How Do You Clean Your Gerbils’ Tanks?
I thought it would be interesting to ask all of you how you clean your gerbils’ tanks. Any great tips??? If so, please leave a comment on this post and share with everyone!
I’ll share a few of my own to get things started.
In the past, I used a shop-vac to get the last of the bedding out of the bottom of the tank. It worked really well, but the air in my apartment’s so dry that the shop-vac generated too much static electricity, even when I used a humidifier. But it might be a good tip for those of you who have better climate control in your homes!
One thing I currently do is use a large dog food scoop to shovel the bedding out of the tank. It works great when cleaning tanks that are too heavy to pick up and dump before some of the bedding is removed.
Finally, I’ve only found one thing that works to pick up small bits of gerbil bedding and gerbil food that land on the floor while cleaning. Shark’s cordless sweepers do a great job of picking up loose bedding and food, even along the edges of walls. (Notice: I have no association with Shark whatsoever. I just wanted to share, because I’ve tried so many types of vacuum cleaners and sweepers over the years. Most just pick up food and bedding and toss them back out again.) I think the model I have is the VX3. It’s not perfect, but it does a really good job of picking up gerbil “debris.”
So what tips do you all have? How do you get the bedding out of your tanks? Get the inside of the tank clean? Keep from spilling bedding on the floor? Keep your gerbils busy and happy after a tank cleaning? Please share your tank-cleaning tips here!
I’ll share a few of my own to get things started.
In the past, I used a shop-vac to get the last of the bedding out of the bottom of the tank. It worked really well, but the air in my apartment’s so dry that the shop-vac generated too much static electricity, even when I used a humidifier. But it might be a good tip for those of you who have better climate control in your homes!
One thing I currently do is use a large dog food scoop to shovel the bedding out of the tank. It works great when cleaning tanks that are too heavy to pick up and dump before some of the bedding is removed.
Finally, I’ve only found one thing that works to pick up small bits of gerbil bedding and gerbil food that land on the floor while cleaning. Shark’s cordless sweepers do a great job of picking up loose bedding and food, even along the edges of walls. (Notice: I have no association with Shark whatsoever. I just wanted to share, because I’ve tried so many types of vacuum cleaners and sweepers over the years. Most just pick up food and bedding and toss them back out again.) I think the model I have is the VX3. It’s not perfect, but it does a really good job of picking up gerbil “debris.”
So what tips do you all have? How do you get the bedding out of your tanks? Get the inside of the tank clean? Keep from spilling bedding on the floor? Keep your gerbils busy and happy after a tank cleaning? Please share your tank-cleaning tips here!
posted by Twin Squeaks Gerbils | 8:32 PM
8 Comments:
Hmmmm...I'd have to say that cleaning the tank is always hard for me, no matter how I do it! Well, when we're at home I have a spacious 20 gallon tank for my gerbils but when we travel they get a quite small plastic tank so it won't break. Cleaning the plastic one is easy - just tip it over and dump it into a trash can or a bag. But the big one is another story! We usually use our hands (yuck! But we wash them afterwards, of course) to get most of the bedding out - though I have to say that dog scoop idea sounded good! - and then what we found is best is to use a ShopVac then to get all of the extra bedding and shaving dust out of corners, etc. For the most part it works really well!
As for keeping the little one occupied while we clean the cage, this is where having two owners comes in handy! One gives the gerbil(s) playtime (on their lap, in a CritterCage...) while the other does the cleaning. Most of the time the gerbils get sandbaths at this time too.
Now getting bedding on the floor...this is one of our BIG problems when we're not traveling! We usually end up with shavings EVERYWHERE on the floor, in edges, etc. so usually we just need a thorough vacuuming as often as possible. Any tips on how to prevent this?
Thanks for taking the time to read my monologue! :)
*A Happy Gerbil Mommy*
I use a dust pan and small whisk broom. The type that are usually sold w/the pan. I use a smaller flat sided. garbage which fits up nicely to a 10 gal tank and scoop the bedding into it. Using the broom to get into corners and I also brush the sides of the glass. Then I use a diluted vinegar and water solution to wipe down the tank. Vinegar is a mild disinfectant and it cleans the glass, rinse and dry w/paper towels. I set my tanks on a hard floor so I can sweep or wipe up spills. While doing this the gerbils get to play and have bath time in a hallway(carpeted) that I close off. Making sure that they cant get under the bath/bedroom doors by stuffing towels under them. I keep a close eye on them. This also allows time for the tank to air out. I like to join the gerbies in their playpen for a while. Then I have to vacuum the hallway when they are done :)
Thanks for sharing your tips, Sharon and Linette!
Sharon and Linette, I love how you both make tank-cleaning time fun for your gerbils!
Usually, when I clean tanks, I'm the only one home, so my gerbils usually have to be in critter keepers while I clean their tanks... but when they get to be seniors and don't tend to leap over fences, I can usually set up a playpen on the floor right next to where I'm cleaning. That's always fun, but I don't dare try it with my younger gerbils. They're little escape artists, you know! :-D
Hope was my most mellow, wonderful little gerbil. Once she was a senior, I could actually put a few cardboard boxes and toys on the love seat (which was right next to her tank), and she would play and watch me clean her tank... without ever approaching the edge of the couch. She's the only one I've ever been able to do that with. She was exceptionally tame and well-behaved. :-D
I don't have a lot of tips for avoiding getting the bedding on the floor... but that sweeper I mentioned does a really good job of picking up bedding, even along the edges of the wall.
Linette, the dust pan and whisk broom are a great idea! I'm going to have to make a trip to the dollar store tomorrow and pick up a couple!
I probably need to break down and get a wider trash can, too. :)
Linette, I love how you get in the playpen with your gerbils before they go back home. One of my favorite things is making a gerbil-safe space where my gerbils can hop into my lap and crawl around on me. Fun for them and for me! :)
I really enjoy sitting w/the gerbils in their playpen. As I mentioned I use the hallway between the bedroom and bathroom. I cut apart a large cardboard box to make a wall to close off the end of the hall. I do have to use something like a chair to keep the wall from falling over. Because if a gerbil cant go over they will try under! When Im done the cardboard folds up and I can store it under the bed.
My 2 little girls, Tweaks and Twiggers spend more time crawling around on me than on the floor. If Im sitting w/my knees up and prop a magazine on my legs they will climb up my legs and slide down the magazine like a slide. Its a game w/them. I should try to get a video.
The game with the magazine sounds like so much fun! :)
hi! im new here at Twin Squeaks cuz i got my first two gerbils today. they're males, one is tanish yellow, named Kirk, and the other is dark brown named Spock.
Kirk is friendlier, but Spock is still sweet.
I have a 15 gallon tank on a wooden stand. When I clean it, I will pick it off and take it into the kitchen. (hard wood floor, easier to sweep up if spilled.) The gerbils will go into the cardboard box they came home in. I'll dump it out, then use a dust cloth to get and stuff i missed. Then I'll clean the tubes, bridges, castle/hideaways, and the other toys. Hot water. Nontoxic small amounts of soap. Then I'll put in fresh bedding and put everyone and everything back in.
What i do to clean my tanks, which is 20 gal, i spoil my boys. haha any ways it is a hassle to clean a tank or any cage at that so i would suggewst first, ofcourse taking out all of the bedding and wiping it out with wet cloths. Usually after that i use windex and wait for it to dry. Then i put the bedding back it and make their cage pretty! Which is then instantly messed up haha.
Oh and while they are waiting for their home to be clean i stick them in the bath tub with tubes cardboard and fun toys. I put them in the bath tub because they seem to like to climb the play pen when i am not looking haha.
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