>> Nice pictures of your baby gerbils the orange ones might be red foxes >> (saffrons) or argentes. I saw cotton type bedding being used. This >> should be removed because fibers can wrap around limbs or cause an >> impaction if swallowed. Plain white bathroom tissues or napkins are >> safer. > >I tried using toilet paper for nesting material, but they just used the >bathroom on it and otherwise ignored it. They've survived 23 days and >are used to it. Should I still change it? What if the mother refuses to >make a nest out of it? Fibers are dangerous. Cotton or polyfill, or cloth, thread, or hair; have fibers that do not easily break. They can wrap around limbs and amputate them, necks and strangle...and if ingested, do not break down and will cause fatal intestinal blockages. Which is a very painful way for an animal to die, it takes a few days. NEVER EVER use any sort of fiber. Take it out IMMEDIATELY. It is just a matter of time until your animals are hurt or killed. Shred the toilet paper, rip it up into small bits, and offer it. I usually offer about four sheets ripped up to start with, and they will learn to use it for bedding-nest stuff. Toilet tissue is made of very very short fibers, that are 'soluable', that is, they break down when they get wet. If ingested, they will come apart and not wrap or wad up. If you give gerbils large chunks or whole sheets of tissue, they will use it for toilet purposes...so rip it up fine. Cardboard toilet tissue tubes, they chew them up and will also recycle the small bits into bedding. Just because your animals are still alive after 23 days does not mean they are safe. Remove that fiber stuff immediately. As for the mother making a nest with the tissue, give her time. She may not line the nest solid but you will find the tissue being used after a few days. If you see it being used, rip up a few more sheets and offer those.... Deb Rebel's Rodent Ranch
