Gerbils

[Ratlovingkippy06]

I am looking into maybe getting  a pair of Gerbils from a shelter and i have a 20 long tank. I have always wanted to try and put gerbils on their natural bedding( sand), just to watch them dig.. dig and dig and tunnel.. tunnel I would put at least half full of sand and i was thinking about maybe having a set up similar to what people do with land/water animals. Have some kind of wall blocking or splitting the two  have half sand .. almost like a sand box. Than have the other side, bedding, dirt something also fun. I want to have enough space but have a really cool natural set up that the gerbils will really love. Any ideas?

[Moondust]

while I think it would be cool, I would avoid the sand, because the tunnels can collapse on the critters; it isn't as safe in a tank as out in the wild.  Fantastic idea otherwise.  I don't have any other input to add, if you can find a way to make it work safely then I'd love to see pictures.

[Ratlovingkippy06]

 i have been readinga round and i am setting up my 20 long for two gerbils i have 3 types of bedding in it there is sand at the bottom, some new sun seed bedding and i have some aspen on top( will be getting more). I know they LOVE aspen so i think i will research and fool around with what they like to see what works and what doesn't once i get them. I already have  everything, soild wheel, wood house so they can crew on it, tubes and i will be using Mazuri Pellets. I also hear Timonthy hay is nice so i will put some in there as well,

 Please let me know if there are any tips
 or pictures of the homes for your gerbils for some ideas

[Randomrat]

I use aspen and paper shreddings for my gerbils. The paper shreddings help keep the tunnels strong for them. My girls also love their mesh wheel but I have to unbury daily.

[Ratlovingkippy06]

 i have the cage set up and i went to petsmart and got Mazuri pellets because i know the seed forumla isn't very healthy. There is a solid wheel, wooden house, tubes to crew up, non plastic food dish, water bottle and aspen bedding.. Anything else? daa the Gerbils

[Topaz]

i have the cage set up and i went to petsmart and got Mazuri pellets because i know the seed forumla isn't very healthy. There is a solid wheel, wooden house, tubes to crew up, non plastic food dish, water bottle and aspen bedding.. Anything else? daa the Gerbils

Sounds like you're on a good start.  I wouldn't give anything plastic, IMO, as in my experience it always gets chewed.  The rescue gerbs I just took in were in a my first home hamster cage with all plastic accessories...that no long exist (including their comfort wheel.)  I'm no gerb expert, but I prefer all metal or chewable things for them.

p.s. Did you get the pics of the two boys in need of a home?

[Ratlovingkippy06]

[
p.s. Did you get the pics of the two boys in need of a home?
[/quote]

 yes i got the pictures i really wanted a black and Gray gerbil but Bluefrog said that we might be able to put two groups together? I am just not sure i want to get into that just yet.  i am still thinking.

[Ratlovingkippy06]

[Topaz]

Looks good, but I'd ditch the plastic wheel if I were you...it may get chewed to bits.  Can't tell very well from the other photos, but based on the first one they may want more bedding to dig and tunnel through.

[Ratlovingkippy06]

 I ran out of bedding but added a LOT more the next day I change them every week, sometimes they really don't need it but i love changing it up and making things more fun for them and for me to watch. I just got  chinchilla dust bath from Petsmart and put a shoebox lid filled with the dust and they LOVE IT I read in a book that they would enjoy it and its good for them too. The animal planet series at petsmart is really good, i am learning a lot from the books.

[Kaczie]

Nice cage!
Mine also chews anything and everything so I've ditched plastic and have gone strictly with wood and occasionally I give her some fleece bedding pieces that I make.

You could use sand but you'd need something else to "firm" it up. I'm thinking some kind of soil and possibly some aspen shavings would hold the tunnels better.

[Ratlovingkippy06]

 yeah i was thinking of mixing soil and sand together and having aspen. we saw Gerbils at the zoo in New YOrK Bronx which is an awesome zoo. They are very spoiled girls, I give them a ton of bedding, they have 3 houses, a ton of tubes to chew up, a bowl filled sand for dust baths, i need to get a new wheel because i need a silent one. I give them Timothy hay everyday  as well. they are in a 20 long are i really just enjoy watching them enjoy life. They come up to see me and i can hold them but i don't normally do too much because i don't want to stress them out.

[Chevalrose]

I usually put a whole medium bag of aspen in my gerbils 20g. I have the huts and stuff burried a little and they dig everywhere! They love it.

My boys have never used the wheel though...they knock them over and use them as housing :-).

[Ratlovingkippy06]

 I  normally put everything in, fill bedding 1/3 or more put hay in and let them play and add more bedding every few days. They do use the wheel but mine are girls.