>Shannon and i stopped off at the pet store >today to pick up some more gerbil supplies and we were told we should be >changing the gerbil's water daily. Is that right? Could having stale >water have made them sick? I was changing their water every few days.
Not generally on the water changing IMO - I mean, sure it 'could' have been the reason but it's highly unlikely. I only change the water every few days here and we have no probs. Although recently I switched to giving them bottled water for several reasons (1. in Ontario we've had several problems of water contamination recently although luckily not in my city. 2. My reading has revealed that tap water has higher chlorine levels which can kill vitamins. - which all my breeders get) >We saw the cutest little baby guinea pigs at the pet store, too. Of >course, I couldn't get one until our gebils are gone - and that'll be at >least 4-5 years away - but I've heard that guinea pigs make nice pets, >too. However, they might be more trouble for people with allergies, >correct? Yeah guinea pigs are cute - However, I've find that they get stinkier quicker and are more high maintenance pets. I do like the guinea pigs but I'm more partial to gerbils. Our gp's are setting off some of my allergies probably due to the stink from the cage. We're changing it every day. They're also more prone to respiratory problems and other problems. My personal preference is gerbils. Although I'm thinking a couple of degus might be nice. However, we'll have to wait until we have a bit more room :) The animals outnumber the humans in our house. >I picked up some metal clips for the top of the aquariums, too, >since the gerbils (especially the girls) have been jumping up and trying >to get out. The clips I was given, though, say they're for 10 gallon >tanks. Will they work for 20 gallon tanks??? Metal clips to hold down screens, or actual screen covers? If screen covers - no - dimensions on a 20 vs a 10 gallon tank are different. If just clips to hold on a cover then probably. >I picked up some vitamins, >too. I haven't been giving my gerbils vitamins, so I wonder if that >could have prevented them from getting sick, too. We bought a few >mineral blocks, too. I've never seen our gerbils use mineral blocks or >salt licks, but we were told they use them, but we just might not see >them use them. We were told the nipping they do is sometimes just their Probably wouldn't have hurt - but I don't think it necessarily would have stopped it. It's sort of like saying not taking your vitamins will hurt you. The mineral blocks and salt licks they normally eat eventually. You'll be able to tell if they chew on the mineral blocks - you'll see their little teeth marks. Salt licks I've never really seen them use. >ot willing to give them up. Should our 5-wk.-old pups be alright >without their older sisters and just Mom to look after them? I'm sure >Tiny and Persian could leave Mom at 10 weeks old without a problem, >right? Lightening up the number in the aquarium might even make it >easier on Tiny and her nose problem, I suspect. She'd be in a different >aquarium (probably a 10-gallon one I have that I'll sell them), with >Persian. Yep the 5 week olds should be just fine with mom only. ANd the 10 week olds can definitely leave mom now no problem. By 6 weeks they are fully self-sufficient. >The pet store said they change the bedding in their aquariums as soon as >the aquarium starts to smell - about one time per week. At this point, >the aquarium for the girls has Nippy (the mom), Persian & Tiny (the 10 >wk. old pups) and Tiger & Speedy (the 5-wk.-old pups) in it. It seems to >need cleaning about once a week. Does that sound about right? Sounds about right to me. I have to do that with all my litters - I normally delay two weeks when they're first born to allow mom and dad time to settle down. By two weeks they're getting pretty stinky though. I use aspen in all my aquariums. >Since I'm wondering if part of Tiny's nose problem might be due to her >chewing on the plastic accessories in her cage, I removed the plastic >igloo tonight. I plan to furnish her aquarium with only wood stuff from >now on. Could also be a sign that she's feeling cramped with the other babies in? I know with many animals they get nose irritation from rubbing their noses against the side of the glass. I had one gerbil who did this and when I put a covering (those fish type things you fasten around aquariums) he stopped doing it. I think he was seeing his reflection in the glass and trying to sniff noses. I left one side open to the world so as not to block out light. Jenn
