PHOTOS - Gerbil Split-Screening

[Die Fledermaus]

I posted a thread in this forum about how to easily get split screens.

Today I put two of them to work after adding a second mesh screen of heavier gauge (to prevent gnaw-throughs).

These gerbs, who lost their tankmates through deaths, will be in there for well over a week being switched from side to side at least once a day. Hope it goes well.

[Andrea]

Very cool.
I have 2 large split tanks, then a cage that is split in two and a cage top i put in a 20G aquarium for split cages.
I don't reccomend the cage tops for the first half of the split as toes, tails and noses can be bitten through the bars badly An experiance I unfortunetly have learned.

[Die Fledermaus]

>> I don't reccomend the cage tops for the first half of the split as toes, tails and noses can be bitten through the bars badly <<

I donlt know what you mean by "cage tops" and "first half of the split".

Mine clearly extend slightly above the top of the tank; the mesh top fits right on it and gerbs cannot get over it - not all of them; not even part of them.

I switched sides for each a little while ago, ans added a Silent Spiner wheel to the first tank so one has a wheel, which they will share with the other on an alternating basis.

[Andrea]

You know hamster cages with the plastic bottons?
I use just the top part and sit it in a big tank, with one gerbil inside the cage 9which is inside the tank) and one inside the tank, but not inside the cage hehehe

And I start with a larger split cage, then go down to smaller sizes so the animals are closer together after a while. So that woudl be "the first half" of my 'introduction'.

[Die Fledermaus]

I get you. Fine so long as the gerbs don't gnaw plastic. I posted a photo not long ago of a Syrian who gnawed right through the plastic side of a CritterTraill Classic - which I need to repair tonight, come to think of it!

Gerbs intros. With or without screens, you never can tell.

[Hamsters82]

Oh so that's how you do it. I thought it was put in rectangularly (lol-no such word), but you have it in horzonitally (sp). Hope all goes well.

[Die Fledermaus]

The American Gerbil Site is such a PAIN sometimes.

I posted this there, and sure enough I had know-it-alls telling of "better" "simpler" ways, even though "you will need a dremel tool". I just needed thumbtacks.

I told them three times I did NOT use plain window screen mesh, but a heavier gnaw-proof gauge, and yet they are saying "that window stuff can be gnawed through".

Some people do not want to read, and are not interested in simple ways that conflict with their own.

BTW, mine do not move as they are held in place by the black plastic lip around the top which I trimmed to allow the screen to fit in tightly.

[Andrea]

I don't put the bottom plastic in, just the cage top.
Like this...



This is my 45G Split


This is my 50G split


Right now it's not split as it is houseing the 3 girl degus.

[Die Fledermaus]

What size are those tanks? They look very big. And I believe I have seen them before!

My biggest tank is 20L, and my smallest cage might fit in there (getting the mesh top down might be problematic), but they surely could nibble feet and noses through the bars unless I put mesh over them.

What do you think of that ferret cage in Habitats for degus??

[Andrea]

They are 45G and 50G tanks.
Most likely you've seen pictures of them elsware.

I think it may work as lonf as the bars are far enough apart. I want a solid back/sides cage for my Degu boys as theya re VERY messy and spray anything in site.

[Die Fledermaus]

Well, even I can't handle a 50 gallon tank. The 20 is bad enough, and I lift weights almost daily. I assume three people have to tote that?

I once tried to carry a 20L home from the store - a mile! I gave up after a block and got a car service. Three blocks I did manage from Susan's old place. But, I did carry a 15 a mile from the store. And I thought my fingers were about to come off at the end.

You can certainly ADD a back to that cage for your degus. But what will they not gnaw?

[Andrea]

zouave said:

Well, even I can't handle a 50 gallon tank. The 20 is bad enough, and I lift weights almost daily. I assume three people have to tote that?

I once tried to carry a 20L home from the store - a mile! I gave up after a block and got a car service. Three blocks I did manage from Susan's old place. But, I did carry a 15 a mile from the store. And I thought my fingers were about to come off at the end.

You can certainly ADD a back to that cage for your degus. But what will they not gnaw?

Ya there is no picking up and dumping those two tanks, they are WAY to heavy, you need two people.
I use a dust pan to clean them out and whipe them with a cloth.

Right now I have cardbord covered in tin foil covering the sides and back of my Degus cage, it's on the outside so they cannot chew it.
I'm buying a bunch of corogated plastic sheeting, and will be useing that next.
I can just pull the backing off and whipe it down.
One thing I don't care for with my male Degus is just how messy they are.

[Die Fledermaus]

I assume FEMALE degus are not like that. I assume neutered degus are not like that. Right?

I doubt if even two people could dump a 50 gallon tank. Glass weighs a lot! Imagine it filled with 50 gallons of water - and that is at about 9 pounds per gallon. That is 450 pounds without the glass!

[Andrea]

It depends on the Degus.
My friend had 2 Females who also sprayed alot.
Mine 'may' have to do with the females in the same room (though opposite sides). They see UV and so their they can actually see their urine marks... kinda neat.

[Die Fledermaus]

Wow, I sure wouldn't want to see what THIS apartment here looks like in UV!! ;D

Since they can see UV I guess they can also verify the authenticity of paper currency? That happens a lot with twenties and fiftes in stores these days.