Hi, I’m glad you’re educating people on this. My 8 year old daughter wants gerbils, I told her that if she can research them and give me substantial evidence she is competent enough to own a pair. Then I would buy her the proper set up for them. I’m someone who likes stuff done the proper way or not at all. I appreciate this video.
Hi! Great video. I assume you're using a Prevue Pet #528 Universal Small Animal Home (without the gray tray) as your topper, right? I love your set up.
Thank you for the video. I recently bought a 20 gallon with the intention of getting 2-3 gerbils. As I don't have them yet, I have a lot of flexibility and will be going to buy a 40 gallon tomorrow. I'll turn the 20 either into a spare tank or a fish tank. :) Edit: And, I just started watching another of your videos and saw that you really recommend 2 over 3, so I'll be looking for 2 once I have a place setup for them.
Wow, this comment made my day. You are an amazing human & I'm so happy you're willing to give your gerbils their best shot. People like you restore my faith in humanity. Thank you for trying to do right by your future gerbils. I would like to add, if you come across 3 gerbils, its better to take all three than leave 1 behind. That would be the only exception to owning a pair, and I would monitor them thoroughly.
Hi, I currently have my pair of gerbils in a 50-gallon bin cage with a topper. I have decided that I want to upgrade to a bigger cage that is made of glass. I am thinking of getting a 75-gallon cage. Is this a good-sized aquarium to use?
I would say yes, depending on the measurements. Sometimes a 75 gallon can be taller or more narrow, rather than wide, which is ultimately a decision for you to make. I prefer long and wide! Lucky gerbils to have such a caring owner:)
Finally, someone who actually tries to speak up about this horrible care! 10 gallon tanks are not suitable for ANY tiny mammal, rodent etc. Its basically like living in a tiny amazon box, who would want to live in that? When I go to PetSmart I ALWAYS seen these plastic, tiny, kid, pink, fun horrible 10 gallon tanks! There is always no room in those tanks and no space for bedding, honestly I feel bad. Another thing, I love it how your honest about your mistakes. You can tell you regret them but you don't deny you did do them, instead you learn from your mistakes and always use correct/proper care. But anyways congrats on 106 subscribers! I really am happy how your growing so quickly, I hope you and your gerbils achieve your goals by spreading HELPFUL and TRUE gerbil care!
Hello, I just bought two gerbils this week and am excited to take care of them. I had a 20 gallon 18" tall tank with 12" of bedding and lot's of hides, and I see pretty quickly how a 20 gallon tank is not enough for gerbils. At 20 gallons, the gerbils can tunnel and make a couple chambers, but there isn't enough space for the size and length the gerbils would prefer to build. And there's no way to add a wheel and sand bath without attaching them to the mesh lid and that doesn't work well because you need to remove the lid often. I bought a 40 gal breeder tank today and I'll attach the wheel and sand bath to the screen mesh. I'm using a mix of pure comfort and hay that seems good. Question, I've been feeding them 1 TBSP of food each a day and they don't seem too interested. Do gerbils regulate how much food they eat or will they overeat if given the chance? Thanks
Congratulations on your gerbils! Thank you for watching and commenting:). To answer your question, Gerbils won't necessarily overeat, but rather they will pick out all the fun bits and the bits that they prefer and just kind of leave the rest. For this reason, it's ideal to feed them a tablespoon every day or a tablespoon or 2 every other day or so that they have a chance to actually eat all the food before you put in new food. Gerbils can definitely be picky eaters.
hi! thinking about getting gerbils 😁. would you recommend a 40 gallon breeder (without a topper) or the ikea detolf? i know you said that the 40 gallon would be fine, but i am worried it is too small without a topper? if the gerbils will be fine in the 40 gallon, i would rather get that since it would be slightly cheaper for me. what do you think? ❤️
Hey! I think the 40 gallon is better vs. The detolf. It also is ready to go, and you won't need to diy a lid and such. I used it for many months without issue before my topper.
Where do you buy the platforms I just did a major upgrade for my gerbils into a 75 gallon aquarium and need platforms. Is there any you would suggest? I have seen alot with dowels but would like something that would not get chewed up
Hey! I got mine from PetSmart. You may have some luck checking second hand sites, or some reptile sections of let stores. My tank was from the reptile section.
Thanks so much! Could you do a 20 gallon tank with a 10 gallon topper with the wood frame like how you built the topper for young gerbils and then switch out as they get bigger? Asking because I am finding a 20 gallon topper hard to find.
Awww thats awesome. I got it in the reptile section of my local pet store and made my topper using the prevue 528 hamster cage and some wood, screws and zip ties. I have a video on the process.
I finally got a 40gallon for my gerbos (they stayed in a 25gallon bin cage during the first month) Here in Brazil this things are very expensive, but I got a second hand one. now the challenge is to get them to use the wheel and not beeing too messy. They loved their 13 inches of bedding.
