Setting Up Their New Home

Here you can see the set-up of my gerbil's 20 gallon tank.

The basic set-up for a pair of gerbils is as follows:

15 gallon (minimum size) glass aquarium with mesh lid

Aspen or recycled paper bedding

Hanging water bottle

Ceramic or metal food dish

Wooden nesting box

Exercise wheel with solid running surface

Dish of chinchilla (or any finely ground) sand

Plenty of wood and cardboard chew toys

Now let us discuss all of these items in greater depth...

Cages vs. Tanks:
Many pet stores sell those plastic Habi-Trail cages. These are not a good housing choice for gerbils. First of all, a gerbils' frequent chewing would destroy a plastic cage in a matter of weeks. They are also difficult to clean and poorly ventilated, trapping odors and waste. Wire cages are also a poor choice, as the gerbils' digging cause them to will kick out their bedding all over your floor. They will also chew on the metal bars, which could harm their teeth and cause painful nose sores.

Glass aquariums are the best option for gerbils. They are sturdy, easy to clean, well-ventilated, and offer great viewing opportunities. They also keep the gerbils from kicking their bedding onto the floor! For two gerbils, you should get a tank that is at least 15 gallons. Gerbils need a lot of room to dig and play, so the bigger the tank, they happier they will be. (A lot of gerbil websites and pet stores will tell you that 10 gallons is enough room for two gerbils. I don't personally agree with that "advice", nor does any gerbil owner I've ever talked to.)

Another housing option is to make a cage out of a large, clear plastic storage bin. These cost less than glass aquariums, and therefore can be a good option for gerbil owners on smaller budgets. Check out "How To Make A Bin Cage" on the links page for information on how to make your own.

Food Bowl & Water Bottle:

Lemmiwinks takes a drink from his hanging water bottle and Oreo eats from the ceramic food bowl.
A sturdy ceramic or metal food bowl is best. Bowls made from these materials are also heavier and won't get kicked over as easily (and a plastic bowl would get chewed to pieces!). Your gerbils will probably bury their food bowl with bedding, as that is what they would do in the wild to hide their food from other animals. Make sure that the bowl is always full of fresh food. Click on the "Feeding Your Gerbil" link on the main page for information about what types of food is safe to give your gerbils.

The type of water bottle you use is also important. A water bottle that hangs from the side of the tank is best, as they would just bury a water bowl. Although gerbils do not drink as much water as other rodents (due to them being desert animals) you still need to make sure that they always have plenty of fresh water.

Bedding:

Oreo makes a nest out of Timothy hay while Pinky snuggles in some mixed bedding.
Gerbils are known for their digging. In the wild, they make elaborate burrows underground, and even as pets, they will dig constantly. Because of this, they will need lots of bedding, at least 2-4 inches deep. NEVER use cedar or pine chips for bedding. These woods contain aromatic oils which can cause respiratory problems for gerbils. The best kinds of bedding for gerbils are those made of recycled paper, such as CareFresh brand bedding. However, aspen shavings are fine too. You will need to completely replace all of the bedding in their tank about every two weeks.

Sleeping Arrangements:

Oreo and Pinky both sleeping in cardboard and wooden nesting boxes.
Your gerbils will need a nesting box to sleep in. This is important because gerbils feel safer and more comfortable if they have a little place to snuggle together and "hide" in. (Gerbils love to snuggle together when they sleep!) You can find these in almost any pet store; the ones made of wood are best (plastic would get chewed to bits). Also give them some unscented tissues or toilet paper which they will promptly shred to make their nesting material out of.

Chew Toys:

Pinky chews on a cardboard box while Oreo gnaws on some Timothy hay.
Gerbils need to be given things to chew on. Their teeth grow continuously, and this is how they keep them short and honed. Cardboard and wooden toys are best. They love toilet paper and paper towel tubes, cardboard boxes, hunks of wood, tree sticks, and even dried pine cones. They will also enjoy an occasional handful of Timothy Hay or alfalfa for chewing, eating, and making nesting material out of.

Bathing Sand:

Lemmiwinks and Pinky get cleaned up in their critter baths.
Gerbils love to play in sand baths. In addition to grooming themselves and each other with their tongues, wild gerbils in the desert will roll around in sand to "clean" their fur. It soaks up the oils from their skin and keeps their coat shiny and healthy. For pet gerbils, you can give them a shallow ceramic dish of chinchilla sand or any finely ground sand once every few days. It's really cute to watch them roll around in it! However, remove the dish when they are done, or they'll use it as a toilet.

Exercise Wheel:

Oreo and Lemmiwinks enjoy the exercise wheel in their tank.
This is one item which could be considered optional, but I personally feel that it is important for gerbils to be able to exercise. All three of my gerbils loved their wheel. I have found that attaching it upside down to the bottom of the tank lid prevents them from tipping it over or burying it with bedding (I did say that gerbils dig a lot!). You must make sure that the wheel has a solid running surface; their tails can get caught in the open spokes of some wheels and break or become amputated.

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