Monday, May 24, 2010
What are the stages of new born hamsters?
Answers:
When born, the newborn pups won't have any fur, their eyes are closed, and they're still cute.They can't see, or hear, but they can already smell and move themselves around by their front feet.
At two weeks the puppies will have a soft fur coat and will be running around raising havoc in the cage. They may also begin to eat solid foods and drink on their own. Around three weeks they'll begin leaving their mother for longer periods of time to explore and look for food on their own.
At three to four weeks they are ready to go live on their own.
What are the signs of a female gerbil going into labor?
Me and my sister recently bought two female gerbils from a local pet store. Their names are Mei and Satsuki. Satsuki, being the only other adult female gerbil besides Mei,was pregnet.I was wondering if you can tell when a gerbils is going to go into labor and how to help her if there are any complications.
Answers:
You can tell at about 2 days before the event. She will start to look really pear-shaped. She will be more tired than usual. She will look very uncomfortable and do a lot of stretching and rolling around when she tries to lie down.
If it helps here are a couple of pictures of my gerbil, Shandy, the day before she gave birth the second time:
http://i10.tinypic.com/4xwp6hx.jpg...
http://i10.tinypic.com/4y046jo.jpg...
http://i10.tinypic.com/4lou528.jpg...
Her Ladyship. So cute.
She finds a place to build up the saw dust to protect her naked new born pinkies.
Keep the cage really clean and provide enough food for both of them so that the other female doesn't attack the pinkies.
Answers:
You can tell at about 2 days before the event. She will start to look really pear-shaped. She will be more tired than usual. She will look very uncomfortable and do a lot of stretching and rolling around when she tries to lie down.
If it helps here are a couple of pictures of my gerbil, Shandy, the day before she gave birth the second time:
http://i10.tinypic.com/4xwp6hx.jpg...
http://i10.tinypic.com/4y046jo.jpg...
http://i10.tinypic.com/4lou528.jpg...
Her Ladyship. So cute.
She finds a place to build up the saw dust to protect her naked new born pinkies.
Keep the cage really clean and provide enough food for both of them so that the other female doesn't attack the pinkies.
What are the pros and cons of having a gerbil?
Answers:
Pros:
Gerbils are low-maintenance pets. They create less odor and they do not need frequent vet visits as they are not prone to tumors or respiratory problems unlike mice or rats.
They have a longer life span compared to other small rodents. They live for about 3-5 years.
Their antics can keep you entertained for hours.
Cons:
Since Gerbils are highly social animals and do not like being alone at all, you must get at least two gerbils. Lone gerbils have been proven to live shorter and less healthier lives.
Most Gerbils are friendly, but they can jump quite high! This can make handling relatively challenging. Be sure to handle them above a soft surface so that they won't get injured if they fall. To prevent them from escaping, they must be placed in aquariums, with a mesh wire lid to cover it. Wire cages are not advised as they will incessantly gnaw on the bars. It can be both annoying and harmful for them.
Richard Gere told me that having a gerbil is a pain in the butt; so, I have stayed away.
I've had gerbils all my life and I like them because:
-They don't stink- gerbils are desert animals so they make only small amounts of pee and their poop is dry.
-They are independent and don't require too much attention.
-They're super cute and fun to watch.
***Possible cons: Gerbils should be kept in pairs as they are very social with their own kind. Single gerbils often become unhappy and aggressive and tend to nip when you touch then. Gerbils are more difficult to handle than hamsters- they are usually very squirmy and they can be very clever when it cones to escaping their cage.
I liked having a gerbil because they are very low matinence because you almost never have to wash them, they also can me very fun to play with. They can shred any box or cardboard tube you put in their cage . You can use practicly any cage configureation
The only thing I didn't like was that mine was a really fast runner and was nearly impossible to catch . Cleaning all the tubes was a pain, instead get an aquarium and an aquarium converter top with holes for the tubes than have 1 tube leading to another cage this always makes things more interesting than just one cage. Also beware of escapes mine got out once at night and got under my parents bed luckily we found it but my mom was furious so make sure the top is on securely and there are no holes anywhere else in the structure , even one the size of and inch . Gerbils are very flexible and two can pass each other while in one of the plastic tubes , for example, ive seen it.
