Oh Look I Changed The Title! Now you don't know which thread this is =O
Sorry to spam GC, but I have a genuine query that isn't really serious enough even for GSA.
So last Sunday I bought two gerbils, and I've never owned gerbils before, so can't decide if this is 'normal' behaviour: there was a 10cm long plastic bridge in their cage, and they (although I suspect it was mainly Draco, the little bugger) have been eating it, and I arrived home today to find the bridge almost completely gone. I don't know if they've actually ingested it, or just shredded it, but I'm a little concerned, as gerbils dying from plastic poisoning would be awkward.
I've now given them a loo roll tube to nom on, which they're both enthusiastically devouring as we speak- it seems safer than plastic, but if they consume it really quickly, I'm wary of giving them another one really soon in case cardboard poisoning is a real thing.
Anyone know anything about this?
P.S. I do feed them real food too!
P.P.S. I'm geniunely not trolling at all, please help!
My friends Gerbils did this when we were looking after them - scared the crap out of me but apparently they'd already been through three climbing thingys :)
should be fine - lots of cardboard is good for them.
Like said above, get them some of the wooden gnawing blocks from the pet shop and they'll be set :)
My hamster ate a hole in its 2nd storey shelf then kept falling through it...
Owh, that's precious.
Now I'll play your ghost as my ace, whenever I'm led astray.
But I am actually good, can't help it if we're tilted.
I'm in my right place, don't be a downer.
Thanks for all the responses guys! I'm glad it's normal gerbil behaviour! They have a wooden chew thingy, but it's currently on loan to the hamster, since I want him to use it to file his nails a little bit, 'cos they're getting really long.
I will go to the pet shop soon and find more things for them to destroy!
Hmmm, pictures you say... I never turn down an opportunity to spam RYL with jpgs!
ooh, nom! Previously thought ASDA only did stuff for cats and dogs, so will defs check that out!
Hehe, my hamster mainly just whizzes around in his wheel at night, and the sound doesn't bother me :)
On photobucket now, uploading jpgs!
JPG TIME!
I'm confusing myself trying to work out which is which from the photos (easy to tell apart in real life, not some much in jpgs!), so here is either Draco and Regulus, or just one of them twice!
And then Regulus and Draco in the playpen, with George the hamster in a separate segment of the playpen :)
That's a wicked idea! They'd love it! I'll try it with the next loo roll :)
And the picture looks amazing- I'm almost nerdy enough to try to make it :p
Hi Jenna Bernadette Barbara, I found this for you and hope it helps.
Quote:
When choosing a diet for a pet gerbil, you want to make sure that you find a diet that consists of at least 16-20% proteins. You will find that most commercial diets will have around 12% proteins, so in that case, you'll want to find another gerbil diet or find an additive to include in the diet.
Now, that you know the protein percent, you'll want to be aware that you can purchase either a seed mix or a block. The seed mixes are a great balanced diet only if the gerbil eats the entire portion, but most will pick out what they like and not eat the rest. The block foods, are nutritionally balanced and the gerbil can't pick what he wants to eat, as it is all or nothing.
Although the block food doesn't look as appealing as the seed mixes, this food is actually better, as it is nutritionally balanced and it helps wear down the gerbil's teeth. You can always add a little seed mix into the gerbil block if you want to give your gerbil a little extra.
You may want to consider giving your gerbil, fresh vegetables and fruits as treats. Just make sure that treats do not exceed more than 10% of the normal diet.
Healthy treats for gerbils include carrots, broccoli, apples, berries, and dandelion greens. You do not want to offer raw kidney beans, potatoes, onions, potatoes leaves, or rhubarb leaves. Keep in mind that most nuts are going to be fatty, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds are fatty, cheese is fine only on occasion but not frequently, and small amounts of cooked eggs are fine.
Make sure that you only give your gerbil a small handful of food a day, and ensure that you give the gerbil fresh food daily. You don't want the gerbil food to get stale or moldy.
Alas, the pet shop I go to only offers one option of gerbil feed, and is currently having a stock crisis, so I have to feed poor old Draco and Regulus hamster food :s
Your gerbils look Awesome! Our gerbil recently died and its too soon to get a new one but i dont think well ever really be without one now, they make the best pets. From my experience, gerbils can and will eat pretty much anything. Lemmy seemed to have an indestructible digestive system. And just in case you didnt know, they can also climb stairs. Which is great fun to watch, and they enjoy it too
He was no longer jean valjean but no. 24601 -les miserable
Some of life's mysteries will never be solved, such as why, after spending an entire evening listenong to Bach, do I find myself humming "the birdie song".......
I am reaching, but i fall, and the stars are black and cold, as i stare into the void of a world that cannot hold- les miserables
Although I have nothing helpful to contribute to the thread, I just thought I would take this apportunity to say that Draco and Regulus are AWESOME names!