Hey thank you so much for this video, I really need to make some adjustments to my gerbils living space, I also am struggling to know what to do to keep my pet happy because the store would only allow me to buy one gerbil, they said you can’t put two together😭 if you have any suggestions I would appreciate it!!
Thank you for your comment! You can upgrade as you go along, I would start with the habitat, then the wheel, accessories, etc. I'm so sorry the shop was mistaken, gerbils generally are not solitary :). You could try to purchase another gerbil and bond them together, which granted can be hard. If thats not an option, just try to give your gerbil a ton of love attention and work on your bond. I would recommend a second gerbil though.
Do you have a video on how to build a topper? I’m getting the detolf as it’s long and can length to give both bedding and loads of tools, but if I with my minimal diy tools can build a topper it’d be great because more space £
Hey congratulations, the detolf is one that I've seen used quite often before with gerbils because as you mention it is very long. While I don't have a step-by-step tutorial, I do have a video out on my channel where I discuss making my topper, the process I used, as well as the supplies, the cost & the materials. That may be helpful for you
@@TheGerbilVine Thankyou for the reply 😁 could you link me which video and would it be doable for someone with the DIY skills of a drunk duck? I can try and up my game because it’s gonna be a while before I can get my gerbils, though I’m not talented at this stuff. It’s a shame that most commercial cages/tanks are so appalling that DIY is the only way to go to give you gerbil/hamster a good life
@@aikikaname6508 ua-cam.com/video/_hJwQXyw4q8/v-deo.html LOL My DIY skills are not the greatest and I won't even lie my husband did help me with cutting the wood. However I am Under the impression that some hardware stores will actually cut the wood to size for you so that may be something to look into if you don't actually want to use the big power tools yourself. Everything like drilling in a couple of screws is pretty straightforward as well as zip tying things. I also totally agree with you about the cages. Every time I'm in a pet store it makes me so upset, especially when they get in new cages and they are still not species appropriate and still way under the minimum recommended size from owners.
@@TheGerbilVine Exactly. When I was a kid me and my mum upgraded my gerbils to a cage which in retrospect was STILL too small. It’s a shame because this was a case of wanting to do our due diligence for the animal but there being terrible information out there and this was before the internet was a thing. Most hamster/gerbil owners I believe actually want to give their pet a good life but there’s not the info out there One final question: is it okay to house a gerbil ina room with a tv and where I will be wfh on a laptop a lot? I am getting a maisonette and the dining room/living room is the only place big enough I can put them. But I heard stuff about rooms with a lot of electricity being too loud because of their hearing. Edit: it’s not exactly gonna be super loud in the day as I am a single person and it’ll be me solving code problems. I can turn the ps5 and tv fully off when not in use
Hello! So....I was wondering if you could help me out with some advice since you seem to know a lot about gerbils! I know a lot about gerbils too but I am still leaning everyday since I’ve only had my girls since 2019💕 When I first got my two girls I put them in a critter trail, I learned a few months later that the cage was way too small for gerbils and that a tank or bin is better so I ordered a ten gallon tank but it still seemed too small so I put a tank topper on it. I put tons of toys, bedding, and was able to fit a nine inch wheel in the cage topper section and a sand bath They were doing awesome but after doing more research I found that ten gallons with a topper is still too small.... so I bought a 60 gallon enclosure that has a bottom part to burrow, and three stories and room for burrowing space (about 25 inches) I put their old bedding and new bedding, their wheel and toys and I thought they’d be happy.....but they weren’t. They never attacked me before the cage thank, they used to come right out to play but now they were (well one of them) attacked my arm and they both stopped eating and slept all day and night in a corner and never came out. After a few days of them not eating, I was so worried that I it them back in the ten gallon with ten tank topper and they were back to their usual ways. So what I concluded from that is I guess all gerbils are different and it just depends. I think that gerbils should start out in a large enclosure but my girls hated it and so I don’t want to change their tank ever again if it means they’ll stop eating. I believe I made the right decision for my girls but I am curious what you think about why they acted this way! :) Gerbils are my biggest passion in life and I always want to learn more about my babies💕
Wow, what a journey you've been on. Thank you for doing research and for upgrading your gerbils. Gerbils are funny creatures, and are easily spooked. Going from too small a space to a large space can be a little unsettling for them. Its best to upgrade, and leave them alone for as long as you can without interacting so they get used to the space. They likely associated your hand and arm as some sort of threat. Also, upgrade slowly. Slowly increase the amount of bedding, hides, toys, enrichment options, over the span of a month of so. I really think these two things will help you. Good luck, more space is always better for the gerbils. I think they were freaked out by the upgrade and didn't have enough time to get used to it before you put them back in their old, smaller cage. You will of course see your gerbils more in a tiny home, than a larger one. They just need time to settle in :)
@@TheGerbilVine Hello again! Sorry for such a late response but I hope you'll take the time to read it since I admire your channel! I really appreciate you replying to my last comment. My gerbils are my entire world and so I always try to do what is best for them. I put my girls back in the 60 gallon to see how it goes and they are doing good! I moved them out of the ten gallon and they seem fine! They are eating, drinking the same this time. I slowly increased adding more toys and bedding like you said and they seem to be doing very good!!! I agree with everything you said in the last comment except one thing... my gerbils wouldn't have associated my hand as a threat because they never attacked me before and I have had them for two years so I know they didn't think of my hand/arm as a threat, they were just confused because of me changing cages :) Thank you again for your help! I do think they were freaked out before and that was the main problem but now they are fine! They do sleep a lot more in this lsrger enclosure but then again, they are senior gerbils so they are getting older! Hope you're having a great day thank you!!
