Gerbil

Gerbils are curious, active during the day, and much less smelly than most small pets, because they come from dry habitats and produce very little urine. Their one big need is digging. A gerbil set-up should be built around deep substrate and somewhere to tunnel, rather than around a standard cage.

Tank or cage

Most experienced keepers use a glass tank or a gerbilarium (a tank base with a cage top). Gerbils kick bedding everywhere, and a barred cage with a shallow tray lets it all spill out while leaving too little depth to dig. Whatever you choose:

• Go large. A bigger floor area means more room for tunnels and less chance of territorial squabbles.
• Fill a good part of the depth with substrate so they can dig real burrows. A mix of paper bedding with hay or straw holds tunnels better than bedding alone.
• Use a secure mesh lid for ventilation; gerbils can jump.
• Avoid plastic shelves, tubes and levels that they can chew through quickly.

Company

Gerbils are social and should not be kept alone. Same-sex pairs or small groups of littermates or animals introduced young are the norm. Introducing adult gerbils is difficult and usually needs a split-tank method over several days. Fights between established gerbils can happen and can be serious, so separate them if you see blood or constant chasing.

Food and water

Use a gerbil mix or nugget as the base and scatter it in the bedding to encourage foraging. Sunflower seeds and similar are popular but fatty, so treat them as treats. Small amounts of fresh vegetables are fine. Gerbils drink little but must always have access to fresh water from a bottle.

Enrichment and handling

• Chewing: cardboard tubes, boxes and untreated wood are cheap and get shredded happily.
• Sand bath: a dish of chinchilla bathing sand helps keep the coat from getting greasy.
• Wheel: solid surface, large enough that the back stays straight, never with open rungs where a tail can get caught.
• Handling: scoop gerbils up from underneath. Never pick one up by the tail, as the skin can slip off. Some gerbils have brief seizures when startled or handled. These usually pass within a minute or two, but mention them to your vet.

Cleaning

Because gerbils produce so little waste, a full clean every few weeks is often enough, with spot-cleaning of any soiled areas in between. Cleaning too often destroys tunnels and stresses the animals.

Common questions

Is a tank or a cage better for gerbils?

Most keepers prefer a large glass tank or a tank with a mesh top, because gerbils dig and kick bedding everywhere. A deep tank lets you add plenty of substrate for tunnelling. Barred cages with shallow trays are usually too messy and too shallow.

Can a gerbil live alone?

Gerbils are social and are generally kept in same-sex pairs or small groups. A lone gerbil may become stressed or bored. Introducing a new adult to a single gerbil is possible but needs care and a split-tank introduction.

How often should I clean a gerbil tank?

Gerbils produce very little urine, so a full clean every few weeks is usually enough, with spot-cleaning of soiled areas in between. Cleaning too often destroys their tunnels. Remove uneaten fresh food daily.