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Do-it-yourself
You must use your imagination to bring some new
stuff in your gerbil life! You can go to the hardware store or the dollar store
to find something else for your gerbils. you could even find something in the in
the old junk in the basement or attic. For
some other ideas, visit Gary's website
PVC
Plumbing tubes
This is a very interesting material. When the
small plastic tunnels sold in Petstores cost over 4$ each, you can find 6' of
black tube for the same price. The gerbils will be as happy and you too as you
will not cry when you'll see it destroy by your gerbils! Just cut them the
desire length and it's done! You can make a complete maze by using the joint
sold in the same section. If you want them to go up in a tube, they won't be
able in the PVC ones. Don't glue the tubes together. If a gerbil is sick, you
won't be able to reach it. Also, the gerbil may poop in the tubes, so you'll
need to be able to disassemble the maze to clean it.
If you want clear tubes, you can try to find
Plexiglas tube. A lot more expensive (50$ for 6') but almost totally gerbil
proof. “Almost” because, they may chew some part of it after months. You can
also use empty cans to protect tubs extremities from our small chewers.
Industrial
Velcro
Velcro can be used to fix anything on tanks wall.
I use it to fix water bottle, food bowl and wheels. This way, it can be easily
removed for cleaning. You can use it to fix PVC tubes on the walls. For all this
to work , you need to use good quality industrial Velcro, not the one sold for
sewing on cloths.
Metal
wires
Wires are very useful too. As for Velcro, you can
use wires to hang things in the aquarium. You can also use it to cover some part
of material that you want to protect from chewing. Just be careful to how you
knit it around, small paws or head could be caught in it.
Terra
cotta pots
The
broken ones can be used to make small hiding place. Make sure you softened the
edges. You can also drill a hole in it if you have the proper tools.
Canes
I
saw that on
Gary's
page, a New York gerbil breeder. He use that to make alot of different things.
But be carefull soften the edges!
Gerbil-proof
materials
You
know that, gerbils are rodent, and when we say rodent, we say chewing! Few
things can outstand the gerbils chewing rages. I listed some for you.
Plexiglas
This type of plastic is very very hard. You can find it in
stores like Homedepot, Rona, Renodepot, etc. They sell it in sheets. You'll
need to use sheets of 3mm thick to be resistant enough for gerbils.
This
plastic may be difficult to work. It may break if cut to fast or drilled the
wrong way. It can be folded with a hot wire heat source. I made many thing
with plexi, as it's one of my favourite material for gerbils. Visit the Store
to see some models I done.
Bambou
This
may sound odd but it may be a good idea to build anything! Bambou is hard and
gerbils have a hard time trying to chew it. You can to small houses, bridges or
staires.
Ceramic
Ceramic
squares can be use in different ways. you can glue it with silicone made for
aquariums or with hot glue.
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