Gerbils are a great pet and really great for anyone.
The pros of having a gerbil is that they are very easy to take care of and its like if its you best friend ,you don't have to take it for walks ,you don't have to take it an actual bath ,you don't have to be giving it food at a certain time ,you don't have to clean the cage really often.
The cons are when you handle them they tend to squirm and they scratch you by accident a lot of fur fall off I mean they don't go bald its just that they are shedding.If you get a wire cage they will kick out bedding.Oh and also if you get a ball the ball starts to fog up and it gets scratched you have to wash it because they poop in there.
I agree with everyone, but I would like to add that gerbils are avid chewers and are bets kept in a aquarium with wire top. They can chew out of a crittertrail cage in a few weeks, and a wire cage with a flimsy bottom pan in maybe two days. But they are the most fun pets to watch because theya re so energetic, they like to play with each other and jump around. Hamsters can't really jump, the larger ones (syrians and teeddies and goldens) hate sharing cages and smaller one's are very nervous animals. Gerbils do come in less colors than hamsters, usually you can only find gray's black, whites or tans, but color shouldn't be so important that you wouldn't get one.
What are the Pro's and Con's of Fleece Bedding?
I'm adopting a guinea pig this weekend and I'm setting up a cage. I was thinking about getting a fleece bedding, since my friend who owns three of her own pigs suggested it. She puts shredded paper on top of the fleece and throws it out and washes the fleece when she puts out her pig for floortime. Is this a good idea, or should I try CareFresh? Any suggestions?
Answers:
I use fleece bedding in my c%26c cage and love it. There is no odor either. As long as you put something underneath the fleece to soak up the pee, like old towels, puppy pads, newspaper or a combination works best. That way the stuff underneath soaks up the moisture and your piggers stay dry. Then all you have to do is sweep up the poo's and any spilled hay. Use a dark colored cloth so the poo blends in better and wash it once or twice a week depending on how dirty it gets. I find it is much cleaner and better looking and I know my piggies love it. Carefresh also is good for them, but I find it makes the cage look too messy. The cons of it are that if you dont get it held down right your piggers could end up burrowing down under it.
Carefresh can cause respiratory problems due to the fact that it is dusty. It does not affect all guinea pigs though.
What fleece does is wicks the urine to the bottom of the cage which is why you need something to soak the urine up. Towels, matress pads and puppy pads are all good choices. Basically you put one of the above under the fleece and it soaks up the urine which is wicked through the fleece. Fleece is great because it does not smell, the bad thing is that the poops are visible.
Alternatively you can use aspen or kiln dried pine. Avoid cedar and normal pine at all times.
I use CareFresh for my gerbils because one of them developed an allergy to the aspen shavings. Of course guinea pigs aren't gerbils, but if you're looking for something hypoallergenic then I'd suggest CareFresh.
As for the fleece bedding, I've never heard of that, but if it is something similar to cotton, then don't use it. The claws of your guinea pigs can get stuck in that and cause injury.
And avoid cedar and pine shavings at all times. These can cause serious respiratory problems.
Answers:
I use fleece bedding in my c%26c cage and love it. There is no odor either. As long as you put something underneath the fleece to soak up the pee, like old towels, puppy pads, newspaper or a combination works best. That way the stuff underneath soaks up the moisture and your piggers stay dry. Then all you have to do is sweep up the poo's and any spilled hay. Use a dark colored cloth so the poo blends in better and wash it once or twice a week depending on how dirty it gets. I find it is much cleaner and better looking and I know my piggies love it. Carefresh also is good for them, but I find it makes the cage look too messy. The cons of it are that if you dont get it held down right your piggers could end up burrowing down under it.
Carefresh can cause respiratory problems due to the fact that it is dusty. It does not affect all guinea pigs though.
What fleece does is wicks the urine to the bottom of the cage which is why you need something to soak the urine up. Towels, matress pads and puppy pads are all good choices. Basically you put one of the above under the fleece and it soaks up the urine which is wicked through the fleece. Fleece is great because it does not smell, the bad thing is that the poops are visible.
Alternatively you can use aspen or kiln dried pine. Avoid cedar and normal pine at all times.
