Deb Rebel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote
>On 1 June, I 'rescued' four communities of gerbils; one has about twenty
>five members! Now that I have over fifty gerbils, I am in 'crash course'
>mode.
>
>I normally breed dwarf campbell and long haired syrian hamsters;
>I supply a few local petstores with good quality animals as a steady
>supplier.
>
>Right now I am treating them as chinese dwarf hamsters:
>expert jumpers, voracious chewers, and desire to wreak havoc
>and get loose to the extreme.
Hi!
Most of the questions you ask are answered in the Gerbil FAQ
http://www.gerbils.co.uk/gerbils/gerbfaq.htm
Please feel free to ask any other questions you have. There is a lot of
experience of gerbil keeping here and I am sure we will be able to help
you.
I understand from your other mail that you have had replies, but as none
were copied here I have set out a few things which I hope is consistent
with what you have already had.
There are a few articles on the web I have referred you to which you may
find helpful.
You say in your other posting that you need to find homes. You can
advertise for free at:
http://www.gerbils.co.uk/gerbils/advert.htm
>
>1.) what is the best caging/housing for a gerbil community cluster?
>The groups I have range from five to over twenty five members. I
>have a need for ESCAPE proof and inexpensive, please.
Glass tanks with weighted wire lids. Aquarium tanks abandoned or sold
cheap as "leakers" are OK for gerbils.
>
>2.) I have a custom mix of feed made up for my hamsters; which
>does include several grains, from millet, oats, wheat, barley,
>corn, and includes some shelled peanuts and black stripe sunflower
>seeds. I've been told that peanuts and sunflower seeds are not
>'good' for gerbils. ? What would be a good mix to feed?
Hamster mix will do. it is just that Gerbils need less fat than hamsters
and tend to have a sunflower addiction! A hamster mix without most of
the sunflower seeds is probably OK.
>
>3.) Life expectancy? Average?
Something like three years. Five years is not uncommon, but is not
usual.
>
>4.) I've been told that if one mixes juveniles or adults from different
>groups, they will fight, seriously. Can one mix very young animals
>(sometime after weaning) together, then? And if so, what age is
>that..and when does it get to be a problem?
If the gerbils are over about eight weeks mixing groups is very
dangerous. Rule number one is never to introduce groups of gerbils older
than that. Adult Gerbils can be introduced but only one to one and only
using special preparation. See:
http://www.gerbils.co.uk/gerbils/intro.htm
>
>5.) Related to #4, one can take individuals from one community
>group and keep them together? Such as taking two animals from
>a larger group and keeping them together (finding a home for them
>under someone else's care....)? You can break down a family group
>by separation into smaller groups?
Yes, no problem. If you need help sexing them there are some
illustrations at:
http://www.gerbils.co.uk/gerbils/gender.htm
>
>6.) Some space requirements would be appreciated also. I know
>what the hamsters I keep need; I have no idea because of the
>communal cluster nature of gerbils, what those needs are.
Gerbils do not require an awful lot of space. A ten gallon tank will do
for a pair. A twenty gallon will probably do for four or five gerbils if
space is limited.
Be warned that groups of females become more unstable the larger the
group. A pair will normally be OK. But many owners avoid keeping three
or more females together unless it is unavoidable. See
http://www.gerbils.co.uk/gerbils/fighting.htm
>
>Sigh. I did not realize what I was getting into when I accepted these
>animals, but they could not stay where they were as they were, either.
>Any private email with some help would be appreciated.
Gerbils are probably easier to keep than most other small mammals. I am
sure you will not regret obtaining your new acquisitions! :-)
>
>At the moment, the groups are in temporary housing (which needs
>to be replaced before it gets gnawed through!) with lots of cardboard
>tubes, chunks of pine, carrots, my hamster mix feed, and a mix of
>shredded paper (very fine soft-ripped chunks, not paper shredder
>strip stuff) and pine shavings for bedding.
Sounds good but aspen is much safer for gerbils than pine if it is
available. They will enjoy a sand bath also.
Sundays is a day some of us meet for a chat at 7pm GMT. You are welcome
to come and ask more questions:
http://www.gerbils.co.uk/gerbils/chat.htm
--
Julian
************************************************************************
* Jackie and Julian *
* [EMAIL PROTECTED] *
* National Gerbil Society *
* http://www.gerbils.co.uk/ *
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