I have no trouble at all with the tameness of my gerbils on peat...I simply
remove all the pumpkin seeds from their mixture and if they want one they
stand on their hind legs and look up at the cover when I'm around....they
become competitive for the seeds with each other and tame themselves. I just
let them sit on my hand at first, then slowly through their own
inquisitiveness. they explore my arms and neck... I encourage them back to
my hand with another pumpkin seed (I break them up into four for the pups)
and lower them into the tank where I will be greeted by the next...the pups
learn very quickly from their parents and I have tamed all my pups except
one by the time they where adopted. the one I didn't succeed with is a
little 'runt' called titch she was an only pup and had no one to compete
with. she is however hand tame as she will sit there, but run off with the
seed once I give it to her.
cheers
Colin
----- Original Message -----
From: "suegreen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2001 9:28 AM
Subject: Re: Peat Bedding Question
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> > Beki Jones <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote
> >
> > >I actually managed to catch Pet Rescue on Friday (UK TV show on, well,
> > >rescuing of pet LOL), and the appeal at the end was looking for a home
> for
> > >two female gerbils. They were offering these girls with a large
> acquarium
> > >which they said was filled with Peat (called it a peatarium) which they
> said
> > >was the best thing to keep gerbils in. I want to do this with my two
> > >acquariums. so:
> > >
> From: Julian and Jackie <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Sent: Monday, June 04, 2001 8:52 PM
> Subject: Re: Peat Bedding Question
>
> >
> > You are summarising many of the issues that make keeping gerbils on peat
> > such hard work. Bear in mind it is much heavier than other materials,
> > the water spray will tend to make uneaten food go mouldy or sprout, and
> > gerbils on peat will tend to spend a lot of time underground and can
> > become more timid and less tame. Further, some people have found that
> > the peat is so heavy it can collapse and injure gerbils.
> >
> > I am not saying you can't use peat, but it is a lot of work to keep it
> > safe.
>
>
> I agree with Julian and would also add that when I tried this I found that
> the gerbils succumbed to respiratory infections a lot. You have to keep
the
> peat moist, otherwise the tunnels cave in with potentially fatal results.
> However, gerbils do not like humidity.
>
> Furthermore, if you care about the environment, you should try to find
> alternatives to peat.
>
> Sue
>
