----- Original Message -----
From: Beki Jones <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2001 1:40 PM
Subject: CJ Morris response to peat based bedding question
> .> For the others who responded to me and suggested peat may be dangerous
and
> cause cave-ins - can I do this set up with another substance you could
> recommend? I have them on wood shavings at the moment but they are
useless
> for them to tunnel in, they can only move the stuff about and live on the
> surface, since woodshavings do not compact down, its like digging in a
pile
> of feathers.
>
I put permanent tunnels in the bottom of the tank. You can use thick
cardboard tubes (e.g the tubes that new carpets are rolled around which you
saw up into pieces) and renew them periodically or you can buy ceramic tubes
from aquarium suppliers.. The latter even supply corner pieces, so you can
have the tunnels going round in circles. The ceramic tubes, of course, can
be washed when the cage is cleaned, so are quite economical in the long run.
I then cover up the tubes with a very thick layer of woodchips or
paper-based litter. The gerbils have to burrow down to get to their
underground quarters. It gives them a place to hide and extends the amount
of space available to them considerably, but the tubes are easily lifted and
replaced if I want to get at a gerbil in an emergency.
Sue
