Gerbil Housing

Types of Housing

Most gerbil owners either keep their critters in a cage, aquarium, or a plastic habitat. Each type of housing has its advantages and drawbacks.

A cage can work for a single same-gendered pair of gerbils, but is usually not recommended for a breeding pair due to lack of space1. Because they often have ramps, ladders, and multiple levels, cages can provide gerbils with more exercise opportunities2 (however, they can be dangerous to young pups3). Cages are generally easier to clean than tanks, since many of them have a sliding door at the bottom that makes cleaning an easy and quick task4. However, cages can also be messier since gerbils, being natural diggers, will often kick the bedding out of their cage and onto your floor5. If you do have a cage, it is recommended that you cover the floor around the cage in plastic, and set the cage in a box so that it will catch most of the bedding as it flies out of your cage6. Another drawback to a cage is that it makes gerbils feel that they are out in the open, which goes against their nature since they are tunnel animals out in the wild7. Because of this "exposed" feeling, many caged gerbils become more aggressive, apprehensive and insecure8. Also, gerbils will often spend hours gnawing on wire cages which can be harmful to them, and quite annoying to you9.

The main advantage with tanks is that they are less expensive, and you don't have the mess that is often associated with cages10. Tanks are relatively easy to clean, and allow a lot of room for other objects such as hollow logs, plastic houses, wheels, and anything else you care to stick in them. If you choose to buy a tank, however, make sure that you buy a small animal top so that your gerbils cannot jump out. A general rule of thumb is that your glass tank should have five gallons for every gerbil you keep in it11. For example, if you have one gerbil, you should have a five gallon tank, if you have two gerbils, you should have a ten gallon tank, etc. It should also be said, however, that if your tank is too large, and you have too many gerbils in it, your gerbils may begin to form their own clans and start fighting over territorial boundaries.

Bedding

Gerbils require bedding for two main reasons: 1) To absorb their urine and 2) Because they are natural diggers and will not be happy if they are not able to dig12. Since gerbils do not urinate all that much (and since gerbil urine doesn't really smell all that bad) you will not have to worry about getting perfumed bedding13.

The three best kinds of bedding that you can get for your gerbils are Aspen, Carefresh, or Corncob14. You can also use shredded paper toilet paper, although your tank will start smelling earlier than if you use Aspen, Carefresh or Corncob. If your gerbils' noses become red, raw, or start to bleed, it probably means that they are allergic to the bedding you are using. If this happens, simply change the type of bedding you are using (most often you'll be switching from wood-based bedding to non wood-based bedding) and the problem will probably go away. It is not recommended that you use cedar wood shavings, especially with younger gerbils15, as these types of bedding can lead to respiratory infections and skin rashes. In rare cases they have led to liver damage and even neurological damage16. Pine bedding is likewise dangerous because of similar volatile oils17. If you're in a situation where you must use pine, be sure to air it out for several days to give the oils time to evaporate18. You can, however, use kiln-dried pine, which has been baked to free the oils from the wood19.

For a normal pair of gerbils, you should fill your aquarium up 1/3 of the way to the top with bedding20. This will allow them to dig to their heart's content. If they are typical gerbils, they will pile their bedding up and bury their food in it. For a breeding pair of gerbils, you should only fill your tank about 2" with bedding21.

Nesting

In addition to providing your gerbils with bedding, you will probably also want to provide them with a nesting box, and some nesting material. A nesting box will provide your gerbil with a place to hide, a place to sleep, and a place to get some privacy22. Your nesting box should probably be made of wood, since a plastic or cardboard box will be chewed apart in a couple of days (although it should also be said that even a wooden nesting box will be chewed apart in a couple of months). You can get a wooden box from a local pet store or even make one yourself23. It is not recommended that you give a nesting box to a breeding pair, since little pups will often get trapped behind or underneath them24.

As far as nesting material is concerned, it is recommended that you use white, unscented tissue paper that you have torn into strips25. Your gerbils will love it, and will usually spin it around into a large, twirling nest.

While we're on the subject of nesting, it is not a good idea to use commercial nesting products26. Even if gerbils only eat a small amount of it, it can still cause blockages27. Also, gerbils can become tangled in it, and this can lead to the amputation of a foot, especially in younger gerbils28. This doesn't happen very often, but when it does happen, your gerbil is out of a foot.

Cleaning

It is generally recommended that you change your gerbils' bedding as soon as it starts to smell, which can be anywhere from every week, to every four weeks29. One easy method for cleaning aquariums is to dump out the bedding (after removing the gerbils and other objects first, of course), spray the floor with warm water (to kill any bacteria that may have accumulated there) and wipe it out with a paper towel30. Every once in a while, it's a good idea to wash your tank or cage with a mild soap and then rinse it out thoroughly31. Also, when you clean out the tanks or cages, be sure to clean the water bottles at the same time to prevent fungus growth32. You can do this by using a Q-tip to clean the shaft of the water bottle, and an old toothbrush to clean the water bottle itself33.

