Natural bedding for...

[Rio and Me]

a gerbil.
I would like to know if there are any natural bedding that i can buy fo rmy gerbil to make him a bit happier.
If so how much does it cost, and is it efficent to use?
Ky and Rio

[jenluckenbach]

I would use aspen wood shavings. I use that for my mice.

[Rio and Me]

thanks
Whats the differance in that compared to normall shavings?
Ky and Rio

[luckies4me]

Aspen is safe, pine and cedar are not. You can also use Carefresh, but it tends to be dusty.


Jen, do you have any pics of your mice? I would love to see them. :)

[wolfsoul]

I agree, aspen is great. It's what my rats are on now. The odor control isn't as good as pine, but it's alot safer as both pine and cedar are toxic and deadly.

What do you mean "normal" shavings? What are they on now? :)

[wolfsoul]

Oh, and the aspen shavings I buy are $6.00 for a small bag, but it's packed in really tight so there's more there than you think. I've had this bag since February.

[Rio and Me]

I dont know its just a bag off pet sawdust, i dont have a bag right now to look, but ive never herd of asoen or the others?
Ky and rio

[wolfsoul]

Does the bedding have an aroma?

Aspen is found in most pet stores...Don't bother looking at Walmart, it won't be there lol. Carefresh is found in pet stores too, but aspen is usually easier to find. You can order beddings online too.

[Rio and Me]

We dont got walmart here,lol
it has an aroma, kind of hard to discribe!
we just have little pet shops!
I wish we had big supermarkets for pets!
Ky and Rio

[wolfsoul]

Hmm...is it a light white/yellow colour? It sounds like it might be pine...

I wish we had big supermarkets for pets too...:( There aren't NEARLY enough pet places here lol.

[Rio and Me]

where are you wolfsoul?
im in england!!
its is whiteish/cream!
Ky and Rio

[wolfsoul]

I'm in British Columbia, Canada. Weee lol.

I'd try and find a new bedding soon. It sounds like you are using pine. :eek: Pine has toxins called phenols, and when urine gets on the pine, the phenols are released into the air where your pet can breathe it in and damage it's respiratory system. It's even been shown to harm dogs. Cedar does the same thing, but it's worse because it also has microscopic spores that tear into the lungs and airways.

[Vermontcat]

I use Aspen litter for my gerbils that I got at Petsmart. Here is a link to Petsmart to show you.
petsmart aspen litter (http://www.petsmart.com/small%5Fanimal/shopping/the%5Fhamster%5F%5F%5Fgerbil%5Fshop/bedding%5Fand%5Fnesting/products/product%5F11819.shtml)
When looking at the link click on the word Learn next to the photo to find out other options for bedding.
The Aspen bedding is what Petsmart used in their store and recommended on their adoption sheet for my gerbils.

Here is a photo of them with the Aspen litter in their cage.
http://users.adelphia.net/~mandzsawyer/images/ger2.jpg
I guess you probably don't have Petsmart stores in England but maybe you can find the litter somewhere or maybe order it online.

[Rio and Me]

dont got petsmart either, but i know what it looks like now so ill look out for it
Ky and Rio

[cali]

sand. they are desert animals so sand is the most natural bedding you can give them, I use playgorund sand, and traction sand, I find the traction sand works best, not to mention its very cheap, to clean it you sift it, and you only have to change the sand every 6 months, costing you all of $8 at most per year :D

[Rio and Me]

sand ill try that, can u just change, or introduce it?
Ky and Rio

[cali]

you can just change it :)

[luckies4me]

Yes sand is an exceptable substrate as well. You should be able to find that at the petshop for snakes and reptiles. :)

[Rio and Me]

Ok thanks
Sounds cheaper and cleaner and would last allot longer as well :)
ill get some from my local petshop, they have reptile sand, i hope thats ok :)
Sand should = happy gerbil !!!
He loves to borrow so shall i use allot of it, so he can dig etc ?
Hes in a Rotastake (?sp) with large plastic base and lots of tubes so mess is not an option :)
Ky and Rio