-----Original Message-----
From: Adam Skinner [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2000 1:12 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: sand
Actually, I AM interested in a dirt/sand tank. How would you go about
making one?
--GerbilBoy87
If you have a local greenhouse, that's best. They usually mix their own organic
potting soil, except they bake it to free it from bacteria, etc. The mix by itself
was too light, so I bought straight black dirt from them (AFTER it had been baked) to
mix with the regular potting mix (included peat moss and other "lighter" additives),
and would pack it tightly into a 10-gallon, filling it about half-way (it needed to be
slightly damp to do this well). Getting dirt this way obviously requires a little
research into the contents of their soil mixes, and a willingness on the part of the
greenhouse to produce a strange "special order" for you. You can bake soil yourself,
I hear, but it stinks to high heaven I guess. Plus, you never know what kinds of
chemicals have seeped into the ground around neighborhoods from pesticides,
fertilizers, etc.
Always put several "supports" in the bottom of the tank before filling it (i.e. rocks,
jars full of dirt, etc.) or your gerbils will dig so much the burrow will collapse on
them. ALso, make sure that your tank is not in an area that needs to stay pristinely
clean, as inevitably some dirt will come flying out of the top of the tank. Also, I
noticed that some of my gerbils needed a little "help" to get them started or they
would simply push the dirt around on the top of the pile, like they would regular wood
bedding. I would partially bury a PVC pipe, and they'd start digging from there. I
cleaned it when it started to smell (about 2 weeks).
Disadvantages are: it's dirty. The dirt is very heavy and harder to acquire than
shavings. The tank is also more difficult to clean when it's time. The dirt must be
slightly damp for good tunneling, making it a little more likely that they'll be
exposed to molds, etc. I had a pair of gerbils who brought food down into their
burrow once and it started to grow mold, although they did not get sick from this.
They seem to be attracted to pooping and peeing in the dirt rather than shavings.
Must be used as a cage addition, not an only enclosure, as they will promply bury any
food, water, wheel, etc. They also seemed to want to keep their nest elsewhere (less
damp?) most of the time.
Advantages are: It satisfies their need to burrow, and their need for stimulation.
It's absolutely amazing to watch! You can dump the soil outside when you're done
(with added fertilizer compliments of the gerbils)!
I have a couple (not-so-great) pictures I could email to anybody's who's interested.
Let me know.
Molly
