10 replies to this topic

[caribug]

Hi,

I've been unsuccessful in finding dwarf hamsters for adoption, but there is a sweet gerbil pair at my local SPCA that's caught my attention. I know the basics about how gerbils chew more, live longer, need a lot of enrichment, etc. but is my cage setup okay for gerbils? How would I need to modify it?

Apart from my hamster food mix I have a few bags of Higgins VitaGarden. It's labeled for hamsters and gerbils, but would it be a good food for them?

Here's my cage. I would probably take out the wheel since it's plastic, and add deeper bedding. More chews would be good too, right? 

https://ibb.co/W6jR3xb

https://ibb.co/x1sz0bF

What else would I need to know about gerbil care?

Thank you!

 

(edit: added tags)

Edited by caribug, 24 December 2021 - 11:42 PM.

[beanthesmallbean]

hello!
i’ve never owned gerbils so i can’t help you too much as to the food.
However, if you are 100% sure you want to own gerbils, and not wait for a hamster, i can help a bit with the cage!
For one, the nite angel wheel seems to be the one plastic wheel gerbil owners can use. i would just monitor it closely and replace for signs of chewing.
i’m not 100% sure how deep the bedding is but i would shoot for at the very least 12+”, ideally 15+”.

[daisy~]

Yes, that tank and almost everything in it will work great for gerbils.

 

The only I might consider removing is the multi-chamber hides because those have been implicated in declans (fights) in gerbils. Possibly because of all the tiny rooms and narrow doorways, which makes it easy for one gerbil to trap and bully another. Replace them with a single chamber house or nest box, ideally with more than one entrance, or you could try to remove the inner dividers from the multi-chamber hide.

 

You can leave the wheel in. It's a good size for gerbils and many gerbils don't actually chew their wheels. It's a thicker kind of plastic that's hard for them to chew.

 

With the sand bath, you will want to paint or seal that raised platform above the sand because the gerbils will choose that spot to pee on. They love a raised surface to pee on and the wood will be ruined unless it's protected. You will also want to do the same with the tops of any houses or platforms for the same reason.

 

Your tank setup is already very well-suited to gerbils as it is, but you could add some platforms and grapevines buried in the bedding to help support their tunnels.

Honestly, gerbils don't need a lot of "chews" as such. They will be fine with chewing their houses, cork logs etc, plus any cardboard and hay you give them. The pet store chews are mostly a waste of money. Things like willow balls are great fun for gerbils but they're destroyed in two minutes so they're more of a special treat.

 

Higgins VitaGarden will work for gerbils. 

 

Join The Gerbil Forum for more information and friendly advice!

[caribug]

hello!
i’ve never owned gerbils so i can’t help you too much as to the food.
However, if you are 100% sure you want to own gerbils, and not wait for a hamster, i can help a bit with the cage!
For one, the nite angel wheel seems to be the one plastic wheel gerbil owners can use. i would just monitor it closely and replace for signs of chewing.
i’m not 100% sure how deep the bedding is but i would shoot for at the very least 12+”, ideally 15+”.

Thank you! i won't remove the wheel then, and i'll add more bedding!

 

Yes, that tank and almost everything in it will work great for gerbils.

 

The only I might consider removing is the multi-chamber hides because those have been implicated in declans (fights) in gerbils. Possibly because of all the tiny rooms and narrow doorways, which makes it easy for one gerbil to trap and bully another. Replace them with a single chamber house or nest box, ideally with more than one entrance, or you could try to remove the inner dividers from the multi-chamber hide.

 

You can leave the wheel in. It's a good size for gerbils and many gerbils don't actually chew their wheels. It's a thicker kind of plastic that's hard for them to chew.

 

With the sand bath, you will want to paint or seal that raised platform above the sand because the gerbils will choose that spot to pee on. They love a raised surface to pee on and the wood will be ruined unless it's protected. You will also want to do the same with the tops of any houses or platforms for the same reason.

 

Your tank setup is already very well-suited to gerbils as it is, but you could add some platforms and grapevines buried in the bedding to help support their tunnels.

Honestly, gerbils don't need a lot of "chews" as such. They will be fine with chewing their houses, cork logs etc, plus any cardboard and hay you give them. The pet store chews are mostly a waste of money. Things like willow balls are great fun for gerbils but they're destroyed in two minutes so they're more of a special treat.

