Gerbils

[saysfaa]

I'm considering getting some gerbils. This thread is to collect info on taking care of them.

nevermind; I found a gerbil forum that has most of the info I was starting to collect here

 

[Debbie292d]

When my kids were little some 30-40 years ago, we had one and I'll never forget how fun it was to watch him go around the house in his plastic ball. Be sure to get one of those!

 

[saysfaa]

The gerbil forum wasn't as helpful as I hoped so I'm back to collecting ideas here.

Wild gerbils run fairly long distances at a time. A wheel can provide that but it should be big enough that their tail doesn't curve up very much. Also, wooden wheels are best because they will chew on them.

Edit to add: maybe chewing on the wheel is not as much of an issue as I thought if a few things are done. Here, someone who seems to know what they are talking about says if it is very free moving, not holdable, not touching the substrate, then it usually isn't chewed much. Consider hanging it upside down.

I found big enough wooden wheels for sale but they are expensive for something that will need to be replaced periodically.

I found how to build wooden wheels myself - wagon wheels, spinning wheels, etc. Nothing appropriate. And how to build appropriate wheels (as far as having solid running surfaces, solid backs, etc) but all were out of things like round baking tins.

Then I found treadmills. Like homemade people-style treadmills. That might work - certainly it wouldn't curve their tails.

I like this one for a husky best because it has only two pipes that spin. One pipe on each end. The belt slides over a flat part so the dog isn't walking on a series of curves. They used pvc pipes for the two pipes but wooden dowels might work for gerbils. Or steel pipes.

I'm thinking of recessing it into a wooden box of some sort to keep the gerbils' toes away from anything they could get caught in. It may need an apron over that crack too - I'd have to see how it goes.

It would have to go somewhere away from the tunneling area so the bedding doesn't jam in it too much.