Gerbil Help Needed!!!!!!!!!!

Question

I am getting a cage from Pet-smart here is the image:

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2754672

I am worried about the ventilation. I am also getting a new set of tubes and I am worried about the gerbil chewing right through them! Help.

I also need to know if you know any good ways to clean the tubes!

Answer 1

the probley wont chew right threw them     to clean a tube remove them from the cage and just clean them normaly               u dont need a glass aquarium           there ventilation would be good      if u get a wire cage and then get them a house then the will chew the house up                  petsmart is a good store and they wont sell a cage like that if they new something bad would happen   they test it first u know    just ask the petsmart people    i trust petsmart

Answer 2

One thing gerbils love to do most is chewing.

People who use cages with tubes for their gerbil, always find a hole in the tubes and an escaped gerbil.

The best would be a glass tank, or a terrarium since they are chew-proof.

If you are really dead set in getting that cage and the tubes, then be prepared to have to keep replacing those tubes.

To clean them just get a toothbrush, or anything similiar, and scrub with hot water, and a tiny amount of soap.

Also, if you are worried about ventilation, take your gerbils out of their cage to play for as long as you can each day and just take the top off the base while they are out.

Answer 3

Why aren't you "into the glass aquariums"? I definitely prefer tanks over cages. Plastic cages tend to be painfully small. They, sometimes, provide even less air circulation than people think tanks do. Gerbils are big chewers and they CAN chew plastic. Keeping gerbils in a tank with a secure mesh lid pretty much guarantees they won't get out. They also love digging. You can't really add lots of bedding to a wire cage.

Although the cage you've chosen appears to have enclosed sides for you to put bedding in, it's a lot of plastic that can be chewed up. If ingested, it could cause a blockage.

I, personally, think tanks are great. I'd prefer to spend money on a tank that will last rather than spend money on multiple plastic/wire cages once the gerbils chew it up and escape. For a pair of gerbils, I recommend a 15-20 gallon tank. 10 gallons is okay, but not ideal. It's really up to you, though.