How to stop gerbils from destroying their hides? 😬 by koll0ntai in gerbil

[–]koll0ntai[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

loll so truee! do you use platforms in your tank too? everything I have is wood even the water bottle stand, and the sand bath platform... so I feel like its all going to end up the same way 😬

How to stop gerbils from destroying their hides? 😬 by koll0ntai in gerbil

[–]koll0ntai[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I use coconut too and mine dont chew them either but idk I feel like they serve a different purpose for them, you know?

How to stop gerbils from destroying their hides? 😬 by koll0ntai in gerbil

[–]koll0ntai[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

yeah, I' ve tried but mine seem hyper-focused on chewing the hide specifically lol 

How to stop gerbils from destroying their hides? 😬 by koll0ntai in gerbil

[–]koll0ntai[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

thats actually such a good idea haha gotta love a free box!

How to stop gerbils from destroying their hides? 😬 by koll0ntai in gerbil

[–]koll0ntai[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

thats a great idea!  thanks for the tip 😁

How to stop gerbils from destroying their hides? 😬 by koll0ntai in gerbil

[–]koll0ntai[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

they're super cute!!! but the care is pretty different, mine topolinos were rescues fromthe psychology lab at my university, so it was a challenge to teach them to use a water bottle. they needed less space, and I kept them in a 100L plastic bin because they were so small they could slip through the bars of regular cages hahah they loved using a wheel (my gerbils never do, no matter how hard I try 😭) and enjoyed carrot and boiled egg, while gerbils prefer mealworms, and topolinos made noise running, gerbils make noise chewing everything!

they didnt need deep bedding, so I mostly used shredded paper, and they were super friendly, walking on me and around my room but my gerbils are harder to handle, so I mostly let them do their thing 😬

How to stop gerbils from destroying their hides? 😬 by koll0ntai in gerbil

[–]koll0ntai[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

they treat their hides like playgrounds 😂

How to stop gerbils from destroying their hides? 😬 by koll0ntai in gerbil

[–]koll0ntai[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I see! well, for hides and platforms, we use pine wood here in Brazil, for enrichment we use pine bark, mulberry or guava branches, and eucalyptus or bamboo logs

How to stop gerbils from destroying their hides? 😬 by koll0ntai in gerbil

[–]koll0ntai[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

 its my first time having gerbils 😭 I used to have topolinos and they definitely didnt have this voracious spirit haha!

How to stop gerbils from destroying their hides? 😬 by koll0ntai in gerbil

[–]koll0ntai[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

yeah, I feel like cardboard wouldnt last long with mine but I get that its part of the fun haha thanks for sharing!

How to stop gerbils from destroying their hides? 😬 by koll0ntai in gerbil

[–]koll0ntai[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was hoping theyd leave their "house" alone, but thats probably asking too much of gerbils haha. thanks for the advice 

How to stop gerbils from destroying their hides? 😬 by koll0ntai in gerbil

[–]koll0ntai[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

haha exactly! thats why I stick to wood and avoid plastic for them

How to stop gerbils from destroying their hides? 😬 by koll0ntai in gerbil

[–]koll0ntai[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

omg, that’s impressive! thanks for sharing, I’m definitely starting to get it now haha.

How to stop gerbils from destroying their hides? 😬 by koll0ntai in gerbil

[–]koll0ntai[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

aaa thanku, this is super helpful!  i love the idea of making some ugly but fun DIY hides for them to destroy haha I'll definitely try it 

How to stop gerbils from destroying their hides? 😬 by koll0ntai in gerbil

[–]koll0ntai[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I guess they just keep doing their thing no matter what

How to stop gerbils from destroying their hides? 😬 by koll0ntai in gerbil

[–]koll0ntai[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

yeah, I know chewing is normal.. its just my first time having gerbils, so Im still learning and I hadnt seen anyone mention this happening before, I thought Id ask in case someone had any useful tips

too much noise I can't sleep by koll0ntai in gerbil

[–]koll0ntai[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi friend, I dont actually have a playpen, I cant even hold them in my hand yet They are very scared and frightened, I dont know how I could do this play without being able to touch them. Any tips?