Aquarium & Habitats for Gerbils

Gerbils, like all other rodents, require very specific habitat conditions in order to survive and even propagate if the owner desires. Having a habitat specifically designed for the species and a balanced diet are two of the most important factors when setting up a cage for a pet. There are several factors that an owner must consider before purchasing a cage.

  1. Plastic Cages

    • Gerbils tend to scratch and chew on plastic cages, which can lead to the cage being damaged and the gerbil escaping. Another risk that goes with a cage made of plastic is that once it is chewed and swallowed, plastic can cause a gerbil to get sick. When taking care of a gerbil, it is best not to purchase a plastic cage.

    Wire Cage

    • Wire cages offer better ventilation and it is also easier to carry whenever you need to put your pet from one place to another. Wire cages are easy to transport as well. So if the cage needs to be cleaned and washed, handling is not a problem. Although you have to clean the area outside the wire cage as well because there will be kicked bedding around it. As gerbils also tend to explore their cages religiously, they can easily squeeze their way out of half-inch openings -- the usual space in between wires. Because gerbils love to chew, they would try to chew on the wire as well making them susceptible to sores around their noses.

    Glass cage

    • By far, the best home that the gerbils can have is a glass aquarium; they can̵7;t chew on it, they can̵7;t kick out the bedding, and glass lasts longer than plastic. The only consideration would be the opening on the top which can easily be remedied by putting a sturdy wire mesh to cover and protect the gerbils. A 10-gallon aquarium is the right size for a pair of gerbils. They will have enough space and it is high enough to prevent them from jumping over.

    Basic Necessities

    • A basic gerbil cage contains a water supply, a heavy food dish, preferably ceramic, at least 2 inches of wood shavings and paper pulp and a ceramic nest house. The water dispenser, a bottle with a metal spout, should be placed on the side of the cage. The food dish and the nest should be made of ceramic to discourage the gerbil from chewing on them. Wood branches and other ceramic designs can serve as playground and ladders for your pet. Adding an exercise wheel is also advisable.