I use CareFresh for my gerbils because one of them developed an allergy to the aspen shavings. Of course guinea pigs aren't gerbils, but if you're looking for something hypoallergenic then I'd suggest CareFresh.
As for the fleece bedding, I've never heard of that, but if it is something similar to cotton, then don't use it. The claws of your guinea pigs can get stuck in that and cause injury.
And avoid cedar and pine shavings at all times. These can cause serious respiratory problems.
What are the pros and cons of female pet rats?
Anyone?
Answers:
Pros:
Female rats, called a Doe, are significantly smaller then their male counterparts. Does weigh 200 - 500g whereas Bucks weigh 400 - 700g
Does are built for speed with their lithe, grayhound-built, bodies.
Does are very curious, always busy, and eager to explore their surroundings. This seemingly hyperactivity stays with them for their full, healthy lives.
Does interact very well with their human caregivers in spite of this
Does don't have those huge testicles that sometimes startles the uninformed.
Does are more accepting of new cage mates. Less prone to dominance issues, which some people refer to as "fighting"
Does do not mark their territory as much as Bucks do.
Does are less apt to gain weight and
Less apt to get age-related hind-end paralysis.
Does keep their cages cleaner for a longer period of time then the Bucks do
Does smell like something sweet. Some say like Grape Soda. I think it's just a clean smell. Bucks have a muskier scent which some people describe as warm taco chips. I do not find this au d'rattus offensive. Some do.
Does do not sleep any more, or any less then Bucks do. It's just that Does are so much more active when they are are awake
Does are sweet and gentle 99% of the time, but....
Cons:
Thier curiosity can get them into all sorts of mischief
Sometimes too busy for cuddles
A teeny bit harder to train because they are too preoccupied with more important things in life
Because of their small size you need an escape-proof cage, the bar spacing needs to be 3/4 inch or less
Does are more prone to mammary and pituitary tumors
Does will look for the male when they (the doe) is in heat. Make sure your Bucks and Does are inaccessable to each other
....Some Does get cranky when they are in heat or pregnant
That's all I can think of at the moment.
Rat Care:
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=ra...
Rats like the company of their own kind:
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=ra...
Rat Behavior:
http://www.ratbehavior.org/
Rat Health:
http://ratguide.com/
spazrats
"my life has gone to the rats"
I had pet female mice, and they were very docile compared to my hyper male rabbit. Since they are both rodents, I would asume male rats would be hyper like my male rabbit, while female rats would be easy going like my female mice (of course it all depends on the individual, but generally speaking). My female mice were easy to handle - they didn't bite much, but my male rabbit loved to bite my family members and I. The only cons I can really think of are, what if you get a female rat that is pregnant, or what if she gets loose in your home, you can't find her, and she starts breeding (not to say there are rats in your home of course, but even if she doesn't breed in your home, what if she breeds around it? There was were a few rats living in my garage for a while, and we took care of the problem, they weren't going anywhere).
Female pet rats are more active, and interactive, than males. (Males will sleep more, and play less). Females are less likely to fight with each other, and some people think they smell a bit better. I've had many rats of both genders and I now have just two females. Up to four or five makes a nice group if your cage is big enough to accomodate that many. People who prefer male rats usually want them because of their larger size, some people prefer big rats. I recommend the females for pets for almost everyone.
Female rats tend to be smaller and less fragrant then thier male counterparts (males can be musky when females are sometimes sweet smelling). They are also generally more active but this varies widely between individuals. When un-altered they also tend to have less squabbling with cagemates then males.
Females are more prone to cancer and non-cancerous tumors then males due to hormones and that their breast tissue goes roughly half way up the sides of their body. This is not a concern if they are altered (an ovarian-hysterectomy or spaying can be done on female rats to greatly reduce their chance of tumors). Altering a female rat is usually more expensive then altering a male rat and a more intrusive surgery.