Gerbil Wheels

Many gerbil and hamster wheels have open spaces between the bars of the wheel. Gerbils that use these run the risk of getting their leg or tail caught in the wheel and having it broken or amputated34. If you already have a wheel like this, use duct tape to cover the outside of it, and spin bedding into the wheel so that your gerbils' feet don't stick to the tape when they try to run in the wheel35. This is only a temporary solution, though, and you will frequently have to spin more bedding into the wheel36.

A more permanent solution is to buy a solid wheel. These are usually more expensive than the wheels with open spaces between the bars, but are definitely worth it37.

Gerbil wheels are not recommended for tanks with breeding pairs in them38. Pups can get caught in the spinning force of the wheel and thrown out39. Or they can get caught in any of the side struts and injured40. If you really want to have a wheel in a tank with a breeding pair, it is recommended that you buy the kind of wheel that hangs from the side of your tank so that the pups cannot get into it until they are larger41.

Gerbil Toys

Gerbils are very energetic creatures, and love playing with toys you stick in their tanks. Some of the more popular gerbil toys are listed below:

  • An empty toiled paper roll: gerbils love to run in and out of these, and will have a great time chewing them to bits42.
  • Small boxes: gerbils will love running into and on top of small boxes. Small boxes also give them a place to go when they want to get away from it all43.
  • Lego buildings: Lego buildings are great as long as you make sure that your gerbil doesn't swallow too much plastic44.
  • Cardboard buildings: Cardboard buildings are ideal since they are cheap and easy to make, and your gerbils will be able to both run around in them and file their teeth down by chewing them up.
  • Mazes: Mazes are a great way to sharpen your gerbils' mental abilities. Just be sure not to leave them in for too long (e.g., more than a day) or they might forget who their tank mates are and attack them upon their return45.
  • Ceramic toys: Ceramic toys are great because they won't get chewed up like plastic or wooden toys, and there's less of a chance of accidental ingestion46.

    Chew Toys

    Like all rodents, gerbils four front teeth grow their entire lives. Just like we need to file our fingernails, gerbils need to keep their teeth filed down. You can help them do this by giving them plenty of objects to chew on.

    Probably the cheapest and most cost-effective thing you can give them to chew on is wood from trees in your area47. This is easy to obtain, and they'll love you for it. You can also give your gerbils cardboard. Every time you buy a product that comes in a cardboard box, you can cut it up and give it to your gerbils a piece at a time. You can also go behind super markets and pick up the large cardboard boxes they leave next to dumpsters. Cardboard does not last as long as wood, but your gerbils will enjoy chewing it all the same. You can also buy wooden chew sticks and chew toys at pet stores, but they are very expensive and will not last long48.

    Light

    Although gerbils sleep during the day and night, they still need regular day/night light cycles49. There are three main ways you can do this for them. First, you can turn their light on and off at the same times every day50. This method isn't always effective, though, since you may forget to turn on their light and then your poor gerbils will be in the dark. The second method is to buy a timer for your light so that it will turn on and off at the same time every day51. A third method is to put them near a window so that they can receive natural sunlight. If you do this, though, be sure that your gerbils' tank is never in direct sunlight. If the tank is caught in direct sunlight, it can become overheated and your gerbils can get heat exhaustion and die52.