@@TheGerbilVine , I've see it , loved the video, but the cage is pricey, I already spent so much money on the tank screen and so much other stuff for them, maybe down the road , awesome video tho, great idea
Hello :) I’m about to get gerbils and all we were able to find / afford is a 36 gallon tank. Is this okay until I can get a 40 gallon tank? Because I already have it, and I think this is a good substitute while waiting to get more money for a 40 gallon please correct me if I’m wrong
Hey! While its under what I tend to recommend for a pair of gerbils ( 40 gallon = 648 sq inches of floorspace ) its better than a smaller tank, like a 20 or a 30. Definitely upgrade when you can. I have a 36 gallon for my hamster & I would not feel comfortable keeping 2 gerbils in there long term. I also find it more narrow than the 40 gallon, which could be a challenge.
@@TheGerbilVine I agrée with everything your saying! That’s why it’s just temporary until I have the money and space to upgrade:) thank you for your answer
Hello, I’m looking at tanks at my local pet store and found a 40 gallon breeder that is 36 3/16” x 18 1/4” x 16 15/16”. Would this be suitable for 2 gerbils or should I get one that is specifically your tanks dimensions? Thanks
I have an 669 sq inch cage where my dwarf hamster lives in right now. Am I able to ever keep 2 gerbils in there? It’s wood with plexiglass so I don’t know if they can chew that and break it.
Wood and plastic is never am ideal combo with gerbils as they are more aggressive chewers than hamsters. I personally wouldn't risk it. Edit : seems like your hamster has an awesome sized home !
Thank you for your comment :)! Unfortunately gerbils would benefit most from a tank, with long and wide horizontal space. They don't need tall cages like a rat or chinchilla would,and that cages would not allow for sufficient bedding for them to burrow. So, no it is not good for gerbils in my opinion.
I agree. Too big an area can cause the gerbils to divide up and claim individual areas. I also don't advise groups over 2, as the declanning risk is significantly higher. Thanks for commenting!
So my original pair of girls (Gerbie A and B) decided to Declan last month. I have found Gerbie A a new roommate (Gerbie G). Gerbie A and G sre kiving inna 40 gallon breeder. Gerbie B is living alone in a 20 gallon since she tried to kill her sister. Is this okay?
I'm so sorry for what you're going through. Declanning is so hard and stressful. Thats really up to you. I personally wouldn't feel comfortable housing a gerbil in a 20 gallon. In this video you can see all the space lost once you add in a wheel, sand, a hidey house, and the fact the bedding barely be enough in my opinion, etc. But that's definitely your call. I always advocate for bigger as better.
@@TheGerbilVine ok. I will definitely get her a 40 gallon breeder. Besides, I like having the 20 gallon as a spare for emergencies, such as DECLANNING! I might even try to find her a roommate. I'll have to get my husband to approve that one since we will haVe gone from 2 gerbils to 4 in 1.5 years. 🤭
Tanks can be pricey, but if you plan on having gerbils for a long time, its more of an investment. A tank won't deteriorate over time, like a bin would. Bins can be a scratched and chewed, so it's not something I personally would use, as its a safety risk if the gerbils escape. I understand they are cheaper, but some second hand sites or even Facebook marketplace can be a great place to find used ones.
