Need help deciding

[Ratlovingkippy06]

I have 14 rats of my own and these past few days i have adopted out 4 rats and there are 3 more leaving Thursday and two are going to New York this weekend ( maybe), Nina and Amy are waiting for transport to SD. So for the first time i will not have any foster rats, My two oldest mice died at age 3 these past months.. two weeks apart and i am left with on more mouse.. who is.. well evil.. can not be handled( says a lot coming from me), he is happy just not being touch. I have a 20 long tank and few extra cages around and i wanted to get something new. I have been just looking around, normally i will research a few months before i even go looking for a new animal.  Degus, are little too exotic and with rats i don't think i could give them the time they need, nor Chinchillas or ferrets. I am looking into getting a Ferret when i move out and get married in about 5 years because i have a FN and a ton of stuff but  now is not a good time, i wouldn't have the space of time they need. hedgehog, i don't know much about but i would look into them. I think my choices are Hedgehog, Gerbils or female mice.. I not a big fan of Guinea Pigs and i have a 9 year old rabbit. If i did mice or Gerbils it would be in groups and i am not sure on a Hedgehog.. any ideas or in put on what you would get? I have had mice my whole life, they were the closes thing to a rat when i was growing up. I work with Gerbils and a LONG time ago my sister babysat a hedgehog and i was the only one able to handle it and i think it would be fun. I am thinking realistically on what i can and can not handle, and i will do a TON or research as well.

Thanks

[Punkygirl0101]

Gerbils are extremely fun critters! I had two, only have one girl now (Can;t get her a friend cause I live in California, they are illegal and I can't find anymore lol). But I love creating fun cages for her...she loves digging..she makes the best tunnel systems! I like the natural cage look for gerbils. She is in a large rubbermaid bin (Which may not work for all gerbils, she doesn't have that urge to escape).

As for female mice, I like mice too. I have 1 lone girl currently, cause I got her when she was pregnant..and all her babies died after a few days...so I do plan to get her a friend or two. But female mice are very fun to watch as well. I guess it depends on where you get them that determines if they are social and hand tame.

How about...More rats? lol

[Ratlovingkippy06]

 Thats what i really want to do. I have a 20 long and i have always wanted to put sand in it and just let them dig I have had mice and i like them but i wanted something new. I am good with 14 rats, i have my 3 young girls and 2 baby boys that i just got so i have a young group. My older rats are all over a year one being blind the others are okay, mia had a tumor removed.  Is a 20 long okay for Gerbils?

[Summer_Rat]

A 20 gallon long would be great for a pair of gerbils. There is plenty of space in those things!! =D

[wonderrodent]

I think a pair of gerbils would be a good idea, too. They are very cute and fun to watch. Cleaning is so easy and they don't need as much as attention as other pets. As long as they are in at least pairs they just do their own thing. The aquarium should be at least 20gal (bigger is always better of course).
I foster 9 gerbils right now and I love them!
I made a play pen for them and they spend several hours a day in there. Underneath, I got those foam mats that link together. I put pipes, stuff to chew on and boxes in it. The foam mats are easy to wipe off with mild soap and water. As long as you don't have anything high in there where they could jump on and jump over the boards, they can't get out. If I have a box that might be a little bit higher, I put it right into the middle. I never had a problem:

[Summer_Rat]

Yes becareful gerbils sure can jump. Someone on another forum had her gerb go nearly 3 feet o.0

[nevadamoon]

Gerbils are FUN.  I once had a super-tame gerbil, but now I have some pretty crazy jumpy-boys.  They chew like nothing you can imagine.  Anything plastic will be destroyed.

Sand probably isn't a great idea, but what I do (and they can tunnel/dig like crazy) is just give them boxes every day, and they completely destroy them.   I take out 1/4-1/2 of it every week, (It's never been smelly, I just.. can't stand the idea of -not- cleaning a cage) and they're quick to tear up more.  They seem to enjoy it, anyway.  (And, cuts down on garbage...) 

I don't know how high they can jump, but as long as you have a lid on the cage, it should be fine.

[Ratlovingkippy06]

 no worries the sand idea was a dream idea but i just have a ton of aspen for them to dig in I know thw basics on gerbils because of my job and i have been reading on them

[nevadamoon]

http://www.egerbil.com/playground.html

That's a really nifty playground idea.   Haven't tried building it, but boy I've been itching to.  Has the look of sand, but has tunnels and is safe. 

Did you get gerbils?    Pictures?

[Ratlovingkippy06]

 FINALLY after a weeks wait i GOT THEM!! They are soo cute, i just love watching them