more gerbil exuses!?

Question

my dad's next exuse is, 'they cost to much money to buy all the stuff', is he right?

Answer 1

No - at least, I didn't think so. I had 7! lol. Just find a good dealer - and breeder - and you should be fine! But...add it all up. You need a good cage - doesn't have to be huge, but it does have to be a decent size. Don't buy the smallest just because it's the cheapest. Hamsters may be nocturnal animals, but they are very active! They need the room to run around in. You need a wheel, waterbottle, food, some sort of shelter - they usually sell small "caves", "igloos," or mini "houses" for them to sleep in and keep them occupied...those small plastic balls that you can put them in to run around the house in are usually nice, but you don't have to have them. Keep in mind, hamsters usually live only two years - sad, but true. Plus, they have to be handled daily to prevent aggression. They're really cool animals to have if you take care of them properly - and have the right stuff to keep them in!

Answer 2

It depends on where you plan on keeping them, and what you consider a lot of money. Both aquarium-style cages and the colorful plastic ones can cost $20+ (depending on the size and “fanciness”). Then, you have the gerbils themselves (usually cheap), the food (which is not a one-time expense), and the “extras.” Again, the cost depends on what kind and how many extras you want. If you want 10 plastic tubes, a roll ball and a wheel and a little house and deluxe bedding and the extra expensive food…yeah, it will be a lot. If you use regular cedar chips, and a little house, a wheel, and a tube, no it won’t be a lot.

All in all though, a gerbil, mouse, or hamster is an inexpensive pet. The only cheaper thing out there is a goldfish, or hermit crabs.

Answer 3

NO! Jesus, just go on freecycle and say you want a gerbil/hamster cage or ask a friend who used to have hamsters/gerbils/mice if you can have their old cage for £10 or put an advert in the paper saying you want a cage and then pop down to your local pet store and buy a large packet of bedding (about £2), some sawdust (£2) and a food mix for gerbils (about £1-5 depending on the quality) you won't need to go shopping again maybe for six months if you buy large packets of these things and don't use too much of anything! If your dad won't spend £10 on you every six months plus maybe £10 for a cage, he's being really unfair. It's obvious that you really want a gerbil, and he's denying you that oppurtunity! Show him this answer and see what he says.
Hope I've helped!

Answer 4

no way.
(and gerbils do NOT stink. they are desert creatures who hardly drink any water at all and thus pee very seldom)

their favorite chew toys are toilet paper and paper towel rolls which are FREE. when they chew these up, what is left makes excellent bedding. You only really have to buy them a house (a glass aquarium is the best thing - not a wire cage), food, and maybe an exercise wheel. then give them empty cereal boxes, tubes, kleenex boxes, and things that you would normally throw away. they love to chew on that stuff and to hide in them.

very inexpensive to own.

and you don't even have to clean their houses all that often.
once every week or two.

Answer 5

no, they are VERY low cost. they cost about $8.00 each (depending what pet store). and the accessories, are a little more expensive but still not alot.
offer to help pay for it, and btw the first answerer is WRONG, they definitely don't stink!!

Answer 6

considering that my two rats only cost me about a hundred dollars a year plus vet when they need to go. i'd say no since they eat less and the cages only need to be changed half as often.

Answer 7

no way

Answer 8

No, but they stink.