    1 Gerbil FAQ. 2004. "Gerbil FAQ: Revision 16," Retrieved 5-30-05 (http://members.nanc.com/~mhaines/gerbil.html#section3.1).
    2 Gerbil FAQ. 2004. "Gerbil FAQ: Revision 16," Retrieved 5-30-05 (http://members.nanc.com/~mhaines/gerbil.html#section3.1).
    3 American Gerbil Society. 2005. "The Gerbil Care Handbook." Rutland, Virginia: American Gerbil Society, Retrieved 5-30-2005 (http://www.agsgerbils.org/Gerbil_Care_Handbook/).
    4 Gerbil FAQ. 2004. "Gerbil FAQ: Revision 16," Retrieved 5-30-05 (http://members.nanc.com/~mhaines/gerbil.html#section3.1).
    5 Gerbil FAQ. 2004. "Gerbil FAQ: Revision 16," Retrieved 5-30-05 (http://members.nanc.com/~mhaines/gerbil.html#section3.1).
    6 Gerbil FAQ. 2004. "Gerbil FAQ: Revision 16," Retrieved 5-30-05 (http://members.nanc.com/~mhaines/gerbil.html#section3.1).
    7 Gerbil FAQ. 2004. "Gerbil FAQ: Revision 16," Retrieved 5-30-05 (http://members.nanc.com/~mhaines/gerbil.html#section3.1).
    8 Gerbil FAQ. 2004. "Gerbil FAQ: Revision 16," Retrieved 5-30-05 (http://members.nanc.com/~mhaines/gerbil.html#section3.1).
    9 American Gerbil Society. 2005. "The Gerbil Care Handbook." Rutland, Virginia: American Gerbil Society, Retrieved 5-30-2005 (http://www.agsgerbils.org/Gerbil_Care_Handbook/).
    10 American Gerbil Society. 2005. "The Gerbil Care Handbook." Rutland, Virginia: American Gerbil Society, Retrieved 5-30-2005 (http://www.agsgerbils.org/Gerbil_Care_Handbook/).
    11 American Gerbil Society. 2005. "The Gerbil Care Handbook." Rutland, Virginia: American Gerbil Society, Retrieved 5-30-2005 (http://www.agsgerbils.org/Gerbil_Care_Handbook/).
    12 American Gerbil Society. 2005. "The Gerbil Care Handbook." Rutland, Virginia: American Gerbil Society, Retrieved 5-30-2005 (http://www.agsgerbils.org/Gerbil_Care_Handbook/).
    13 American Gerbil Society. 2005. "The Gerbil Care Handbook." Rutland, Virginia: American Gerbil Society, Retrieved 5-30-2005 (http://www.agsgerbils.org/Gerbil_Care_Handbook/).
    14 American Gerbil Society. 2005. "The Gerbil Care Handbook." Rutland, Virginia: American Gerbil Society, Retrieved 5-30-2005 (http://www.agsgerbils.org/Gerbil_Care_Handbook/).
    15 American Gerbil Society. 2005. "The Gerbil Care Handbook." Rutland, Virginia: American Gerbil Society, Retrieved 5-30-2005 (http://www.agsgerbils.org/Gerbil_Care_Handbook/).
    16 Gerbil FAQ. 2004. "Gerbil FAQ: Revision 16," Retrieved 5-30-05 (http://members.nanc.com/~mhaines/gerbil.html#section4.6).
    17 Gerbil FAQ. 2004. "Gerbil FAQ: Revision 16," Retrieved 5-30-05 (http://members.nanc.com/~mhaines/gerbil.html#section4.6).
    18 Gerbil FAQ. 2004. "Gerbil FAQ: Revision 16," Retrieved 5-30-05 (http://members.nanc.com/~mhaines/gerbil.html#section4.6).
    19 Gerbil FAQ. 2004. "Gerbil FAQ: Revision 16," Retrieved 5-30-05 (http://members.nanc.com/~mhaines/gerbil.html#section4.6).
    20 American Gerbil Society. 2005. "The Gerbil Care Handbook." Rutland, Virginia: American Gerbil Society, Retrieved 5-30-2005 (http://www.agsgerbils.org/Gerbil_Care_Handbook/).
    21 American Gerbil Society. 2005. "The Gerbil Care Handbook." Rutland, Virginia: American Gerbil Society, Retrieved 5-30-2005 (http://www.agsgerbils.org/Gerbil_Care_Handbook/).
    22 American Gerbil Society. 2005. "The Gerbil Care Handbook." Rutland, Virginia: American Gerbil Society, Retrieved 5-30-2005 (http://www.agsgerbils.org/Gerbil_Care_Handbook/).
    23 American Gerbil Society. 2005. "The Gerbil Care Handbook." Rutland, Virginia: American Gerbil Society, Retrieved 5-30-2005 (http://www.agsgerbils.org/Gerbil_Care_Handbook/).
    24 American Gerbil Society. 2005. "The Gerbil Care Handbook." Rutland, Virginia: American Gerbil Society, Retrieved 5-30-2005 (http://www.agsgerbils.org/Gerbil_Care_Handbook/).
