Would a Bin cage for gerbils?

[chinesehammy]

Hey Evryone!

So I have decided to get two get two gerbils, and I'm wondering if a bin cage would be suitable for gerbils? I was looking round the site and saw someone posted the below bin cage and I'm wondering would it be suitable for two gerbils, either two males or two females, not breeding?

EXTRA LARGE CLEAR PLASTIC STORAGE BOX WITH LID 133 LITRE: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

Thanks

[racinghamster]

Hiya. The size looks okay for a single or pair of gerbils. Just make sure there are no `edges` or pieces of moulded plastic where the gerbils could chew and make a hole!

I would actually look for something a wee bit bigger. Not because they need the space, but in the long run, it would allow for far more running, digging. Bigger is always better! I`m not sure where you might find an even bigger box for that money though. Maybe other members can guide you on that. Will you be meshing just the roof/lid? Probably best as gerbils and wire are not the best scenario as they can damage their teeth if they chew on wire, so probably better not to mesh the sides. x

The Zoozone 2 would be a good size also but glass tanks are the best housing for gerbils as they can see through the glass and you can see them better. Bin cages are not very clear to see through.

[Truffle]

One of my best friends has a pair of gerbils who live in a bin cage. I have to say that they are perfectly happy and seem to love it. I am personally always slightly afraid that they might manage to chew there way out, though they have been living in it for just over a year now and have been as good as gold

I would recommend getting a bin cage that doesn't not have any moulded plastic bend inwards due to that fact that gerbils seem to be more keen chewers than hamsters. Also when you make the air vents try to place then either in the lid or high up on the side so that you can place loads of substrate in so they can build nice tunnels. As for the size of the bin cage it is certainly big enough for a pair of gerbils- though it could be worth trying to find a deeper one, so you can add more substrate. Good luck !

[poppiet]

I've had two gerbils in a bin cage made from a 145L Really Useful Box for more than a year and have had no problems.

I added three smallish mesh panels at the sides thinking this would help to keep the substrate in and it has worked (sort of). Most of the lid I kept but I did mesh part of the lid for ventilation. I also added a wire topper which meant I had somewhere to attach a water bottle. I attached a shelf in part of the cage which allows them to have a sand bath and gives them access to the lid of the box.

I preferred this to a glass tank as i means that that can go in and out themselves without having to depend on me lifting them and this gives them the run of the room when I'm there. It's probably also a bit lighter when you have to move it.

If you're interested, I should have some photos and can post them but I'm at work at the moment - let me know if you want to see them.

[chinesehammy]

Originally Posted by poppiet

I've had two gerbils in a bin cage made from a 145L Really Useful Box for more than a year and have had no problems.

I added three smallish mesh panels at the sides thinking this would help to keep the substrate in and it has worked (sort of). Most of the lid I kept but I did mesh part of the lid for ventilation. I also added a wire topper which meant I had somewhere to attach a water bottle. I attached a shelf in part of the cage which allows them to have a sand bath and gives them access to the lid of the box.

I preferred this to a glass tank as i means that that can go in and out themselves without having to depend on me lifting them and this gives them the run of the room when I'm there. It's probably also a bit lighter when you have to move it.

If you're interested, I should have some photos and can post them but I'm at work at the moment - let me know if you want to see them.

That would be great if you could post and some pictures and maybe the link to the site where I could buy it? Like racinghamster said bigger is better,so i would really like to see the 145l one

[Bekki2308]

The 133 litre is ideal, I used a 110 litre version and it was plenty large enough for 2 gerbils. The general rule is 20 gallon per pair and thats 90 litres plus 5 gallon (22 litres) per extra gerbil so anything larger than 90 litres is ideal staples sell the 145 litre RUB. I used wham 110 litre for my gerbil before I found a 3ft tank for free (108 litres). Below is a photo just after id made it, the mesh covered the entire inside of the lid to the edges of the bin so there was nowhere for the gerbils to get a hold of, it was fine for them and you could watch them pottering around in there

[chinesehammy]

Perfect thanks I have kept my hamsters in them before and then when I saw another's user had posted it on here, I remembered it! I have saw an ad for two little gerbils free to a good home, so I have emailed the girl and waiting for a reply thanks everyone, I think I will go ahead and buy this.

Also one last question, I knew I wanted to adopt instead of buy however I went to pets at home just to make sure they would suit me (smell, size etc) and pets at home said that they only sell gerbils that will be housed in gerbilariums, like this one
Gerbilarium by Pets at Home | Pets at Home

However on there website it says gerbils can be kept in hamster cages, and a bin cage is a hamster cage of sorts, isn't it? Do you think they just wanted an extra sale or would I be better to get a gerbilarium? Personally I prefer the look of bin cages, but my animals happiness is always no.1 and I would like to house the gerbils in what they would be happiest in! However the 133l bin that I want to buy has 3 times the space? I don't like Rostack or habitrail types of cages or zoozone, Alaska etc, I like bins, aquariums and don't mind the gerbilarium type. However I don't want to keep them in an aquariam as any aquariam as big as the 133l would cost me £384! Any advice on the BEST cage/bin/aquariam etc! Price limit £200. Thanks!

[racinghamster]

Don`t listen to Pets At Home "Buy me because I`m better". Tank toppers are NOT required for gerbils. I speak from personal experience having kept gerbils and one of my boys lost a tooth by injuring himself chewing the bars of a play pen and if I kept gerbils now, I wouldn`t go near anything with bars.

The Bin cage Bekki posted is ideal. The lid alone is meshed for good ventilation and if you can go for the larger version, all the better. I hope the girl gets back to you about the gerbils because no doubt they will be going to a lovely new home. I adore gerbils, but I never got more when I lost my last boys. I miss their cheeky antics and mini-meerkat ways!

poppiet, do post some images of your set up as I would love to see it too. x

[JBH316]

Just tell them that you already have one set up at home

[racinghamster]

And look for gerbils looking to be adopted, don`t buy them! Hopefully the girl you contacted will e-mail you soon. gerbils are diggers and chewers. Barred cages could potentially cause irriversible damage if a gerbil is chewing the bars and pulls back too quickly. Stick with your Bin cage plan. x