So I have a male gerbil and the other day I look in his cage and I can't find him then I look at you know all the extra tubes is he one of those did he escape whatnot and I find that one of the inner tubes that doesn't go outside the cage so he can't escape from it but he had chewed where it was connected with one of the upper shelves chewed all the way around that until he could move it then he somehow don't ask me how cuz this too was pretty hefty I would say it's more than what he weighs he managed to dig down far enough for the two to be at the bottom of the cage somehow took the bedding and put it over top of it and it's like now he built a secret Escape tunnel that nobody knows about so I'm still trying to figure out what's going on where he's at all he was in his Escape tunnel so I took it apart put it back the way it was by the next morning it was right back where it had been previously I never seen anything like this I'm a vet tech I work with exotic animals as well as you know your typical cat dogs those type of animals. And I had never heard of this a gerbil doing this and I have been having gerbils for 20 years I've had a lot of gerbils I've had rats I've had mice right now I have an axolotl of course Mr Big Balls Benny I have a chicken two dogs four cats why is it but in all my time of being around animals I've always loved the journals and the hamsters the most but I've never seen anything like this it was so neat the way he did it and you don't even know where he's at until he decides to pop his head up so it's like he created a tunnel to be able to escape from me or anybody else who tries to pick him up when he doesn't want to be so that was kind of cute a little funny moment that I thought were bright and everybody's day
Nobody gives their gerbils a huge play-space in the house to roam around in with a lot of stuff including a huge wheel? Then put them back in their tank to spend the night? Why leave gerbils in tanks unless you are not home?
Hello! I do think at a 10-20 gallon tank is okay, I'm soon getting gerbils and I'm going in get a 10 gallon tank but I'm adding a large amount of bedding, after dividing I will give them plenty chew toys, and hides. (ALL of the toys WILL be wood, not plastic!) Yell at me all you want, but I had a question, may I use egg-cartons for hides? I don't know if they're safe, and what brand do you use for bedding/food? I'm looking for a pair of males.
I highly recommend looking for a minimum of a 40 gallon tank, 10 to 20 gallons is too small for a pair of gerbils. I really hope you change your mind and decide to give your future gerbils a good start to your life together. If price is the problem, many second hand sites and even Facebook Marketplace can be great places to look. If space is the issue, maybe hold off on gerbils until you have more room to house them in, it really will benefit them to have a larger living area. Egg cartons are safe, make sure the sticker is removed and there isn't any filth on them. Edit : I have tank cleaning videos where I discuss the bedding I use and the brands, as well as a video on what I feed my gerbils. They can be found by clicking the gerbil care Playlist in any of my videos description boxes.
@@TheGerbilVine 40 gallons? I don't think so, because I will upgrade to a 20 gallon tank when I can afford one, and thank you for the advice! Can you make a video on what sorts of toys are okay to use?
@@overcast3dskies565 Gerbils travel miles in the wild. You’ll barely be able to fit any enrichment in that small a tank with room to burrow. If you (or anyone reading) is that strapped for money you can trawl all the adoption sites/rehoming sites and are a little patient you’ll see gerbils which come with a really good enclosure all for a cheaper price. You’ll get that even quicker if you’re open to a cute little hammy who are given away more frequently
![Reacting to My Subscriber's Gerbil Cages! 🐹 [Part 1]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZjirZikZpa8/mqdefault.jpg)
Hi, I’m glad you’re educating people on this. My 8 year old daughter wants gerbils, I told her that if she can research them and give me substantial evidence she is competent enough to own a pair. Then I would buy her the proper set up for them. I’m someone who likes stuff done the proper way or not at all. I appreciate this video.
You sound like a great mom. I wish more parents would take a cue from your playbook!
I got my gerbils when I was 8! And I’m currently on 1 gerbil left. 😢 Tehy are good pets tho
i am a hamster owner, but this popped up in my reccomended, cute anyway, i find it satisfying when someone sets up a habitat for their critters
600th sub :)
@@littleroborovski5630 we had 560 subscribers atm, thank you so much
Aww thank you ! I too have a hamster, a winter white hybrid named Beanie. She appears in my Hamster Vs. Gerbil video :)
@@TheGerbilVine woop i meant 560th sub, haha, but i wish i was the 600th sub, you deserve so much more
Hi! Great video. I assume you're using a Prevue Pet #528 Universal Small Animal Home (without the gray tray) as your topper, right? I love your set up.
Hey! Thank you so much
Thank you for the video. I recently bought a 20 gallon with the intention of getting 2-3 gerbils. As I don't have them yet, I have a lot of flexibility and will be going to buy a 40 gallon tomorrow. I'll turn the 20 either into a spare tank or a fish tank. :)
Edit: And, I just started watching another of your videos and saw that you really recommend 2 over 3, so I'll be looking for 2 once I have a place setup for them.
Wow, this comment made my day. You are an amazing human & I'm so happy you're willing to give your gerbils their best shot. People like you restore my faith in humanity. Thank you for trying to do right by your future gerbils. I would like to add, if you come across 3 gerbils, its better to take all three than leave 1 behind. That would be the only exception to owning a pair, and I would monitor them thoroughly.
Ita nice to read someone who’s willing to make changes on what’s best for the rodent, not what they want.
