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80stoysale.com HOME
Menu
Please click on a link to take you to each page.
General Care
Personality/Habits
Lifespan
Nail & Teeth trimming
Baths
Introduction/Fighting
Quarantine
Colors & Markings
Sexing info
Pre-Breeding info
Pregnancy Info
Baby Info
Health Tips
Eyes
Mycoplasma
Pneumonia
Temperature
Bugs
Veterinary Care
Abscesses & Tumors
Bumblefoot
Sprained ankles/Torn toenails
Wounds
Degloving/Tail injury
Aggression
Ears
Megacolon
Barbering
Old Age
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80stoysale.com HOME
I am a USDA Licensed Small Animal Breeder Located in Chaska, MN.
I breed Fancy Rats, Fancy Mice, Guinea Pigs, Hamsters, Gerbils, African soft fur rats, Spiny Mice, Degus and Hedgehogs.
I have been breeding rodents for over 20 years.
I try to breed all my critters to be the healthiest, happiest pets i can.
Gerbils in the pet trade are Mongolian gerbils.
They come in a variety of colors.
There are regular coated/haired and Curly haired rex coated Gerbils.
Gerbils have fully furred tails with tufts of hair on the end.
Gerbils are pregnant on average 25 days.
They start getting color pigmentation at 3 days old.
At a week old they have a light layer of hair and you will be able to tell their markings.
They will open their eyes between 12-14 days.
As soon as they open their eyes they start exploring and nibbling food a lot more.
The babies stay with Mom for 28 days/4 weeks.
A Gerbils lifespan is 2-5 years, 3 1/2 years being a good average.
Gerbils do best in same sex pairs acquired at the same time. (siblings work best)
Male gerbils will stomp their feet as a danger warning or when they are wanting to mate.
Gerbils have a scent spot/gland on the middle of their stomachs.
**Pictures of some different types/colors of Gerbils.**
Personality/Habits:
Gerbils are typically very friendly and rarely bite.
Gerbils will run up your arm, crawl on you and many will take treats from you.
Young Gerbils are quite active, they will mellow out some with age.
Gerbils should live in same sex pairs.
It is extremely difficult to introduce gerbils over 3 months of age or once one is already established in the environment.
Introducing older gerbils can result in fighting, extreme injury and/or death.
Unfortunately it is very rare for older gerbils to get along.
Bedding:
Aspen Wood shavings
Aspen wood bedding is safe to use for gerbils.
It is best to look for bedding with the least amount of dust and little to no aroma.
A strong odor can be a sign that the bedding hasn't been kiln dried at a high enough temperature long enough and an excess of oils could still be present.
Newspaper/paper bedding
Newspaper laid flat with shredded paper on top works well.
Gerbils enjoy shredding paper for nest building.
Some stores sell pre packaged shredded paper bedding.
Newspaper and shredded junk mail can be used. (You can shred with a paper shredder)
Kaytee Carefresh and/or Kaytee Clean and Cozy Bedding:
Carefresh and Clean and Cozy beddings are not a good bedding to use with Gerbils.
Gerbils like to shred and chew up items. They have been known to ingest Carefresh/Clean and Cozy bedding and have it cause an intestinal blockage.
Both beddings are known to cause respiratory issues in Gerbils.
Pine Wood shavings
Pine dust is labeled a Carcinogen to Humans by OSHA, NIH, CDC and all of the Cancer institutes
Pine is known to cause respiratory issues and Cancer to humans.
Using pine bedding can cause excess oils to build up on the gerbils skin/hair and can cause hair loss around the nose. (Bathing dust can help treat oily skin/hair and facial hair loss.)
Accessories:
Gerbils like to gnaw and chew on things.
Ceramic houses and PVC tubes (unused plumbing pipes) work best.
Cardboard, Paper and thin plastic toys or houses can get chewed up within hours.
Plastic igloos that they sell at pet stores can get chewed up in a night.
Gerbils enjoy hammocks, but they may chew them.
Gerbils will enjoy cloth or stuffed houses but they may chew them.
Wood branches from non pesticide treated trees make good chew toys.
Many stores sell Apple sticks for chewing on.
Wheels:
Gerbils like to run. They need a wheel.
A wheel should be in their cage at all times.
The wheel should be 7 inches to 12 inches large.
Metal mesh wheels work well.
Grated open bar wheels can be dangerous.
Gerbils like to chew so silent spinner wheels and plastic wheels can get chewed on.
The flat flying saucer type wheels are not preferred by most animals and the round wheels are a much better option for them.
Food:
Gerbils should be fed a good seed food mix.
Those are typically unhealthy and contain dyes.
Oats are helpful with temperament and digestion.
Black oil sunflower seeds are healthier then black and white sunflower seeds.
Gerbils need Timothy hay in their diet which should be provided at least every other day.
