>I came in late on this line of conversation, but I have had expierience
with
>Hemp. I usually hang toys from my gerbils aquarium tops with hemp. The
>gerbils, of course, chew them down within a few days and tend to eat the
>hemp. I have been doing this since my one pair of gerbils (Wolf and
Voodoo)
>were born, which was August 9, 1998 and they are as healthy as a pair of
ox.
>Jessi
>
><< Is there anyone who has experience with hemp? Could I try it out? >>
Then Jessi, you have been very lucky with your gerbils. Hemp fiber does
not break down when ingested, not with any speed that matters. It can
cause a fatal intestinal blockage if enough is ingested.
I hear the same sort of comments from those that use 'fluffy bedding';
that haven't had any mishaps...yet. Then comes the day when fibers
amputate or strangle or kill by blockage....
Cotton, wool, hair, linen(flax fibers), poly fiberfill; or hemp, all have
fibers
that can wrap around limbs and amputate, around necks and strangle,
or be eaten and cause a fatal intestinal blockage. Which takes one to
three days to kill the animal, and it's a slow and painful death.
As for suspending toys, I use non-gnawable copper wire. It's not
exactly ungnawable, but if properly done so any sharp ends are out
of the cage and stay out of the cage, one can notice if they are
causing dents...and redo things.
Most of my gerbil toys are toilet tissue rolls, which don't need suspension.
Or getting to play 'crawl on the human'.
Deb
Rebel's Rodent Ranch
