----- Original Message -----
From: "Sarah Davies" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2001 3:58 PM
Subject: gerbil cages
>i am coming to realize the crittertrail cage(gerbil ) is causing my girl
compulsive >digging in the corner because i cant put too deep of shavings in
the cage(she >kicks them out of the bars) and chewing on the bars is making
her nose sore.
It dosn't matter how much litter you could put in the cage. She would dig
anyway. It's a gerbil thing. Gerbils spend a great deal of time in the wild
digging and remodling their tunnels and dens. Our pet gerbies haven't gotten
over this instinct and problably never will ;) As for chewing the bars,
that's also a gerbil thing. She will never stop. I know, I'v had one of
these setups.
>i spent $50 on this cage just resently so i am hesitent not to get my use
out of it.
Get a hamster for the cage.
>i am also getting another female to be paired with her.....
Check out the Dani Clan page on introductions of gerbils. It is absolutly
requiered that you use a split cage for this. Lest you end up playing gerbil
paramedic.
http://www.geocities.com/danigerb/care.html#split
> Do you all think i should give the larger cage to the mouse.....
Nope
>get a 20- gal for the females,
A 10 gallon is sufficent for two gerbils, but a 20 gallon is ok too :)
and save the smaller cage for future cages for weaned pups till they're sold
(when i decide to breed).
Another two 10 gallon cages at minimum, when you start breeding. You'll want
to separate the pups by sex at six weeks. Don't want rampant inbreening ;)
> i can keep tidbit in the 10- gal till he's healed and big enough for
another
> male companion?
Sounds like a good plan for Tidbit. It'll be easer for him to accept a male
pup under 10 weeks of age. The yunger the better. Males are rather maternal
to pups.
Cinthia A. Dunn-Izquierdo
The Izzy Clan