Hi, I currently have my pair of gerbils in a 50-gallon bin cage with a topper. I have decided that I want to upgrade to a bigger cage that is made of glass. I am thinking of getting a 75-gallon cage. Is this a good-sized aquarium to use?
I would say yes, depending on the measurements. Sometimes a 75 gallon can be taller or more narrow, rather than wide, which is ultimately a decision for you to make. I prefer long and wide! Lucky gerbils to have such a caring owner:)
@The Gerbil Vine I will do the 75-gallon then. Thank you so much for the help 😊😊😊
Finally, someone who actually tries to speak up about this horrible care! 10 gallon tanks are not suitable for ANY tiny mammal, rodent etc. Its basically like living in a tiny amazon box, who would want to live in that? When I go to PetSmart I ALWAYS seen these plastic, tiny, kid, pink, fun horrible 10 gallon tanks! There is always no room in those tanks and no space for bedding, honestly I feel bad.
Another thing, I love it how your honest about your mistakes. You can tell you regret them but you don't deny you did do them, instead you learn from your mistakes and always use correct/proper care.
But anyways congrats on 106 subscribers! I really am happy how your growing so quickly, I hope you and your gerbils achieve your goals by spreading HELPFUL and TRUE gerbil care!
🤓
😊
Hello, I just bought two gerbils this week and am excited to take care of them. I had a 20 gallon 18" tall tank with 12" of bedding and lot's of hides, and I see pretty quickly how a 20 gallon tank is not enough for gerbils.
At 20 gallons, the gerbils can tunnel and make a couple chambers, but there isn't enough space for the size and length the gerbils would prefer to build. And there's no way to add a wheel and sand bath without attaching them to the mesh lid and that doesn't work well because you need to remove the lid often. I bought a 40 gal breeder tank today and I'll attach the wheel and sand bath to the screen mesh. I'm using a mix of pure comfort and hay that seems good.
Question, I've been feeding them 1 TBSP of food each a day and they don't seem too interested. Do gerbils regulate how much food they eat or will they overeat if given the chance? Thanks
Congratulations on your gerbils! Thank you for watching and commenting:).
To answer your question, Gerbils won't necessarily overeat, but rather they will pick out all the fun bits and the bits that they prefer and just kind of leave the rest. For this reason, it's ideal to feed them a tablespoon every day or a tablespoon or 2 every other day or so that they have a chance to actually eat all the food before you put in new food. Gerbils can definitely be picky eaters.
hi! thinking about getting gerbils 😁. would you recommend a 40 gallon breeder (without a topper) or the ikea detolf? i know you said that the 40 gallon would be fine, but i am worried it is too small without a topper? if the gerbils will be fine in the 40 gallon, i would rather get that since it would be slightly cheaper for me. what do you think? ❤️
Hey! I think the 40 gallon is better vs. The detolf. It also is ready to go, and you won't need to diy a lid and such. I used it for many months without issue before my topper.
Where do you buy the platforms I just did a major upgrade for my gerbils into a 75 gallon aquarium and need platforms. Is there any you would suggest? I have seen alot with dowels but would like something that would not get chewed up
I suppose you could check etsy. I made my platforms.
@TheGerbilVine Thanks. I will check that out.
Hi, I am looking to change my gerbils cage and I think a 40 gallon tank is perfect. Where did you buy it from? I'm from the UK by the way
Hey! I got mine from PetSmart. You may have some luck checking second hand sites, or some reptile sections of let stores. My tank was from the reptile section.
I would love how to build a topper like yours for my 40 gallon tank. Please let me know where and how I can do this. Thanks
Hi! I have a video on my channel called how I built my topper that you may find helpful!
Thanks so much! Could you do a 20 gallon tank with a 10 gallon topper with the wood frame like how you built the topper for young gerbils and then switch out as they get bigger? Asking because I am finding a 20 gallon topper hard to find.
I don't see why not. It's quite common for people to use a smaller topper for a bigger tank, so that could work.
Where did you buy you tank? I’m looking to upgrade my current gerbils tank (I had 2) and I want to give home a better life.
Awww thats awesome. I got it in the reptile section of my local pet store and made my topper using the prevue 528 hamster cage and some wood, screws and zip ties. I have a video on the process.
I finally got a 40gallon for my gerbos (they stayed in a 25gallon bin cage during the first month)
Here in Brazil this things are very expensive, but I got a second hand one. now the challenge is to get them to use the wheel and not beeing too messy. They loved their 13 inches of bedding.
Hey thank you so much for this video, I really need to make some adjustments to my gerbils living space, I also am struggling to know what to do to keep my pet happy because the store would only allow me to buy one gerbil, they said you can’t put two together😭 if you have any suggestions I would appreciate it!!
Thank you for your comment! You can upgrade as you go along, I would start with the habitat, then the wheel, accessories, etc.