 

Higgins VitaGarden will work for gerbils. 

 

Join The Gerbil Forum for more information and friendly advice!

 

Okay, i'll make sure to remove the dividers in the multi-chamber houses! the sand bath is neat because you can remove the platform in it, so i'll go ahead and do that. i'll need to figure out a way to pee-proof the tops of the wooden houses 

Thanks for all the help! do you know if gerbils can/should have Mazuri rat&mouse mixed into their Higgins food like it's recommended for hamsters? I heard they don't need as much protein as hamsters do, so i might not, but i have a bag of Mazuri and i don't know if i can use it.

I'll make sure to join the Gerbil forum, thank you!

Edited by caribug, 25 December 2021 - 02:04 AM.

[caribug]

Oh, about the Niteangel wheel, i read on a review that someone's chinchilla (i believe?) got their tail severed because it got stuck in a gap between the circle thing at the center and the wheel. Has this happened with gerbils? I just want to make sure it's safe.

Edited by caribug, 25 December 2021 - 02:09 AM.

[daisy~]

They don't need Mazuri. If they are under 6 months you may want to feed them a little extra protein and for this purpose you can feed mealworms, crickets, scrambled egg etc.

[daisy~]

Oh, about the Niteangel wheel, i read on a review that someone's chinchilla (i believe?) got their tail severed because it got stuck in a gap between the circle thing at the center and the wheel. Has this happened with gerbils? I just want to make sure it's safe.

 

I haven't heard of that happening with a gerbil, but if it happened to a chinchilla it's possible. To be safe, you could look for a different wheel (at least 11" in diameter).

[saf]

Oh, about the Niteangel wheel, i read on a review that someone's chinchilla (i believe?) got their tail severed because it got stuck in a gap between the circle thing at the center and the wheel. Has this happened with gerbils? I just want to make sure it's safe.

 

You are able to remove the circle "cover" piece and the wheel will still operate as normal. Emiology talks about and displays this here.

[caribug]

You are able to remove the circle "cover" piece and the wheel will still operate as normal. Emiology talks about and displays this here.

That's awesome, thank you! I went ahead and removed the cover piece, added the extra bag of bedding, and removed the wooden tops of the multi-chamber hides-- I'll see if I can find gerbil-safe hides with two entrances. I also went ahead and subscribed to Emiology. I love seeing pet YouTubers who promote good rodent care 

 

They don't need Mazuri. If they are under 6 months you may want to feed them a little extra protein and for this purpose you can feed mealworms, crickets, scrambled egg etc.

Thanks! They are 3 months old, so if I adopt them I'll make sure to do that. Mealworms sold for fish are also okay for gerbils, right? And as far as treats go, do gerbils like the same things hamsters do? I already have some millet spray.

[daisy~]

That's awesome, thank you! I went ahead and removed the cover piece, added the extra bag of bedding, and removed the wooden tops of the multi-chamber hides-- I'll see if I can find gerbil-safe hides with two entrances. I also went ahead and subscribed to Emiology. I love seeing pet YouTubers who promote good rodent care 

 

Thanks! They are 3 months old, so if I adopt them I'll make sure to do that. Mealworms sold for fish are also okay for gerbils, right? And as far as treats go, do gerbils like the same things hamsters do? I already have some millet spray.

 

I'm not familiar with mealworms sold for fish. Are they dried? If so, they should be fine. Gerbils can eat anything hamsters can, and for the most part have similar preferences.

 

Also, I should clarify, the wooden platform above the sand and house tops aren't a bad thing and they shouldn't necessarily be removed. They're actually good because gerbils really like a raised flat surface to pee on, and it makes spot cleaning much easier. It's just that they need to be protected so the wood isn't ruined.

[caribug]

I'm not familiar with mealworms sold for fish. Are they dried? If so, they should be fine. Gerbils can eat anything hamsters can, and for the most part have similar preferences.

 

Also, I should clarify, the wooden platform above the sand and house tops aren't a bad thing and they shouldn't necessarily be removed. They're actually good because gerbils really like a raised flat surface to pee on, and it makes spot cleaning much easier. It's just that they need to be protected so the wood isn't ruined.

Yes, they're dried.

Oh, okay. I think I might get a specific surface for them to pee on too, something to put in the sand bath. I'll see if I can find pet-safe paint to protect the lids, then. Thank you!