How to Build a Glass Aquarium Gerbil Cage

Gerbils are small desert rodents found throughout Africa and Asia, which are also popular as pets. There are several options for building a living environment for a gerbil, but a glass aquarium is a popular one that will work well. To make a glass aquarium usable as a gerbil cage, however, you will need to add a few things to keep your gerbil happy, healthy and inside the cage.

Things You'll Need

  • Glass aquarium (5 gallons per gerbil)
  • Wood shavings
  • Hanging water bottle
  • Nesting box
  • Toilet paper
  • Sandbox
  • Sand
  • Running wheel
  • Structure with multiple levels
  • Wire mesh
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cover the floor with wood shavings or a similar material. Wood shavings will be comfortable for your gerbil and will soak up any urine. Use enough wood shavings to cover the floor 2 inches thick. Be sure to avoid cedar wood shavings and scented wood shavings.

    • 2

      Hang a water bottle from the top of your cage. Gerbils need a constant supply of fresh water.

    • 3

      Include a nesting box with a suitable nesting material, such as unscented toilet paper.

    • 4

      Give your gerbil a sandbox to play in. Remember that gerbils are desert creatures. You can use chinchilla dust or regular playground sand to fill it.

    • 5

      Include a running wheel inside the cage to give your gerbil some exercise.

    • 6

      Add toys and entertainment to your gerbil̵7;s cage. Something simple like cardboard can give your gerbil something to chew on, as well as something to nest with. Also popular with gerbils are houses and other structures with levels.

    • 7

      Add a food dish if you wish but gerbils are happy eating off the floor.

    • 8

      Secure the top of the aquarium with wire mesh, to keep the gerbil from escaping. Gerbils have powerful hind legs and are good jumpers.