racinghamster's advice is great. a pair of males is easiest in terms of fighting.

strawberrysmom · 10-30-2012, 06:22 AM

Is it okay for them to be singular? Or is it best to try for a pair then? I always heard they are social and do not like to be alone. I get conflicting information on this as well - reading that they often declan. Oh goodness - no more than a pair for me! In fact I'm looking to adopt at a rescue if possible.

I love the idea of PVC pipe. That would be cool to have at the bottom of the substrate as a house/tunnel/etc.

I'm in no rush as I would like to know all there is possible first and I need to find a 40 gallon on sale. I'm back and forth in risking a bin. I'd rather just get a tank since I can afford to wait and not in a rush. Though I'm excited.

racinghamster · 10-30-2012, 07:30 AM

Ideally, gerbils do best in pairs, although inevitably, you will get one passing on before the other, leaving you with a single gerbil. Keeping a single gerbil who is already on his or her own is fine. Many rescues get single gerbils in, some get pairs. Rehoming a single gerbil would be fine and it gives the gerbil a needy home that will fullfill it`s needs.

Adult males can sometimes be introduced to very young baby males (under ten weeks old), but females who are already single should stay that way as female gerbils are far more likely to attack a newcomer. Even with adult males, you have to know the character of the male to determine whether he is gentle and laid back enough to accept two new baby brothers into his territory and I wouldn`t suggst attempting this unless you had a split tank system already set up. Most gerbil forums and websites have split tank pages to view for anyone looking into introductions with males.

Keeping just the one gerbil would avoid de-clans. But it might also mean that the gerbil requires more attention during times when he or she is awake and knows you are in the room! They soon learn when playtimes are near! My two used to run from one side of the tank to the other, looking at me through the glass until I popped their box in for them to hop into! They can be such characters which makes keeping gerbils great fun. One of my males was so friendly he was almost human, I swear. His name was Grub and I miss him dearly.

strawberrysmom · 10-30-2012, 07:07 PM

You all have been incredibly helpful. I am still weeding through the gerbil forum that was pointed out too. I am getting a used tank tomorrow. It's not the dimensions of a zoozone2. I could not find an affordable tank of large size. The one I'm getting is 18 inches high and 24 inches long and 16 inches wide. I like that it's 18 inches tall because I can put 12 inches of substrate in there.

I'm going to keep looking for bigger at a more affordable price.

I still have some research to go but I'm getting there.

strawberrysmom · 10-30-2012, 07:09 PM

Also, I have Mazuri hamster & gerbil food. How would you personally rate that food? My Syrian is the only one of my hams that eats it. I hear good things about lab blocks. We don't get many good choices for lab blocks here in the states. It took forever for me to find Mazuri online in the first place.

I am going to head over to the gerbil forum and start reading into the nutrition section right now.

racinghamster · 10-31-2012, 02:49 AM

I`m not familiar with the US food brands I`m afraid but all I would suggest is look at what`s in the food, the ingredients list and the analysis. If it`s all coloured biscuits, alfalfa/grass pellets and little else, I wouldn`t use it. Gerbils are like any small rodent and love variety. Millet spray (sold for cages and wild birds) a teaspoonful of porridge oats, hemp seed, linseed (some of these are often found in budgie/canary seed mixes) in pet stores that can be added to any commercial mix they have. Pumpkin seeds/sunflower seeds as treats and of course, crushes nuts!

Write down all the things on a list that you can find, either from pet stores, supermarkets and healthfood stores and this will give you a good idea of what you can buy locally.

So your looking at:

Substrate (for digging in)
Bedding (this can be hay and ripped up white toilet tissue)
Diet (as above, make a list of everything you can get locally)
Housing: Glass tank or plastic equivellant like the Zoozne 2 style

Accessories: Off the top of my head - toilet roll tubes/kitchen roll tubes, cardboard egg boxes, small boxes in general (but not the waxy coated ones found in freezer foods) ping-pong ball!....yet, I said ping-pong ball!!! My lads had a pink one and used to bat it around and play with it. Mostly frustrated with it and would push it into a corner and bury it!

strawberrysmom · 10-31-2012, 07:33 AM

They play back and forth with a ping pong ball?!?!! No way! That is awesome! That is going on my toy list asap.

I am glad you said something about freezer boxes. I saved a butter carton and that is the same gloss like box as a freezer food box. Back in the recycling it goes.

Timothy Hay is fine correct? Some forums were having a debate over Timothy and Alfalfa and which was better. Are both fine mixed? And also there was a debate how much to put in. A little everyday to me seems a good rule.

I get Hazel Hamster which is made I think originally in the UK -it's the cousin to Harry Hamster that is sold in the states. That has a LOT of what you just mentioned for gerbil diet musts. I am going to see if that Hazel brand makes one for Gerbils. I really like the brand. I'm also pretty impressed with Kaytee Fiesta. There is an overabundance of corn in it but it has a lot of good seeds in it like the ones you mentioned in bird food.

I was just about to order more millet spray for my hammys. They go crazy over the stuff. So, that is always in stock in my home.

It's looking good for gerbils in our household

Oh, I found a water bottle (4oz) that comes with a metal holder. Perfect for major gnawers.

racinghamster · 11-01-2012, 05:56 AM

Glad my advice has been somewhat helpful to you. Hay-wise, any good quality hay is fine. Hay should be green in colour rather than yellow as this usually indicates better quality. You could mix Timothy & Alfalfa hay if you wish.

A bottle hanger in metal is always a plus when you use a tank, so good find!

I still have my old Oasis one and won`t part with it because it took me long enough to find one! Although Amazon sell metal water bottle holders now which is great for anyone looking for one.

The ping-pong ball usually gets batted into a corner and buried!

All you hear from time to time is the rattling of the ball against the glass!!