Male rats have a musk (most don't find it offensive if regular cleaning is done) but this eliminated if they are altered (they can be neutered as young as 8 weeks by an experienced rodent veterinarian), they tend to be lazier which makes them less exciting to watch but easier to cuddle with. If un-altered they have a higher chance of cagemate aggression than females. Unaltered male rats drag their testes across objects to mark them females mark too (with piddle and scent glands) but generally less.
i have never had a problem with any of my female rodents esspecially my rats. they're very good with people of all ages and very easy to take care of. my males have always been alittle more lazy and some what smellier.but that's really the only differences. it's really up to how you interact with the animal that makes their personalities.
Love them %26 Love them again!
in total i have 21 ratties.. 5 boys, 10 females and a whole bunch of babies that are too young to sex.
my girls are completly out of control, its like they take crazy tablets every day, but they are soo fun to watch, ohh i dont know the pros and cons, my girls are active crazy little buggers and my boys are quiet calm and collective quite happy to lay around and watch the females go nuts.
and yes 21 ratties do damage to my food bill..
Without reading any responses I'll tell my experience. Female rats are more interested in running around exploring and tickling the heck out of you then giving the love like a male rat. Male rats are lovers and females are more active. This is not true for all rats because I've seen exceptions. My female Bella had free roaming happiness in my house and the males were content to stick with me. Also, female do not have those huge testicle to slide along your arm or neck so maybe you might think that's a pro. They generally are just more aggressive than the male. But there are, like I said, many exceptions. They tend to smell less musky as well.
We have three female rats and I don't have any cons. They are more active than males, so if you want slower rats, males would be for you. As long as they were seperated from males at 5 weeks old, you shouldn't have to worry about bringing home a little pregnant rat. They are very loving, fun pets.
Well firstly - don't get them from a petstore!! I got my two females rats from a petstore and they bit me every time I held them. Go to a rescue or a breeder.
Females usually smell less - that's about the only pro, I can't think of any cons.
pros-cute, non biting and all around great.
cons-none!
1. the pros are their pee does not smell like males and they don't mark their territory no cons about them that i can think of
2. my dad had a male rat and he said the only difference is that males like i said mark their territory and their pee smells
Answers:
Pros:
Female rats, called a Doe, are significantly smaller then their male counterparts. Does weigh 200 - 500g whereas Bucks weigh 400 - 700g
Does are built for speed with their lithe, grayhound-built, bodies.
Does are very curious, always busy, and eager to explore their surroundings. This seemingly hyperactivity stays with them for their full, healthy lives.
Does interact very well with their human caregivers in spite of this
Does don't have those huge testicles that sometimes startles the uninformed.
Does are more accepting of new cage mates. Less prone to dominance issues, which some people refer to as "fighting"
Does do not mark their territory as much as Bucks do.
Does are less apt to gain weight and
Less apt to get age-related hind-end paralysis.
Does keep their cages cleaner for a longer period of time then the Bucks do
Does smell like something sweet. Some say like Grape Soda. I think it's just a clean smell. Bucks have a muskier scent which some people describe as warm taco chips. I do not find this au d'rattus offensive. Some do.
Does do not sleep any more, or any less then Bucks do. It's just that Does are so much more active when they are are awake
Does are sweet and gentle 99% of the time, but....
Cons:
Thier curiosity can get them into all sorts of mischief
Sometimes too busy for cuddles
A teeny bit harder to train because they are too preoccupied with more important things in life
Because of their small size you need an escape-proof cage, the bar spacing needs to be 3/4 inch or less
Does are more prone to mammary and pituitary tumors
Does will look for the male when they (the doe) is in heat. Make sure your Bucks and Does are inaccessable to each other
....Some Does get cranky when they are in heat or pregnant
That's all I can think of at the moment.
Rat Care:
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=ra...
Rats like the company of their own kind:
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=ra...
Rat Behavior:
http://www.ratbehavior.org/
Rat Health:
http://ratguide.com/
spazrats
"my life has gone to the rats"
I had pet female mice, and they were very docile compared to my hyper male rabbit. Since they are both rodents, I would asume male rats would be hyper like my male rabbit, while female rats would be easy going like my female mice (of course it all depends on the individual, but generally speaking). My female mice were easy to handle - they didn't bite much, but my male rabbit loved to bite my family members and I. The only cons I can really think of are, what if you get a female rat that is pregnant, or what if she gets loose in your home, you can't find her, and she starts breeding (not to say there are rats in your home of course, but even if she doesn't breed in your home, what if she breeds around it? There was were a few rats living in my garage for a while, and we took care of the problem, they weren't going anywhere).