I'm so sorry the shop was mistaken, gerbils generally are not solitary :). You could try to purchase another gerbil and bond them together, which granted can be hard.
If thats not an option, just try to give your gerbil a ton of love attention and work on your bond. I would recommend a second gerbil though.
@@TheGerbilVine fantastic thank you so much for replying!!♥️
Do you have a video on how to build a topper? I’m getting the detolf as it’s long and can length to give both bedding and loads of tools, but if I with my minimal diy tools can build a topper it’d be great because more space £
Hey congratulations, the detolf is one that I've seen used quite often before with gerbils because as you mention it is very long. While I don't have a step-by-step tutorial, I do have a video out on my channel where I discuss making my topper, the process I used, as well as the supplies, the cost & the materials. That may be helpful for you
@@TheGerbilVine Thankyou for the reply 😁 could you link me which video and would it be doable for someone with the DIY skills of a drunk duck? I can try and up my game because it’s gonna be a while before I can get my gerbils, though I’m not talented at this stuff. It’s a shame that most commercial cages/tanks are so appalling that DIY is the only way to go to give you gerbil/hamster a good life
@@aikikaname6508 ua-cam.com/video/_hJwQXyw4q8/v-deo.html
LOL
My DIY skills are not the greatest and I won't even lie my husband did help me with cutting the wood. However I am Under the impression that some hardware stores will actually cut the wood to size for you so that may be something to look into if you don't actually want to use the big power tools yourself. Everything like drilling in a couple of screws is pretty straightforward as well as zip tying things.
I also totally agree with you about the cages. Every time I'm in a pet store it makes me so upset, especially when they get in new cages and they are still not species appropriate and still way under the minimum recommended size from owners.
@@TheGerbilVine Exactly. When I was a kid me and my mum upgraded my gerbils to a cage which in retrospect was STILL too small. It’s a shame because this was a case of wanting to do our due diligence for the animal but there being terrible information out there and this was before the internet was a thing. Most hamster/gerbil owners I believe actually want to give their pet a good life but there’s not the info out there
One final question: is it okay to house a gerbil ina room with a tv and where I will be wfh on a laptop a lot? I am getting a maisonette and the dining room/living room is the only place big enough I can put them. But I heard stuff about rooms with a lot of electricity being too loud because of their hearing.
Edit: it’s not exactly gonna be super loud in the day as I am a single person and it’ll be me solving code problems. I can turn the ps5 and tv fully off when not in use
Hello! So....I was wondering if you could help me out with some advice since you seem to know a lot about gerbils!
I know a lot about gerbils too but I am still leaning everyday since I’ve only had my girls since 2019💕
When I first got my two girls I put them in a critter trail, I learned a few months later that the cage was way too small for gerbils and that a tank or bin is better so I ordered a ten gallon tank but it still seemed too small so I put a tank topper on it.
I put tons of toys, bedding, and was able to fit a nine inch wheel in the cage topper section and a sand bath
They were doing awesome but after doing more research I found that ten gallons with a topper is still too small.... so I bought a 60 gallon enclosure that has a bottom part to burrow, and three stories and room for burrowing space (about 25 inches)
I put their old bedding and new bedding, their wheel and toys and I thought they’d be happy.....but they weren’t. They never attacked me before the cage thank, they used to come right out to play but now they were (well one of them) attacked my arm and they both stopped eating and slept all day and night in a corner and never came out. After a few days of them not eating, I was so worried that I it them back in the ten gallon with ten tank topper and they were back to their usual ways.
So what I concluded from that is I guess all gerbils are different and it just depends. I think that gerbils should start out in a large enclosure but my girls hated it and so I don’t want to change their tank ever again if it means they’ll stop eating.
I believe I made the right decision for my girls but I am curious what you think about why they acted this way! :)
Gerbils are my biggest passion in life and I always want to learn more about my babies💕
Wow, what a journey you've been on. Thank you for doing research and for upgrading your gerbils. Gerbils are funny creatures, and are easily spooked. Going from too small a space to a large space can be a little unsettling for them. Its best to upgrade, and leave them alone for as long as you can without interacting so they get used to the space. They likely associated your hand and arm as some sort of threat. Also, upgrade slowly. Slowly increase the amount of bedding, hides, toys, enrichment options, over the span of a month of so. I really think these two things will help you. Good luck, more space is always better for the gerbils.
I think they were freaked out by the upgrade and didn't have enough time to get used to it before you put them back in their old, smaller cage. You will of course see your gerbils more in a tiny home, than a larger one. They just need time to settle in :)
@@TheGerbilVine Hello again! Sorry for such a late response but I hope you'll take the time to read it since I admire your channel! I really appreciate you replying to my last comment. My gerbils are my entire world and so I always try to do what is best for them.
