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Choosing a cage for your Gerbil
Choosing a cage for your Gerbil
When adopting a Gerbil, the second most important thing to decide upon is the cage of the gerbil. The Gerbil itself comes first. But the choice of the cage can either make your gerbil live long and prosper or it can prove to be bad for him. If the cage is too small and cramped, the Gerbil won’t have much space to run and play. But the other side has no end really because no cage can be too big for an adopted animal. Bigger cages are good because the Gerbils will have more room to play and dig in, especially if there is a whole group living together.
A certain size is considered to be the minimum for a gerbil to live in. As the number of gerbils goes up, the cage also must increase proportionately, at the very least. A ten-gallon aquarium (fish tank) is okay for one or two gerbils. For three, a 15-gallon tank will suffice. Four gerbils should be put in a cage the size of a 20-gallon aquarium.
Aquariums are used as examples here because they really are the ideal cages for gerbils. Of the different types of cages out there, this is the easiest to clean. Also, it is glass all around and at the bottom. This will keep the gerbil safe and the glass won’t be prone to chewing and digging.
Of the different types of cages available, some should not be used at all for keeping gerbils. Some may be used as play areas but not as permanent living and nesting areas. There are some popular plastic cages that can be used as a play/exercise area. These can be used to keep them busy while you change the nesting or clean the main cage. Plastic cages should not be used for too long at a time. Gerbils like to chew things around them and the plastic will not be spared.
They might injure themselves with bits of plastic and if swallowed, plastic can even kill them. Holes in plastic will have jagged edges where the gerbils may hurt themselves.
Wire cages are an equally bad idea. Gerbils will try to chew the wires and break them off the cage. This will produce sharp bits of wire sticking out that can seriously injure your gerbils. Also, while trying to chew the wire, they might get their teeth ripped off, which will be very bad for them. Wire cages will also cause problems when gerbils try to dig in their nesting, which they usually do.
There are many cages available for pets but you have to be very careful about what you choose for your gerbil/s. A wrong cage may greatly harm your furry little friend and it may make him or her very unhappy and injured. Aquariums are the best choice because they are easy to clean and keep the gerbils safe. You can buy a book on gerbils before buying gerbils, to make sure you know how to take proper care of them.
Gerbil pets, Gerbil information, Gerbil tips, Gerbil advice
Next Article: How to Make a Comfortable Home for Your New Gerbil
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