Female pet rats are more active, and interactive, than males. (Males will sleep more, and play less). Females are less likely to fight with each other, and some people think they smell a bit better. I've had many rats of both genders and I now have just two females. Up to four or five makes a nice group if your cage is big enough to accomodate that many. People who prefer male rats usually want them because of their larger size, some people prefer big rats. I recommend the females for pets for almost everyone.
Female rats tend to be smaller and less fragrant then thier male counterparts (males can be musky when females are sometimes sweet smelling). They are also generally more active but this varies widely between individuals. When un-altered they also tend to have less squabbling with cagemates then males.
Females are more prone to cancer and non-cancerous tumors then males due to hormones and that their breast tissue goes roughly half way up the sides of their body. This is not a concern if they are altered (an ovarian-hysterectomy or spaying can be done on female rats to greatly reduce their chance of tumors). Altering a female rat is usually more expensive then altering a male rat and a more intrusive surgery.
Male rats have a musk (most don't find it offensive if regular cleaning is done) but this eliminated if they are altered (they can be neutered as young as 8 weeks by an experienced rodent veterinarian), they tend to be lazier which makes them less exciting to watch but easier to cuddle with. If un-altered they have a higher chance of cagemate aggression than females. Unaltered male rats drag their testes across objects to mark them females mark too (with piddle and scent glands) but generally less.
i have never had a problem with any of my female rodents esspecially my rats. they're very good with people of all ages and very easy to take care of. my males have always been alittle more lazy and some what smellier.but that's really the only differences. it's really up to how you interact with the animal that makes their personalities.
Love them %26 Love them again!
in total i have 21 ratties.. 5 boys, 10 females and a whole bunch of babies that are too young to sex.
my girls are completly out of control, its like they take crazy tablets every day, but they are soo fun to watch, ohh i dont know the pros and cons, my girls are active crazy little buggers and my boys are quiet calm and collective quite happy to lay around and watch the females go nuts.
and yes 21 ratties do damage to my food bill..
Without reading any responses I'll tell my experience. Female rats are more interested in running around exploring and tickling the heck out of you then giving the love like a male rat. Male rats are lovers and females are more active. This is not true for all rats because I've seen exceptions. My female Bella had free roaming happiness in my house and the males were content to stick with me. Also, female do not have those huge testicle to slide along your arm or neck so maybe you might think that's a pro. They generally are just more aggressive than the male. But there are, like I said, many exceptions. They tend to smell less musky as well.
We have three female rats and I don't have any cons. They are more active than males, so if you want slower rats, males would be for you. As long as they were seperated from males at 5 weeks old, you shouldn't have to worry about bringing home a little pregnant rat. They are very loving, fun pets.
Well firstly - don't get them from a petstore!! I got my two females rats from a petstore and they bit me every time I held them. Go to a rescue or a breeder.
Females usually smell less - that's about the only pro, I can't think of any cons.
pros-cute, non biting and all around great.
cons-none!
1. the pros are their pee does not smell like males and they don't mark their territory no cons about them that i can think of
2. my dad had a male rat and he said the only difference is that males like i said mark their territory and their pee smells
What are the odds of gerbils having thier tails snatched off by running wheels?
Like running wheels with slits, such as metal thin-barred ones. I looked up gerbils on image search, and the caption told me about gerbils getting thier tails snitched off by running wheels. I have a wheel that is unsafe for them and I was wondering what the odds were!!
Answers:
The slatted metal or plastic wheels should never be used for any small animal, they cause tail injuries and leg/foot injuries. We just rescued a dwarf with a broken leg because the owner used one of them, they used the slatted plastic style. Just throw that wheel away and go buy a solid plastic or if a chewer, a metal mesh wheel. We use this type will all our gerbils. The chances of a broken leg is a lot less and so is a caught tail. If you continue to use that wheel, then you are no better then the people I took the dwarf hamster from with the broken leg, who refused to stop using it. I paid for the vet services and they now have no dwarf hamster, which is part of my rules that once I remove an animal from a home for treatment, they become under ownership of the rescue and will be placed up for adoption once healed.
