Gerbil cages and gerbil care

When you are planning an addition to your family, you need to get all their equipment sorted out before you bring them home.

There are various items that you will need to keep your gerbil happy and healthy ie cage, floor covering, nesting material, water bottle, food dish, water bottle and food. Get the children involved in this to give them something to do while they wait to pick up their new pet. It also helps to bring home to them the fact that owning gerbils does mean that there is work to be done you can’t just buy one like a new Barbie doll.

Look at all the different cages on offer before you choose one and buy the best you can afford.Because gerbils burrow, avoid any cage that has bars as this can cause injuries to their noses. They also stand on their hind limbs quite a lot, so make sure the cage is high enough for this. The cage you have should be at least 40cm x 75cm, with a height of 30cm.

Many different types of cages can be used for gerbils. Aquariums are good because they are deep enough to put lots of burrowing material in.You will have to put some mesh or wire across as a lid. You can also put gerbils in large hamster or guinea pig cages.

The cage you choose should have a solid floor so that your gerbils don’t injure their feet or toes.

Don’t add hamster wheels or buy exercise balls, as your gerbils won’t want or need them. Plastic habitat tubes and trails are amusing if they are well cared for and supervised.

You can get all sorts of cage accessories, some of which are for the gerbils’ health, and some of which are to make their life more interesting.

Mineral and Salt Blocks

Don’t bother buying these, as a gerbil’s nutritional needs are covered by buying a formula pet mix for gerbils.

Maze

You can buy purpose designed maze sections for your gerbil, or you can just use old cardboard tubes or toilet roll tubes. Your gerbils can have a good old time chewing these as well as scurrying through them. Gerbils love running through tunnels, because this is the sort of environment they would live in in the wild.

Wood Gnaws

You can buy commercially produced wood gnaws, or you can put in untreated wood for your gerbils to chew. Fruit wood is always good. Make sure it hasn’t been spraying with any chemicals.

Don’t be tempted to buy small plastic, wooden, fabric or foam toys in case your gerbil chews them and swallows bits.

Bedding

Layer sawdust chippings and newspaper in the bottom of the cage and add some shredded paper. Make sure it doesn’t have too much ink on it as this can poison your gerbil. Gerbils are very clean animals, but having a thick layer of newspaper will make it easier to do your weekly clean. Paper, corncob bedding or kiln dried pine shavings also make good bedding.

Your layer of bedding should be at least 15cm deep because your gerbils will like to burrow down into it. Use all natural materials, never synthetic.

Adult gerbils should be kept in an environment between 15-20C, and never left near a window in the sun or in a draft. Clean the cage out every one to two weeks, and do a thorough spring clean four times a year.

Choose the right cage and the right food and make sure your gerbils have enough exercise, and they will stay happy and healthy for years.