LEENKNEGT-LIOEN <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote
> Hi all,
> In answer of Julians question about my fluffy gerbils: Yes, they do
> have a sandbath. They love to gnaw at the sand box.
> I use white birdsand (with aniseed and very fine shells) mixed with
> Chinchila Bathing Sand. Sometimes I think I see them eat the sand,
> could this be?
Yes, others have reported this. Eating rock or earth is fairly common in
the animal world and many species get vital nutrients that way. In West
Africa pregnant women eat certain imported clays shaped into easy to
hold pellets that the women chew on. These have been shown to contain
nutrients missing from the local diet.
> The packing of the birdsand says:'this sand responds
> to all requierements concerning digestion.'
> Could the fluffy-thing have anything to do with a short of
> vitamins, they have a sunflowerseed-free-diet. Though I often give
> them some sunflowerseeds and oats by hand.
Maybe they have a need for calcium that they are getting from the sand
or shells? Some species of gerbil, such as Bushy-Tailed Jirds do better
when given cuttle bone for this reason.
Don't worry, eating sand or shell will be harmless.
> I have some vitaminliquid, but it says to put it on their food.
> Which is not very practical, could I put in the water too?
Probably.
--
Julian
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* Jackie and Julian *
* [EMAIL PROTECTED] *
* National Gerbil Society *
* http://www.gerbils.co.uk/ *
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