>Here's my list:
>
>10-20 gallon aquarium (from any pet store 10$ and up)
>ToughTop screen top (6.99 - online pet store like pets.com)
>ToughTop screen clips (1.29 - online)
Or one Jumbo sized Kritter Keeper. $20. It is almost the
same footprint as a 10 gallon tank. It is pretty escape proof.
Fairly easy to clean. Visibility is excellent.
Lid has some holes you can punch out and retrofit tubes into,
if you feel fancy. I have not done this but it is possible. I also
like the excellent ventilation the lid gives, even if you stack
them. And the little central access hatch.
>Carefresh litter (on-line)
In Colorado, there is a place in Greeley that shreds
up old phone books and mushmances and sells it
as a recycled paper bedding. A huge bale of it
(about the equivalent of a 10CU [fluffed] pine
shaving bale) is like 3.50 a bag.... This stuff is
softly ripped edge, not cut, and pretty fine (chunks
are about a quarter inch square or a little smaller).
>L&M gerbil food (on-line 5lbs for 3.49$)
I get a custom mix, closer to Hartz Gourmet Hamster
and Gerbil food, for 53 cents a pound (problem is
the batch is 200# a shot). The fellow that mixes
delivers, though. :) [he lives across the street....]
>Water bottles (2.29 from Walmart)
Nonclimbable Lixits are around $5-7; the ones from
Walmart they chew up and climb and you need guards
unless you can mount them outside with the spout going
in...
>KMR kitten replacement milk (from Walmart superstore)
>Cute little ceramic bowls (on-line .99-1.49)
>Roll-a-nest (online $2.49)
4 pack of unscented undyed toliet tissue-about a dollar
on sale (Charmin and Northern, good stuff). They think
it's great for bedding stuff, and there are no fibers to cause
harm. It does not take long to shred up a few sheets or
several, and they will finish shredding it to size themselves.
Also, the center roll will occupy a pair for about ten minutes....
>Run around ball (on-line $2.99)
>Wheels (still looking for a cheap place to get these)
>Oodles chic n cheez chews (online)
I find that mine like cheapo generic slashed box scratch-n-dent
corn flakes. They think they're great. It's fun to listen to them
munch them also. They like CF's as much as peanuts. A box
is 50-75 cents and lasts. Just dump box contents into a ziplock
bag and give the gerbils the beat up box minus the wax-paper
liner and they'll finish destroying it. Two goodies in one-treat AND
entertainment!
Neighbor just trimmed off a large broken branch on his apple tree.
I was over there and got a LOT of branch material that would be
about 3/4 inch (2 cm) thick after peeling, about 4 inches (10 cm)
long. I left the bark on, popped it into lengths, and put them into
icecream pails right away and stuffed them in the chest freezer.
Until I ship my little ones are gnawing good, then I will give some
to those that are keeping stock for me...and when i start up again,
I will get more and store them that way, to keep the pieces 'fresh'...
>Are there any other great gerbil products I should add to my list? (I'm
>going to try out the alfalfa, it's in my next shipment).
Any place like Hobby Lobby that sells 'Wild Goose' science equipment
for homeschoolers...they sell a pack of three glass eyedroppers for
about $3. These come in very handy.
Walmart-Blackburn brand light corn syrup. About a dollar for a bottle.
Keep it on hand in case you have a sick gerbil. I use it to jump start
the rehydration process, that you continue with KMR. It gives energy
quicker to bring metabolism back up.
2-3 5 quart ice cream pails with lids. These are so handy. You can
get el-cheapo icecream for about $5 a pail, eat the icecream in
homemade shakes (milk and blender) and recycle the pail. They
can be used to store feed, place a sick gerbil close under a light
for warmth when they are really bad off, and even short term hauling
of a gerbil (one side of the house to the other or over to the neighbor
next door only. Punch a few holes in the lid).
Hand sanitizer goo. Purex does a nice stuff, it's clear. I keep an
eye out for sales, go for the jumbo bottle, and refill the smaller ones
from the larger ones I stash.
>Also, Linda R. sent me the best site for coupons:
>http://www.bargains4pets.com/ click "Coupons" "M-Z". Using one of
>these coupons more than pays for the shipping.
P.S., I did forward you one coupon, was it any good?
Deb
Rebel's Rodent Ranch
