Can a Gerbil Have a Hamster Cage?

Gerbils and hamsters have similar housing needs and can be kept in the same kinds of cages or tanks, provided they are set up appropriately. Many commercially available enclosures are designed for either hamster or gerbil inhabitants. While hamsters are solitary animals that should be kept alone as they can become aggressive with each other over territory, gerbils are social animals that live best in pairs or groups. Therefore their housing needs to be large enough to accommodate multiple animals living together.

  1. Features

    • Both gerbils and hamsters require enclosures that can be closed securely, as they will escape otherwise. They need several inches of litter material such as aspen wood shavings or ground corncob, and wood or cardboard items to chew and gnaw on. Gerbils are naturally burrowing animals that live in tunnel systems in the wild, so providing cardboard tubes as well as deep enough litter to burrow in is important. If gerbils are kept in a cage with wire bars or mesh, it is important that there is not space enough between the wires for them to squeeze through and escape. Glass aquariums will keep this from happening but should have a mesh top lid to allow air ventilation.

    Size

    • The more gerbils that are kept in an enclosure, the more space you should provide for them. According to the American Gerbil Society, you should provide at least 5 gallons per gerbil. So for two animals, at least a 10-gallon tank is needed, for three animals a 15-gallon tank, and so on. These are the minimum recommended size requirements; larger tanks or cages can be used.

    Accessories

    • Gerbils are active and curious and should be given cage furnishings to keep their attention. This can include wheels, hide boxes, tubes and tunnel systems. Plastic hamster cages with tube attachments are available at many pet stores and can serve as well for gerbil housing. These cages also often come equipped with built-in wheels, nesting areas, ladders and ramps.

    Warnings

    • Gerbil and hamster enclosures should be kept out of direct sunlight and any kind of draft. Both of these types of animals chew constantly and will gnaw on wood, cardboard, plastic, paper and even carpeting. Any toys or furnishings that you give them made of these materials may be chewed up and ruined, so be prepared to replace things on a regular basis. Do not give them items made of toxic materials, as these things could make them seriously ill or even kill them if pieces are swallowed.