Please just stop using that wheel and go get a proper solid plactic or wire mesh wheel (if a chewer) for the gerbils safety. I don't want to see a question on here for what to do with a broken tail/leg or a severed tail/leg that was preventable. The odds are 100% everytime use contiue to use the wheel, you just never know when it will happen.
Not sure, but you don't have to get a new wheel. Just take some flexible cardboard, like from a tissue box, cut it to the right width, and tape it around the outside of the wheel (masking tape works well). It will get dirty eventually from droppings and such, but then you can just rip it off and tape a new piece on.
1 to 100 i have had 4 gerbils and they have never ever! gotten their tail stuck in one!
The odds are pretty good that an injury may occur. I would reccomend getting a solid wheel for your pet or make it safe as the other person suggested.
Remember that as the caretaker of a small animal you are their god in a way. You provide them with a home, food, water and all other neccesities of life. It would be very irresponsible for you to ignore advice on making your gerbil's life safe and pain free out of sheer laziness or the desire to save a few dollars.
If you were still an infant would you want your mother to leave poisonous household cleaners around where you could potentially reach them and then go on Yahoo and ask what the odds were of you getting into them?
I seriously doubt it.
the odds are about 2:1 from my experience and friends of rodents winding up with broken limbs or tails from metal wheels. one unfortunate mouse a friend of mine had lost an eye to one when her sister was running on it and she went to crawl across the cage and caught her head in it. luckily it didn't break her neck.
just purchase a solid plastic one (these are the kind that is recommended for rats).
they are like $12...that way it eliminates that possibility.
I dont know the odds but, get a wheel that doesnt have the bars. Like a solid plastic one.
Just to be safe, I would get a closed wheel, one where the bottom where they run is solid. I wouldnt suggest a plastic one because they tend to chew it up (I know from experience lol) but still get a closed wheel or a "mesh" one where there are no big openings or bars.
There are some with this tiny chicken wire stuff, but its flat instead of rounded so it doesnt hurt their feet.
Truthfully, I think it is pretty low. Usually gerbils get their tails detached because someone grabs the gerbil by the tail or holds the tail and the gerbil falls or runs off.
However it could happen. So the best bet is just to get a mesh one where the holes are too little to fit in a gerbil tail and not have to worry about it.
Here is a link to a good size one (8 inch diameter) for gerbils:
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/202...
Answers:
The slatted metal or plastic wheels should never be used for any small animal, they cause tail injuries and leg/foot injuries. We just rescued a dwarf with a broken leg because the owner used one of them, they used the slatted plastic style. Just throw that wheel away and go buy a solid plastic or if a chewer, a metal mesh wheel. We use this type will all our gerbils. The chances of a broken leg is a lot less and so is a caught tail. If you continue to use that wheel, then you are no better then the people I took the dwarf hamster from with the broken leg, who refused to stop using it. I paid for the vet services and they now have no dwarf hamster, which is part of my rules that once I remove an animal from a home for treatment, they become under ownership of the rescue and will be placed up for adoption once healed.
Please just stop using that wheel and go get a proper solid plactic or wire mesh wheel (if a chewer) for the gerbils safety. I don't want to see a question on here for what to do with a broken tail/leg or a severed tail/leg that was preventable. The odds are 100% everytime use contiue to use the wheel, you just never know when it will happen.
Not sure, but you don't have to get a new wheel. Just take some flexible cardboard, like from a tissue box, cut it to the right width, and tape it around the outside of the wheel (masking tape works well). It will get dirty eventually from droppings and such, but then you can just rip it off and tape a new piece on.
1 to 100 i have had 4 gerbils and they have never ever! gotten their tail stuck in one!
The odds are pretty good that an injury may occur. I would reccomend getting a solid wheel for your pet or make it safe as the other person suggested.
Remember that as the caretaker of a small animal you are their god in a way. You provide them with a home, food, water and all other neccesities of life. It would be very irresponsible for you to ignore advice on making your gerbil's life safe and pain free out of sheer laziness or the desire to save a few dollars.
If you were still an infant would you want your mother to leave poisonous household cleaners around where you could potentially reach them and then go on Yahoo and ask what the odds were of you getting into them?
