If you use tanks for your mice or rats...

[Ginevive]

...don't expect to be able to use the same tanks for water-filled aquariums later! I looked in on my 10g mouse tank, and they have chewed the silicone sealant to shreds. I would never chance filling that tank with water again!
I just wanted to put this warning out there, in case someone was about to make a mistake (heh, I almost did, lol.)

[SatanicIntention]

Hmm, I haven't had problems with that. I have a naughty tank in my bathroom for bad rats, LoL, and they haven't chewed anything on it. But they aren't in it for more than 1 night at a time. I used to keep 3 girls in a 30 gallon, and they never chewed on it. I just give them all sorts of stuff to chew on; pig ears, dog biscuits, rawhide chewies, papertowel/toilet paper rolls, etc. They are kept pretty busy. At WalMart, by the checkouts, they have $0.88 dog toys that work well.

[mlededee]

several years ago i had a hamster that chewed all of the sealant out of the inside of her tank. i gave her plenty to chew on but that didn't stop her from destroying all of the sealant and the plastic coating on her hamster wheel. silly rodent.

[SatanicIntention]

Hamsters are just evil, pure and simple. I have actually had a hamster growl at me and the person holding her. They know what makes us mad, and they do it constantly. I had a Russian Dwarf when I was younger, and I swear, that thing was out to get anyone in its path. Sorry, but I just don't like them

[Adam_Wysocki]

Gerbils are mad chewers too! ... No sealant yet, but they can shred a paper towel roll in less than 5 mintues!

-adam

[SatanicIntention]

Oh no doubt. Gerbils are spastic too. I separated my breeding pair last week so they would stop having babies. They were some darn good breeders too. One litter of thieirs had 8 babies, this one was 6, but that is still a good number for gerbils. They dont chew on the tank though, which is good.

[Adam_Wysocki]

Becky,

How long do you wait before you pull gerbil babies out? Seems like they need to be in with mom and dad a little longer than rats and mice.

-adam

[SatanicIntention]

They take a little while to be mature enough to be usable(for me at least). I usually wait about 5-6 weeks from the time they are born. They are usually about the size of small adult mice at this time, maybe a little bigger. More meat on their bones though. I always handle them from birth, as it seems to help them be less spastic when being eaten

If you're ever in Waco, and need another breeding pair, let me know. What are you breeding gerbils for, by the way? Someone bein' picky?

[Adam_Wysocki]

Thanks Becky.

They're not for anyone specific, just good to have around. Never know when I might get in a WC female or a rescue that has to be "put on the program". Sometimes just the scent of a little gerbil bedding in their box for a week will turn them into little T-Rex's when it comes to eating!

-adam

[Ginevive]

I think it might actually be from the rats' claws. Their nails are not overly long, bu when I went in to feed them, I noticed they were on their tippy toes in the corners of the tank, anticipating food. So maybe their nails are ripping the sealant? They DO chew on the plastic frame atop the tank though.
Or rather, they used to. Now I have them in an old 45g-tall tank (same footprint as a 30g tank) so they cant reach. I always had/have some wood in there for them to chew, and toss them some sugarfree horse treats every few days.