Minimum Size Cage For A Pair Of Gerbils. - Paw Talk

Fuzzy · #1 11-07-2005, 09:30 PM

Hello,

Before I got my gerbils, I did a lot of research but no sources really said the minimum size cage that is good. I have a guinea pig starter cage with a deep-dish. I think its like 30 inches long. and pretty high. I didnt get an aquarium for fear of overheating and other greenhouse effects. My gerbils dont chew the cages. I've only seen them chew on the bars twice and I am almost always around them. Anyways, what is a good minimum size cage?

Padfoot · #2 11-07-2005, 09:54 PM

People always suggest using tanks for gerbils cause of what you said of chewing. General rule is 5 gallons of space per gerbil. The bigger the better, though. A 10g tank is 20" x 10", so I'm guessing that your cage has more floor space than that, so that's great for a pai of gerbils. If you want you could even make a second level. I buy some shelves for organizing kitchen cabinets that are sold on k-mart and wal-mart, and put them in to make a second level and they love it!

andreaS15 · #3 11-07-2005, 11:33 PM

Tanks are also recomended for gerbils because they keep out drafts, and you can put alot of beding in for them to burrow, unlike a cage it will fall out the sides and make a huge mess.

Fuzzy · #4 11-08-2005, 03:13 PM

I have never reached any burrowing problems where the substrate gets knocked out of the dish. The dish is about 6 inches thick and I put 3-4 inches of substrate in my cage.

andreaS15 · #5 11-08-2005, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuzzy


	I have never reached any burrowing problems where the substrate gets knocked out of the dish. The dish is about 6 inches thick and I put 3-4 inches of substrate in my cage.

substrate? dish?
Are we talking about the same thing?? or do i need a nap lol (actualy i feel like one)

Fuzzy · #6 11-08-2005, 07:58 PM

The dish is the bottom of a cage. Like the plastic/metal part where the cage bars attach to. And substrate is bedding, haha. Sorry for the confusion.

The dish is the purple bottom.

Zouave · #7 11-08-2005, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuzzy


	Hello, Before I got my gerbils, I did a lot of research but no sources really said the minimum size cage. . .

Better do more research. Gerbils do not belong in cages.

andreaS15 · #8 11-09-2005, 01:11 AM

The reason it's not falling out then is b/c you don't have enough in :p
I had a gerbil in a cage once, and OMG what a mess. It was one of those Habitrails with a plastic bottom and side (it was all i could afford at the time, along time ago). I put carboard down the back and a cardboard pop tray up front to "try" and catch all the beding being chucked out.
I would never use a cage again, not just b/c of the mess but there are to many things bad about them, and no things bad about Tanks. So tanks it is.

Fuzzy · #9 11-09-2005, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zouave


	Better do more research. Gerbils do not belong in cages.

In saying cages I meant generally any habitat. I know this. The cage is only temporary anyways. Maybe another day or so.

Secondly, I put about 4 inches of bedding. Which is pretty much what every gerbil caresheet I've seen reccommend.

andreaS15 · #10 11-09-2005, 05:20 PM

ooohh ! ! ! ... i bought my first "bin" cage.
I LOVE it LOL.... i didn't think i would. but it's nice and light, you can see through it, lots of room too. And SUPER cheap, cost me $7 and all I had to do was drill holes all over the top.

So if $$ is short I reccomend them now... though i wasn't sure before.

Hanlou · #11 11-09-2005, 06:39 PM

Just another thought, what's the bar spacing like? Guinea pig cages often have fairly wide bar spacing, which could mean escaping gerbils!

I agree with the comments made though, tanks are better for gerbils. Though ventilation is very important, gerbils don't suffer from the respiratory problems that mice and rats do, so it's not such an issue for them. All the gerbils I've ever had, have gnawed the bars.

Fuzzy · #12 11-09-2005, 08:28 PM

Mine dont chew the bars. Except if they get bored when im cleaning the cage and taking out everything. The cage I have, the bars are super close to each other. There noses are almost too big for the cage bar's spacing. Its a really weird looking cage I got at PetsMart.

Fuzzy · #13 11-09-2005, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andreaS15


	ooohh ! ! ! ... i bought my first "bin" cage. I LOVE it LOL.... i didn't think i would. but it's nice and light, you can see through it, lots of room too. And SUPER cheap, cost me $7 and all I had to do was drill holes all over the top. So if $$ is short I reccomend them now... though i wasn't sure before.

Im lost here...

Padfoot · #14 11-09-2005, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuzzy


	Im lost here...

Here is how I built my bin cages: http://www.geocities.com/padfoot_82/bincage.htm