gerbil advise please - questions!

[pinkpink33]

hiya

so as you all know i have a new lone gerbil. these questions are regarding him! please forgive if some sound stupid, have had degus but no gerbils before!

1) he's 15 weeks old - how big will he grow, or is he full-grown? i would say he's about 3.5" long, and his tail is 4.5" long.
2) some people use peat or compost with their substrate - so are peat cups ok too? got some from b and q, thought he could gnaw and use as bedding :)
3) how much cardboard a day should he get? i mean can i give him too much? or do i just keep giving him more until he's leaving some un-chewed?
4) he seems very happy digging and destroying today, but other than out-of tank playtime, what else can i give him for when he's in there? i decided against a wheel right now, my store doesnt have anything suitable, and there seems to be much speculation about what types are ok!
5) i want to cover up the wire levels on his topper - i was thinking of using cardboard, but will double sided-tape be ok to attach, as it will need changing quite often? or should i order those grass mat things from zooplus? or would he chew these up in no time?
6) i think taming will go quite well - he was very friendly in the store, and when i put my hand in his cage he hops onto it, just doesnt like being lifted far yet! he also takes treats from my hand too. im wearing some tissue and then putting it in his cage to familiarize him with my smell etc. does anyone have any other tips?

he's so cute and so active! he's making such a mess, the cheeky thing!

[janie36]

Wow! His tail is quite long! My understanding is that they are fully grown when the tail is around 4 inches!
Peat sounds OK as long as it is organic, just to be sure there are no 'funny' ingredients!!
Gerbs can never get enough cardboard, ours would spend all day gnawing it if they could! We give them at least one loo roll a day:)
Lots of room to run around, plenty of bedding to tunnel into and loads of toys to chew should keep him happy and occupied. I really would recommend a wheel as that'll give him chance to run off some of the vast amounts of energy gerbils seem to have. We have often joked about hooking them up to a dynamo, so they can help light our flat! LOL!
We cut to size with raised sides cardboard shelves to cover the shelves in our Degu houses, maybe you could do this for your gerb! I think he would chew and possibly eat the grass mats from Zooplus:)
Just give him lots of attention, as I'm sure you will! We had a lone gerb and he was a very happy boy, because he had plenty to do and heaps of attention lavished upon him!
Have you got a name yet?

[pinkpink33]

no, he has no name yet poor gerb!
lol if only i could train him to dispense the cardboard he shreds down a tube into a tub, to collect for ham bedding!
i do have an awful lot of cardboard right now, what with new cages and my boyfriend getting a 2nd monitor to play poker with! i cut quite a few odd shapes for him earlier, but they are long gone! i will make him some shelves tomorrow, see how long they last :D
he has a glass jar now too, which he loves!
what wheel do you suggest? for safety? i've read that some people use the mesh ones, and some use really solid plastic, like the silent spinners? i cant decide, but a 6-8" size is best yes? i cant have him damage his beautiful tail!
so glad you told me about hay for him, he's obsessed! he carries it everywhere, i dont know whether he's making tunnels with it or storing it, but he loves it!

he's so excited about everything! at the store, they're usually pretty good with care (compared to other pet stores), but they dont get enough bedding to dig or anything, and only pigs and bunnies get hay!
thankyou for all your help janie, you're a lifesaver!

i think i will not put his wooden house in next time though, it seems to be in the way of his digging!

[janie36]

Ours have a regular sized silent spinner attched to their house!
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k204/flutejanie36/IMG_0052.jpg
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k204/flutejanie36/IMG_0050.jpg
Nerry on guard! LOL!
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k204/flutejanie36/IMG_0051.jpg

[janie36]

Actually! That pic is a bit rubbish! I have a new camera and haven't got used to it yet! :)

[pinkpink33]

o ok, i actually have 1 of those arriving pretty soon! for pepper (she's gotten too fat for her mini), but i guess i have a normal regular sized wheel she can use while i wait for another! it came with the imac yesterday!
how long do those last your gerbs? i've read that because gerbs bound rather than run, the bearings give way really fast? but if you havent had this then i'll order one now lol! he seems to have an endless source of energy!
do you always end up with the purple ones too?!! i've only ever had 2 blues and 5 purples sent when i've ordered!

janie, with your lone gerbs, how do you mimic the grooming they would usually have from another gerb? mine was grooming himself just now, and i felt bad that noone else is doing it for him!

[S t e p h]

Cute Gerbil.

[janie36]

We have only had that one for about 6-8months,we had a wodent wheel before that, but they always knocked it over and never actually used it to run in!!!!!!
As for colours we ended up with 2 green, 2 purple and 1 red, only our hams and gerbs have these, our Degus all have flying saucers!
Natural behaviour would be greeting your gerb by stroking his cheek and behind the ears, as they do this to each other. Gentle stroking around the back of the neck and back, would help to mimic grooming as these are the areas he can't reach on his own!

[pinkpink33]

o thanks janie! i will try this soon! he just woke up, seems a bit calmer than yesterday :)
i cant believe how adorable he is! hopping around, making a mess! when i looked at them in the pet-store before, i always liked the golden coloured ones, but his little face and silly tail is just amazing!
how long have your lone gerbils lived for? i really want him to have a nice long full life with me.
it's a bit unnerving having a pet who's awake so much, i cant believe how entertained he is by digging and cardboard!