One of the biggest steps in gerbil care before you bring your new pet home is to get the supplies he or she needs. This will set things off on the right track and help them grow happy and healthy. Here’s a quick guide on how to choose the best supplies for your gerbil.

Provide Your New Pet with a Safe, Happy Home

Gerbils are explorers and highly social creatures by nature. They love digging, jumping, climbing, running and chewing, so when picking out their new home you need to look for something spacious, safe and sturdy.

While a wire cage usually works, you can also choose a glass or plastic aquarium for one or two gerbils. Aquariums are roomy, draft-proof and leak-proof compared to the wire cages. The downside is aquariums are more difficult to clean, and some standard water bottles for gerbils won’t latch on properly.

If you do decide on an aquarium over a wire care, you will have to place a wire mesh covering over the top to prevent your gerbil from escaping. A thin screen won’t do, as your gerbil might chew their way out of it. Lid clips will also help make the cage extra-safe.

Decide on Bedding and Water Bottle Choices

The best choices of bedding for gerbils are aspen, corncob, Carefresh, hardwood or Timothy hay. Cedar and pine versions are not recommended because of the fumes they can emit when they’re soiled. It’s best to fill one-third of the aquarium with the shavings so that you will both provide a bathroom and something your pet can dig or burrow into.

Use shredded strips of paper or tissue (plain, white and unscented) as nesting material. Your gerbil can hide or sleep in this or simply retreat to it when he or she needs some privacy. Avoid using anything made from wool, cotton or fluffy materials.

Inverted, stoppered water bottles are usually the best bets for gerbils. This type doesn’t spill or clog easily and can be attached to the side of the aquarium using a holder or shield. You will have to place it at the proper height for your pet, as well as choose either a bottle from plastic or glass for easier cleaning.

Hastly, Build a Playground

Gerbils are extremely active, so devising ways to keep them busy and entertained is both a priority and a pleasure. To help your gerbil get the most out of their daily routine, you can use the following options:

Tubes – next time you finish off a roll of tissue paper, place the cardboard tube in your gerbil’s aquarium. Before you know it, they’ll be running in and out of the tube then shortly after gnawing on it.
Exercise wheel – make playtime even more fun with an exercise wheel. Find a solid one with no rungs or openings would work best.
Chew toys – a lot of a gerbil’s physical activity involves chewing since their teeth are always growing, so give him or her something safe to gnaw on. That way, they can keep their teeth at the right length. Besides tissue, paper towel and cardboard tubes, it’s fine to leave in a sterilized bone or a twig. You can also buy special wooden chew toys.
Fruit tree branches – gerbils love climbing branches just as much as they enjoy running on sloping ramps.

By practicing proper gerbil care, your new pet will live a longer, happier life. Choosing supplies wisely and creating a safe and entertaining environment that he or she can thrive in is the best way to start.

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