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Housing Because gerbils love to burrow, and thus kick their bedding around (sometimes to some impressive distances), glass or plastic aquarium-type setups are best. I personally recommend glass. A plain 10 gallon aquarium can usually be purchased for 7 to 10 dollars. You will also need a secure lid of some kind (not airtight, of course!). Wire cages can also be used, but will be a lot more messy than an aquarium (and are usually more expensive). Gerbils enjoy having places to hide, so something they can sleep in/hide in is good. If it is wood, it can double as something to chew on too. Nutrition Fresh water should be provided at all times in a water bottle. (Water dishes will just get covered in bedding.) For food, it's best to feed something that has "gerbil" in the title. A hamster/gerbil mix should provide the appropriate nutrition. Protein can be added to the diet by occasionally feeding a small amount (2 or 3 pieces) of dry cat food. Some people feed mealworms, and if you're familiar with them, that's great. Personally, I haven't seen any in the area I live in. Small amounts of fresh fruits/vegetables can also be fed, though it should be sparingly as their moisture content is overly high for gerbils and can cause diarrhea if fed too much or too often. Bedding Gerbils are allergic to cedar, so cedar should never be used as bedding. The best and safest bedding is aspen, especially if you are planning to breed. I have used pine without difficulty with adult gerbils in the past, but I have read that some are allergic to it (it can be very bad for gerbil pups). Other options are corncob, carefresh, and shredded paper. Miscellaneous Gerbil's teeth grow constantly, so they need to be able to chew to wear their teeth down as they would be naturally. Wood works great for this, and can be provided in many different ways. I usually buy my gerbils wooden housing of some kind. It usually lasts for a long time and provides needed chewing. Another great thing for chewing are toilet paper and paper towel tubes! Also, my gerbils love wheels, though not all do, they provide good exercise. Because gerbils have tails, however, care must be taken in purchasing the wheel to make sure that there is ample space between the wheel and the sides that hold it up so the tail won't be caught in it. |