I seriously doubt it.
the odds are about 2:1 from my experience and friends of rodents winding up with broken limbs or tails from metal wheels. one unfortunate mouse a friend of mine had lost an eye to one when her sister was running on it and she went to crawl across the cage and caught her head in it. luckily it didn't break her neck.
just purchase a solid plastic one (these are the kind that is recommended for rats).
they are like $12...that way it eliminates that possibility.
I dont know the odds but, get a wheel that doesnt have the bars. Like a solid plastic one.
Just to be safe, I would get a closed wheel, one where the bottom where they run is solid. I wouldnt suggest a plastic one because they tend to chew it up (I know from experience lol) but still get a closed wheel or a "mesh" one where there are no big openings or bars.
There are some with this tiny chicken wire stuff, but its flat instead of rounded so it doesnt hurt their feet.
Truthfully, I think it is pretty low. Usually gerbils get their tails detached because someone grabs the gerbil by the tail or holds the tail and the gerbil falls or runs off.
However it could happen. So the best bet is just to get a mesh one where the holes are too little to fit in a gerbil tail and not have to worry about it.
Here is a link to a good size one (8 inch diameter) for gerbils:
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/202...
What are the most important things I should REALLY (x 2) consider when planning on getting a Syrian hamster?
I mean I have started researching but I don't know what I'm missing I'm reading as much as I possibly can cuz I really DO want a pet and hammies are so cute!! But I think I'm missing that piece of the puzzle...
Answers:
well, i have two dwarf hamsters now, but have had syrian hamsters before. Here is what I found out about them (like the disadvatages):
1). they do stink a little bit. so, cleaning their cage every week is very important. also, "spot cleaning" is important too!
2). they are escape artists! one time, mine escaped and we couldn't find him for a day! that night, my dad found her under the tv! so, getting a good sturdy cage for them is also very important!
3). they sleep all day. this is kinda nerver racking when you want to play with them but you don't want to wake them up.
4). their aren't many vets that treat hamsters. so, if you have a problem with your hamter, you can't go to a vet.
5). sometimes, they will bite. their bites are kinda hard and can draw blood sometimes!
6). hamsters can suffer from getting "wet tail." I am sure that you have read up about this though!
I hope that this helps answer your question! Good Luck! don't forget, there are many advantages about owning a hamster too!
Can up hump it?
1. You need to know the factors in taking care o a hamster
2. Spend sooooooooooooooooooo much time with him/her
3. Make sure you have all the tools or living room for your hamster
4. Make sure to keep all animals, especially dogs away from him/her
5. THE MOST IMPORTANT > > > Be a loving owner
They are nocturnal and they can bite hard! But they really are sweet once you have let your hamster get to know you then he or she will be very sweet! They are so much fun and not a lot of work or money! Have fun with your furry little friend!
Answers:
well, i have two dwarf hamsters now, but have had syrian hamsters before. Here is what I found out about them (like the disadvatages):
1). they do stink a little bit. so, cleaning their cage every week is very important. also, "spot cleaning" is important too!
2). they are escape artists! one time, mine escaped and we couldn't find him for a day! that night, my dad found her under the tv! so, getting a good sturdy cage for them is also very important!
3). they sleep all day. this is kinda nerver racking when you want to play with them but you don't want to wake them up.
4). their aren't many vets that treat hamsters. so, if you have a problem with your hamter, you can't go to a vet.
5). sometimes, they will bite. their bites are kinda hard and can draw blood sometimes!
6). hamsters can suffer from getting "wet tail." I am sure that you have read up about this though!
I hope that this helps answer your question! Good Luck! don't forget, there are many advantages about owning a hamster too!
Can up hump it?
1. You need to know the factors in taking care o a hamster
2. Spend sooooooooooooooooooo much time with him/her
3. Make sure you have all the tools or living room for your hamster
4. Make sure to keep all animals, especially dogs away from him/her
5. THE MOST IMPORTANT > > > Be a loving owner
They are nocturnal and they can bite hard! But they really are sweet once you have let your hamster get to know you then he or she will be very sweet! They are so much fun and not a lot of work or money! Have fun with your furry little friend!
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