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Post by deana on Aug 6, 2006 3:46:53 GMT -4
In their own cage since last night, they are 6 weeks old now and drinking water and eating food, I don't want anymore babies so they are on their own now. I put them in a small cage because they are still tiny little guys. When they grow some more I will pit them in a tank. I wish lol they wouldn't grow up, they are so cute and grow up so fast. They looked lost last night without Nemo and their sisters but today seemed fine. All 3 babies are Lilacs. I am over whelmed with so many tanks and cages to clean I haven't done all of them at one time for awhile now, and I lnow it has to be done. I told my son he is going to have to help me, there are too many and my back just hurts so much when I do it. I said if he didn't I was going to have to find some of them new homes, because I can't let them be not taken care of right. This is not what I want to do but is it fair to them if they aren't clean? not given any attention? they get fed and watered and things like that but they are not let out much. Tonight I went to give Uno his food dish and he ran out of the cage so fast into my hand, I felt so sorry for him, It did.... It hurt me to see that he is so lonely, but he won't let any other gerbil to be with him, the other 3 loners too. Please don't think I am complaining about so many and inconvienous of having so many. I love my gerbils. I want them to be happy. The ones in my room are very happy and not lonely, they have me and they all get so much more than the other ones out in the living room. Just two tanks in there get attention. It's not fair. I think one more time I will split cage Uno with someone, and if he does it again I just don't know what I am going to do with him He is so lonely. If I split cage the two little guys with Uno, and one with Braveheart and it soesn't work out, then they will be alone too. I must be doing something wrong one thing is having so many in the first place, I will admitt that, but the last 7 is because of sexing the gerbils right. Leaving Skittles in Nibbles cage too long after they had their babies. Those babies are the good ones, no inbreeding. If you were me what would you do? I love them so much as I said and I want them to be taken care of and go to someone that will love them like we do. Could you do it? If they go to rescue do they get adopted right away or do they just stay there? Do the people in charge make sure people don't in there and get gerbils for snakes? See that is what scares me the most. I'm sorry I am long winded tonight I am just upset and over whelmed with all of them and feeling bad because they are so lonely some of them, and then the cage cleaning too. My son is going to have to help me, and he said he would but we will see. And we have to take the others out more too My poor babies.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Aug 6, 2006 13:06:51 GMT -4
So, how many do you have? I have thirty-three separate habitats (for gerbils and other critters) including three very hard to clean Habitrails with addons, and three Crittertrails, also hard to clean. I have no problem cleaning a 15 gallon tank with two gerbils once every 2-3 weeks if I am too busy to do it more often. I do check for mites, however, every several days, and I use Sevin or permethrin as a prophylactic (as described elsewhere in a separate thread). No one helps me. If they want to live alone so be it. Don't worry about it. Better lonely (if they are) AND SAFE than God-knows-where. I would not trust any group I do not personally know and trust. Luckily I do (see Animal Rescue forum; the NYC thread). You want "overwhelemed" that was me when I had a mite plague and did not yet know about the remedies cited above. Tell me more if you wish about how often you clean. Maybe too often? - - - - - - - - - - Yesterday I wished you a happy b-day in the News Fader. Please consider using paragraphs. You may get more responses if it is easier to read.
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Post by Andrea on Aug 6, 2006 22:47:33 GMT -4
We all have days like this, don't worry your not alone. How often do you clean tanks? I do mine every 3-4 weeks, unless they smell then i do them right away. I give so much cardboard mine stay clean quit well. I don't know how many habitats i have to clean... i will take a guess though, 13 tanks/cages then 2 more bunny areas not inculding their play areas, then the dog but Ry usualy cleaned up after her. The Hamster I have to clean every week (stinky!) and pretty much the same with the Degus. The 55G and 45G tanks I cannot dump so they must be swept out, so that can be a hassle, but I'll choose that over trying to dump the 20G tall tanks, Yowch! they are a back breaker for sure.... i LOVE 10G tanks LOL I have had 2 gerbils in foster sicne probably March-ish, the hamster I've had in foster sicne Jan. she's been in foster her entire life. So there is no quaruntee these animals will ever be adopted, they are lucky though b/c they are in a home with someone who knows how to care for them, while if they were at a Shelter they have a 50/50 chance. I will not give up any of my pets, and right now i'm in a pretty cruddy spot with money and all. They come first, like children I decided to take them on and now it is my job/responcibility to see they live a happy life, especially the few "i" brought into this world (though i have only 5 of them). I know sometimes if something terrible happends then yes, that is what rescues are for, But I trully feel if u can feed and give them even the basic nessessaties, it better then shelter life. I have SEVEN gerbils living alone, 4 of them are in 2 split cages at the moment. Some gerbils live alone, and don't make yourself missrable over it. I've had loner gerbils before and if they don't take after a couple tries with other gerbils it's not going to work. It is THEM who have chosen a solitary life, not you. <hugs> I think you're on your feet now and things will go smoother, now that their are no more litters. Not only does it show how much you care for these animals but your willing to learn more to help them. I think they have a happy home with you, and if you need to make a schedule to help cleanings go faster, it may be someting to look into. I use a wet board pen and write the dates of cleanings on the outside of the tanks if I can't get them all done at one time. I also do mine Wednesday Evenings, as garbage day it Thursday