I put my girls back in the 60 gallon to see how it goes and they are doing good! I moved them out of the ten gallon and they seem fine! They are eating, drinking the same this time. I slowly increased adding more toys and bedding like you said and they seem to be doing very good!!! I agree with everything you said in the last comment except one thing... my gerbils wouldn't have associated my hand as a threat because they never attacked me before and I have had them for two years so I know they didn't think of my hand/arm as a threat, they were just confused because of me changing cages :)
Thank you again for your help! I do think they were freaked out before and that was the main problem but now they are fine! They do sleep a lot more in this lsrger enclosure but then again, they are senior gerbils so they are getting older! Hope you're having a great day thank you!!
I have a 40 gallon breeder , would love to make a topper like you have for them,
I have a video on my channel on how I made my topper :) you sound like an amazing gerbil owner, they are lucky to have you !!
@@TheGerbilVine , I've see it , loved the video, but the cage is pricey, I already spent so much money on the tank screen and so much other stuff for them, maybe down the road , awesome video tho, great idea
@@lisacrowley9585 you could essentially find a second hand cage of any brand and do the same thing :) i agree with the price
Hello :) I’m about to get gerbils and all we were able to find / afford is a 36 gallon tank. Is this okay until I can get a 40 gallon tank? Because I already have it, and I think this is a good substitute while waiting to get more money for a 40 gallon please correct me if I’m wrong
Hey! While its under what I tend to recommend for a pair of gerbils ( 40 gallon = 648 sq inches of floorspace ) its better than a smaller tank, like a 20 or a 30. Definitely upgrade when you can. I have a 36 gallon for my hamster & I would not feel comfortable keeping 2 gerbils in there long term. I also find it more narrow than the 40 gallon, which could be a challenge.
@@TheGerbilVine I agrée with everything your saying! That’s why it’s just temporary until I have the money and space to upgrade:) thank you for your answer
@@xaiden7981 you're welcome. Good luck with your gerbils :)
Hello, I’m looking at tanks at my local pet store and found a 40 gallon breeder that is 36 3/16” x 18 1/4” x 16 15/16”. Would this be suitable for 2 gerbils or should I get one that is specifically your tanks dimensions? Thanks
I think that would be fine for 2 gerbils.
I have an 669 sq inch cage where my dwarf hamster lives in right now. Am I able to ever keep 2 gerbils in there? It’s wood with plexiglass so I don’t know if they can chew that and break it.
Wood and plastic is never am ideal combo with gerbils as they are more aggressive chewers than hamsters. I personally wouldn't risk it.
Edit : seems like your hamster has an awesome sized home !
@@TheGerbilVine thnx for the advise! i hope that i can buy a tank in the future.
Can you make a video on how you made the topper? Or where you got it? I need a new cage and it would be super helpful.
I had plans to include a mini how to in my next video, hopefully that will be a bit helpful to you & other that are curious ! :)
I use a 114 gallon tank plus a topper - and I still feel, that it is a bit too small for my gerbils ... May be I add some space some day.
Wow thats incredible. I would love to do the same one day, maybe just make an entire room into a tank lol.
Hello ! Thank you for your video !
The Neo Cosy cage would be ok for 2 gerbils or not ?
Thank you for your comment :)! Unfortunately gerbils would benefit most from a tank, with long and wide horizontal space. They don't need tall cages like a rat or chinchilla would,and that cages would not allow for sufficient bedding for them to burrow.
So, no it is not good for gerbils in my opinion.
@@TheGerbilVine thank you for your answer !
With larger tanks 55gal+ ya may have declanning in groups.
I agree. Too big an area can cause the gerbils to divide up and claim individual areas. I also don't advise groups over 2, as the declanning risk is significantly higher.
Thanks for commenting!
My god, I love your videos but i truly wish that u could use (or even mention) the metric system.
Thank you. There are many apps & Web pages online that would be able to help you convert anything that you were wondering about :)
So my original pair of girls (Gerbie A and B) decided to Declan last month. I have found Gerbie A a new roommate (Gerbie G). Gerbie A and G sre kiving inna 40 gallon breeder. Gerbie B is living alone in a 20 gallon since she tried to kill her sister. Is this okay?
I'm so sorry for what you're going through. Declanning is so hard and stressful. Thats really up to you. I personally wouldn't feel comfortable housing a gerbil in a 20 gallon. In this video you can see all the space lost once you add in a wheel, sand, a hidey house, and the fact the bedding barely be enough in my opinion, etc. But that's definitely your call. I always advocate for bigger as better.
@@TheGerbilVine ok. I will definitely get her a 40 gallon breeder. Besides, I like having the 20 gallon as a spare for emergencies, such as DECLANNING!
