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Welcome all Care Takers, and Gerbil Sitters to our Site! This page will
give you all the help you need, and a care taker guide to help the gerbil survive, and have fun while the owners are away!
I recommend that all gerbil owners give the pet sitters our link, so if they give them a care sheet, and they don't understand,
or they need more information, this can help! I do also highly recommend gerbil sitters to read not only this, but the rest
of the pages. This site has information, that not only if you own a gerbil, it has life saving information, that might save
a gerbils life!
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Short Term or Long Term Care Information
The pet owner SHOULD have gave you the following:
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Cage or Tank (Wire, or Aquarium is best)
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Water Bottle
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Litter
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Hide Away House
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Chew Toys
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Treats
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Feed
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Wheel
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Food Dish (Some pet owners think that it is a waste of time,
and like the gerbils to find there food for excersize)
If they didn't, my recommendations are:
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Kaytee KayKob Bedding (Kaytee Kay-Kob is a natural corn cob product, ideal as a bedding and
litter for birds and small animals. Highly absorbent, and helps eliminate odors. It won't stick or cling to cages or pens
allowing for easy clean-up) I don't recommend Kaytee Aspen, because it is very expensive, and you are probably only looking
after it for 1 - 3 weeks. (Kaytee Aspen Bedding and Litter is suitable for your small animals, or birds. This bedding has
a low amount of wood oils and may be preferred for animals with sensitive respiratory systems. Made with all natural Aspen
shavings, it is specially treated using a triple cleaning process to help eliminate dust and wood debris. This bedding is
also great to use in bird nest boxes. Can be used in all cages, aquariums and habitrails, and is a natural biodegradable
product.)
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For Hide Away Houses, they usually have log huts or arches available
cheap, or you can throw in a box!
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Chew toys can range from boxes, and toilet paper rolls, to Super
Pet Roll 'n Chews!
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Treats sometimes are high in sugars and fats, causing diabetes,
but treats like celery, and carrots can be given.
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Wheels if aren't supplied will not be needed, because
the gerbils may not use them. If aren't supplied, just take them out more (See Below), because they are around $9.99 - $20.99
for my recommendated wheel the Super Pet Silent Spinner (Silent Spinner lets your little, furry friend
get its workout without the noise. Ball bearing technology gives this plastic spinner the durability and noise control any
pet parent would appreciate. 9.5 Inches and up is the appropriate size for a gerbil)
Handling a Gerbil
It is extremely important that if you have any other pets
in the house, or if you don't want to get bit, you use unscented hand sanitizer, or alcohol hand rub. You can get germs and
viruses spread from pet to pet not using hand sanitizer. You don't grab them from above, you scoop them with 2 hands, causing
them to smell you first. Oh yes, and you put your hand out first, so they can smell you before. This doesn't need to be done
with all gerbils, they are all different, but should be a precausion that you should take.
Tank Cleaning Hows and Whens
You should clean the gerbils every 1 - 2 weeks, but if there
are a ton of shavings, you only have to do it when need be (not when all turns yellow, and fecal, but when you smell urine!)
Remember to change your food and water every single day! Even if you are on vacation, leave your pet sitter this link!
Remove Gerbils into Large box, bin, or room that is inclosed
with no wires
Take out furniture, dishes, etc
Empty Shavings into bin
Sterilize aquarium with cage cleaner or Windex, so no urine
or fecal matter is left over (even if you don't see or smell any!)
Rinse with water, and towel dry.
Let dry, but in mean time, clean food dish same way. Only
use water for water bottle, or cage cleaner!
Do plastic shelves, and tubes if any, and clean wire
with hot mild soapy water! Rinse well!
When all is dry (don't wait too long! Gerbils are escapee's!)
Assemble.
Put shavings in
Put furniture in, water, etc
Fill food dish
Put shelves in
Replace Gerbils
Some gerbils will fight over the smell not being the same,
mine have never done this, but i've heard of it!
Good bedding is 3" - 7".
My bin cage i send, but I get my gerbil sitters to clean it
everyday, or every 2 days, because I can only put in 1 inch of bedding in, and I want them to smell clean!
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