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Post by deana on Aug 6, 2006 23:56:04 GMT -4
Thank You Andrea and Zouave, that was good advice. Today I cleaned out the cage of the two I was worried about and let them play a bit and talked to them, they are so cute and they do need people who love them and I do, I feel better now about them. Bothof you are right though I can't give them away because I too brought them into this world and it is my responsibility to take care of them, I am the only one who can because they are mine like children you can't just give them away like that. I have 20 gerbils now I thought I had more lol but only 20, 4 of them are alone. I am going to try again with split cage and see what happens, if it doesn't work out then I will keep them split caged at least they will have someone near:) I am short on money too Andrea and I put mine first and I hear it too, but if I don't who will ? I take care of my animals no matter what kind. I can't tolerate cats though I don't know why but I don't have one anymore since they finally came and got the one my son left off here at my house, I have 4 tanks and 6 cages. The tanks are easier to clean because you don't have to take them apart. I don't fill it up with water lol I did the first time and couldn't empty it. I cleaned the cages every week but lately it has been every 3 and sometimes more, so if they can go 4 weeks then thats what I will do, every two weeks I will do Half of them and then the next ones the next two weeks, it will be much easier that way. I feed mine every other day how many days to let them go before you feed them? The water is checked often but usually they need more once a week. They drink more water too that what I was told that they don't They get a sand bath when they are in the walk a bout then they play for awhile. I'm ok now it was just what uno did that upset me last night by scurring into my hand like that. all I have to do is look at them and they are safe about not going anywhere, they are so cute. Remember Andrea when one of your gerbils got out of her tank and came to where you were in another room? Well Nemo did the same thing, my son left the top off of her tank and him and his dad left, I was asleep in my room, the door was shut and she came down the hallway and under the door I woke up and thought I was seeing things I thought it was one of the ones in my room, but I checked and it wasn't them, I caught her in the bathroom and took her back out to her tank but it amazes me how they know where you are. Thank You Zouave for saying happy birthday to me, I didn't know anyone here knew my birthday:) well I need to go my son goes back to school tomorrow early wake ups now again Hugs Deana
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Aug 7, 2006 3:14:27 GMT -4
I once had a Syrian hamster climb into bed with me. I woke up with her crawling up under the sheets. Very friendly.
Just watch for mites. Even with the powder as a prophylactic, if I don't clean for 3-4 weeks I very well might have them.
Throw new things in tanks. I always add empty cardboard boxes or tubes for them to gnaw. I have to scoop out some extra bedding though, later. A tiny touch of cologne on a wooden toy makes for a new interesting smell.
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Post by deana on Aug 7, 2006 9:20:41 GMT -4
I cut up carboard boxes and give them toilet paper rolls, they love those and the little babies use it to crawl in, they will chew it when they get older. I don't give them toys in their cages they get them in the walk a bout along with a wheel. I let the tame ones especially skittles run around on my bed and he leaves me little reminders that he was there lol washing sheets all the time. He will get down if not watched, sometimes I just put him down on the floor so he can get some exercise he is over weight. Sunflower seeds I think, he doesn't get anymore right now. we have been having a problem with crickets and when we can catch them we give to the gerbils sometimes, I figure if they eat mill worms they can eat them too. It is funny to watch them grab them or chasing them around lol.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Aug 7, 2006 13:06:11 GMT -4
I feed them crickets. Not so nasty or likely to be missed by them. I also create levels with heavy cardboard I cut and fold. They like to hide under them and watch when on top of them.
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Post by deana on Aug 8, 2006 2:55:49 GMT -4
only the little boys hide in the toilet paper and slowly chewing on it. one of them is a cry baby lol I don't know what the problem is but nobody is hurt so it must be a baby thing, but one of my older is like that too when she wants something someone else has. as long as they are not fighting I don't worry about it. I think they are still getting used to being without their mother, today I watched them eating and drinking so they are ok
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Aug 8, 2006 2:57:38 GMT -4
That is good to hear.
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