I might even try to find her a roommate. I'll have to get my husband to approve that one since we will haVe gone from 2 gerbils to 4 in 1.5 years. 🤭
@@TheGerbilVine I got her a 40 gallon breeder yesterday and moved her in last night. I can't believe that some people try to keep two in a 20 gallon.
@@celieboo congratulations! Yes it's too small once you factor in all they really need. I'm so happy for you & your lucky gerbils!
What about bin cages, there a lot cheaper and can be really big! But tanks are quite pricey...
Tanks can be pricey, but if you plan on having gerbils for a long time, its more of an investment. A tank won't deteriorate over time, like a bin would. Bins can be a scratched and chewed, so it's not something I personally would use, as its a safety risk if the gerbils escape. I understand they are cheaper, but some second hand sites or even Facebook marketplace can be a great place to find used ones.
where should i get 40 gallons?
You can look on second hand sites like kijiji, Craigslist, or Facebook marketplace - i bought mine from the reptile section of a pet store.
@@TheGerbilVine my gerbils just got together : D
@@JWE2Lover congrats on your new gerbils! How are they settling in ?
@@TheGerbilVine good they keep cuddling and its so cute
So, getting a 100 gallon tank would you recommend that?
Hard to tell if you're being sarcastic or not. I'll answer anyways. Yes
So I have a male gerbil and the other day I look in his cage and I can't find him then I look at you know all the extra tubes is he one of those did he escape whatnot and I find that one of the inner tubes that doesn't go outside the cage so he can't escape from it but he had chewed where it was connected with one of the upper shelves chewed all the way around that until he could move it then he somehow don't ask me how cuz this too was pretty hefty I would say it's more than what he weighs he managed to dig down far enough for the two to be at the bottom of the cage somehow took the bedding and put it over top of it and it's like now he built a secret Escape tunnel that nobody knows about so I'm still trying to figure out what's going on where he's at all he was in his Escape tunnel so I took it apart put it back the way it was by the next morning it was right back where it had been previously I never seen anything like this I'm a vet tech I work with exotic animals as well as you know your typical cat dogs those type of animals. And I had never heard of this a gerbil doing this and I have been having gerbils for 20 years I've had a lot of gerbils I've had rats I've had mice right now I have an axolotl of course Mr Big Balls Benny I have a chicken two dogs four cats why is it but in all my time of being around animals I've always loved the journals and the hamsters the most but I've never seen anything like this it was so neat the way he did it and you don't even know where he's at until he decides to pop his head up so it's like he created a tunnel to be able to escape from me or anybody else who tries to pick him up when he doesn't want to be so that was kind of cute a little funny moment that I thought were bright and everybody's day
Nobody gives their gerbils a huge play-space in the house to roam around in with a lot of stuff including a huge wheel? Then put them back in their tank to spend the night? Why leave gerbils in tanks unless you are not home?
What are you even asking questions about? My gerbils are in their tank all the time unless I bring them out to free roam.
Hello! I do think at a 10-20 gallon tank is okay, I'm soon getting gerbils and I'm going in get a 10 gallon tank but I'm adding a large amount of bedding, after dividing I will give them plenty chew toys, and hides. (ALL of the toys WILL be wood, not plastic!) Yell at me all you want, but I had a question, may I use egg-cartons for hides? I don't know if they're safe, and what brand do you use for bedding/food? I'm looking for a pair of males.
I highly recommend looking for a minimum of a 40 gallon tank, 10 to 20 gallons is too small for a pair of gerbils. I really hope you change your mind and decide to give your future gerbils a good start to your life together.
If price is the problem, many second hand sites and even Facebook Marketplace can be great places to look. If space is the issue, maybe hold off on gerbils until you have more room to house them in, it really will benefit them to have a larger living area.
Egg cartons are safe, make sure the sticker is removed and there isn't any filth on them.
Edit : I have tank cleaning videos where I discuss the bedding I use and the brands, as well as a video on what I feed my gerbils. They can be found by clicking the gerbil care Playlist in any of my videos description boxes.
@@TheGerbilVine 40 gallons? I don't think so, because I will upgrade to a 20 gallon tank when I can afford one, and thank you for the advice! Can you make a video on what sorts of toys are okay to use?
No 10-20 gallon tanks are not big enough. If you can't afford the proper care for an animal don't get one! I hope you didn't get the gerbils.
@@overcast3dskies565 Gerbils travel miles in the wild. You’ll barely be able to fit any enrichment in that small a tank with room to burrow. If you (or anyone reading) is that strapped for money you can trawl all the adoption sites/rehoming sites and are a little patient you’ll see gerbils which come with a really good enclosure all for a cheaper price. You’ll get that even quicker if you’re open to a cute little hammy who are given away more frequently
don’t get an animal if u can’t afford it smh
10 gal tanks are just fine, and i thought you were a gerbil only channel so what are you doing with a nasty hamster!?