leaving gerbils at home while on vacation

"gerbilfan" <gerbilfan.DeleteThis@fandomphantom.cc> wrote in message
news:GXutd.1718$sp.645@trndny08...
> My family are going away for a week at Christmas. We have
> three female one-year old gerbils. If we can't find
> someone to leave them with or at least to check on them, is
> it okay to leave them alone with sufficient water and food
> for a week?
>
> gerbilfan

I personally would not want to leave my pets alone for a week. A few days
is fine for gerbils, but a week without being checked on would worry me too
much. If you really don't have any other option, take a few precautions -
if you use a water bottle (the type with a ball bearing in the nozzle) I
would leave three of these full of water as I've heard of them suddenly stop
working. As well as leaving enough of their daily food for a week, leave
them a few of those seed/fruit/whatever nibble sticks in their cage.

If you can't find somebody to check on them everyday or every other day,
maybe somebody you know would be willing to just pop in the once, mid week
say. Better than nothing.

Tracey
 >> Stay informed about: leaving gerbils at home while on vacation 

"gerbilfan" <gerbilfan RemoveThis @fandomphantom.cc> wrote in message
news:GXutd.1718$sp.645@trndny08...
> My family are going away for a week at Christmas. We have
> three female one-year old gerbils. If we can't find
> someone to leave them with or at least to check on them, is
> it okay to leave them alone with sufficient water and food
> for a week?


You could try leaving them "LM classic brand Mouse & Rat Food"; they are
known in the trade as "lab blocks", and provide good nutrition in block
form. Leave one block, per gerbil, per day. Three gerbils times seven days
gives 21 blocks to leave in the cage. This will be more than enough to
sustain them, and these blocks contains carbohydrates, protein, vitamins and
minerals. A properly functioning water bottle should contain enough water
for all 3 gerbils for a week.

Make sure that the cage will be kept at a safe temperature during the nights
when you are not there.

As for me, whenever I go on vacation for such a time, I take my girls (four
rats) with me.


Robert & Donna
 >> Stay informed about: leaving gerbils at home while on vacation