    25 American Gerbil Society. 2005. "The Gerbil Care Handbook." Rutland, Virginia: American Gerbil Society, Retrieved 5-30-2005 (http://www.agsgerbils.org/Gerbil_Care_Handbook/).
    26 American Gerbil Society. 2005. "The Gerbil Care Handbook." Rutland, Virginia: American Gerbil Society, Retrieved 5-30-2005 (http://www.agsgerbils.org/Gerbil_Care_Handbook/).
    27 American Gerbil Society. 2005. "The Gerbil Care Handbook." Rutland, Virginia: American Gerbil Society, Retrieved 5-30-2005 (http://www.agsgerbils.org/Gerbil_Care_Handbook/).
    28 American Gerbil Society. 2005. "The Gerbil Care Handbook." Rutland, Virginia: American Gerbil Society, Retrieved 5-30-2005 (http://www.agsgerbils.org/Gerbil_Care_Handbook/).
    29 Gerbil FAQ. 2004. "Gerbil FAQ: Revision 16," Retrieved 5-30-05 (http://members.nanc.com/~mhaines/gerbil.html#section4.7).
    30 Gerbil FAQ. 2004. "Gerbil FAQ: Revision 16," Retrieved 5-30-05 (http://members.nanc.com/~mhaines/gerbil.html#section4.6).
    31 Gerbil FAQ. 2004. "Gerbil FAQ: Revision 16," Retrieved 5-30-05 (http://members.nanc.com/~mhaines/gerbil.html#section4.6).
    32 Gerbil FAQ. 2004. "Gerbil FAQ: Revision 16," Retrieved 5-30-05 (http://members.nanc.com/~mhaines/gerbil.html#section4.6).
    33 Gerbil FAQ. 2004. "Gerbil FAQ: Revision 16," Retrieved 5-30-05 (http://members.nanc.com/~mhaines/gerbil.html#section4.6).
    34 Gerbil FAQ. 2004. "Gerbil FAQ: Revision 16," Retrieved 5-30-05 (http://members.nanc.com/~mhaines/gerbil.html#section3.3).
    35 Gerbil FAQ. 2004. "Gerbil FAQ: Revision 16," Retrieved 5-30-05 (http://members.nanc.com/~mhaines/gerbil.html#section3.3).
    36 Gerbil FAQ. 2004. "Gerbil FAQ: Revision 16," Retrieved 5-30-05 (http://members.nanc.com/~mhaines/gerbil.html#section3.3).
    37 Gerbil FAQ. 2004. "Gerbil FAQ: Revision 16," Retrieved 5-30-05 (http://members.nanc.com/~mhaines/gerbil.html#section3.3).
    38 Gerbil FAQ. 2004. "Gerbil FAQ: Revision 16," Retrieved 5-30-05 (http://members.nanc.com/~mhaines/gerbil.html#section3.3).
    39 Gerbil FAQ. 2004. "Gerbil FAQ: Revision 16," Retrieved 5-30-05 (http://members.nanc.com/~mhaines/gerbil.html#section3.3).
    40 Gerbil FAQ. 2004. "Gerbil FAQ: Revision 16," Retrieved 5-30-05 (http://members.nanc.com/~mhaines/gerbil.html#section3.3).
    41 Gerbil FAQ. 2004. "Gerbil FAQ: Revision 16," Retrieved 5-30-05 (http://members.nanc.com/~mhaines/gerbil.html#section3.3).
    42 Gerbil FAQ. 2004. "Gerbil FAQ: Revision 16," Retrieved 5-30-05 (http://members.nanc.com/~mhaines/gerbil.html#section3.5).
    43 Gerbil FAQ. 2004. "Gerbil FAQ: Revision 16," Retrieved 5-30-05 (http://members.nanc.com/~mhaines/gerbil.html#section3.5).
    44 Gerbil FAQ. 2004. "Gerbil FAQ: Revision 16," Retrieved 5-30-05 (http://members.nanc.com/~mhaines/gerbil.html#section3.5).
    45 Gerbil FAQ. 2004. "Gerbil FAQ: Revision 16," Retrieved 5-30-05 (http://members.nanc.com/~mhaines/gerbil.html#section3.5).
    46 Gerbil FAQ. 2004. "Gerbil FAQ: Revision 16," Retrieved 5-30-05 (http://members.nanc.com/~mhaines/gerbil.html#section3.5).
    47 Gerbil FAQ. 2004. "Gerbil FAQ: Revision 16," Retrieved 5-30-05 (http://members.nanc.com/~mhaines/gerbil.html#section4.14).
    48 Gerbil FAQ. 2004. "Gerbil FAQ: Revision 16," Retrieved 5-30-05 (http://members.nanc.com/~mhaines/gerbil.html#section4.14).
    49 Gerbil FAQ. 2004. "Gerbil FAQ: Revision 16," Retrieved 5-30-05 (http://members.nanc.com/~mhaines/gerbil.html#section4.15).
    50 Gerbil FAQ. 2004. "Gerbil FAQ: Revision 16," Retrieved 5-30-05 (http://members.nanc.com/~mhaines/gerbil.html#section4.15).
    51 Gerbil FAQ. 2004. "Gerbil FAQ: Revision 16," Retrieved 5-30-05 (http://members.nanc.com/~mhaines/gerbil.html#section4.15).
    52 Gerbil FAQ. 2004. "Gerbil FAQ: Revision 16," Retrieved 5-30-05 (http://members.nanc.com/~mhaines/gerbil.html#section4.15).

    Page last updated: Wed. Sep. 21, 2005
    Page made: Wed. Sep. 21, 2005