Orchard grass or meadow grass can be fed alongside Timothy hay but not in replacement of.
My Rodent Food Mix:
I mix up my own rodent food mix in a plastic bin container and cover it with a lid, which helps keep it fresh and protect from bugs and dust.
I mix equal parts of:
Black oil Sunflower seeds and Scratch grains (Corn and oats/Chicken scratch)
Then I mix in about 10%:
Malt-O-Meal Honey Nut Spooner's (Generic Cheerios),
Malt-O-Meal Puffed wheat
and Malt-O-Meal Oat Clusters cereals.
I occasionally will use other low sugar cereal, such as Rice Krispies, Chex mix or Corn Flakes.
I also add in about 5% dried/uncooked pasta (egg noodles) (Which is good for their teeth)
I pour the Sunflower seeds and Scratch grains in equal amounts into a bin and then cover with a light layer of the 3 different types of cereals and pasta and then mix it up thoroughly in the bin.
I also feed 1 to 2 pieces of Purina Little Bites/Purina small dog Dog food per critter per day. Dog food provides a good source of extra protein especially for pregnant and nursing mothers.
Treats:
Treats are foods that are offered periodically and not everyday.
Bathing Dust:
Gerbils are desert animals and you should avoid getting them wet.
Gerbil hair is thick and being wet for an extended period of time can cause them to become ill.
They enjoy a dust bath in Chinchilla bathing dust or sand given in a dish in the cage or provided periodically (Twice a month).
The dust helps to dry out the oils that can accumulate on the gerbils skin and hair.
Some bedding's can contain oils (Phenols/Abietic acid) in them such as pine shavings.
Pine shavings/bedding should NEVER be used for gerbils.
Pine bedding can cause hair loss and sores around the nose. This can be remedied by offering bathing sand.
If sand is left in the cage in a dish, the gerbils may also use it as a bathroom.
Cages:
Gerbils should be housed in wire cages that sit in or on a metal tray bottom. Plastic bottom cages can and will get chewed over time.
Wire cage bar spacing needs to be close enough together so the Gerbils can not escape.
1/4 inch or smaller cage bar spacing is appropriate. Be sure to inspect any gaps around the base or doors that could have larger spacing.
Wire shelves in cages with large gaps can be dangerous as gerbils could get their feet caught in them.
Solid floors and shelves are best for gerbils.
If you happen to have or acquire a cage with wire shelves, you can cover them with corrugated plastic, tiles, plexi glass or cardboard covered with packing tape.
Plastic Bin cages (Bins homemade with hardware cloth/wire) do not make good cages for gerbils as they may chew their way out.
Aquarium/Glass tanks are ok to use for gerbils.
10 gallon tanks can be used for a starter tank if the gerbils are not full grown.
15 gallon to 50 gallons tanks are acceptable for a pair of gerbils.
The bigger the cage the better!
Gerbils will appreciate having a large enclosure so they can run.
*Gerbils of any color and white are called Canadian's*
*Rex Gerbils are gerbils with wirey or curly hair and whiskers.
I typically have Gerbils available in a variety of colors.
I have Burmese, Nutmeg, Dove, Black and those colors with White (Canadians) gerbils available.
I have both regular coat and Rexes.
I am Located in Chaska, MN. (About 35 minutes from Minneapolis)
I prefer all adopters to come to my location and meet the critters and find ones that like you and you like them.
I find it much better to pick pets based on personality and compatibility with you, rather than based on color or pictures.
Please email
DiscoPanth@gmail.com
If you are interested in adopting, to set up an adoption appointment or with any questions.
All Critters are to be picked up at my location.
I will not meet elsewhere, ship or deliver.
I have lots of critters to care for which makes it very difficult to be driving around to meet people and then have them no show or be late.
When I do appts. at my home, I am able to care for the critters throughout the day in between appts.
Gerbils are $10 a piece for regular coats and $20 for Rex coat.
All Adoption fees are to be paid in Cash or Via Paypal.
Gerbils should be kept in same sex pairs.
Just because the Critter is the color you like does not mean it is the best fit for you.
Pets should be picked out by whose personality is compatible with yours.
Please bring a small box, tote or animal carrier if you have one with you at the time of adoption.
After an Appointment time is set up, I give adopters my address and phone number.
Once we have an Appointment time set up, it is set for the time I am expecting you to arrive.
Please be courteous, if you are canceling or running late please call, text or email me letting me know about the change as soon as you can.
All Adoption fees are to be paid in cash or Via Paypal at the adoption appointment.
Animal keeper travel carriers are available to purchase to bring your new fur kids home in.
These Keepers are made of plastic and are the large size.
They come in a variety of lid color options.
They are $18 each.
Feel free to post photos and updates of your adopted critters on the page!
Disco's Critters
Email: DiscoPanth@gmail.com