What Can I Do to Keep My Gerbil From Chewing?

Because of their small size and easy care, gerbils are an ideal pet for many families with young children. However, what some pet owners don't realize is how much a gerbil will chew once it settles into its new home. Chewing is a natural instinct for the rodent and is an important habit to keep its teeth a proper length. While you can't stop your gerbil from chewing, you can take some steps to prevent it from chewing unwanted materials.

  1. Tanks and Supplies

    • Gerbil chewing can become a problem when the animal's object of choice is its tank or supplies. You can avoid unwanted chewing on these items by providing your pet with equipment it won't be able to chew through. Rather than keeping the gerbil in a plastic or wired cage, set up its home in a glass tank. Put the animal's food in a ceramic dish rather than a plastic one, or forgo a food dish all together and simply place the food on the floor of the tank.

    Chew Toys

    • It's important to always provide your gerbil with something to chew on so it can grind away its ever-growing teeth and keep them at a proper length. There are a variety of chew toys you can provide the gerbil, many of which won't cost you anything to acquire. Scour the backyard for twigs and wood chips the critter can sink its teeth into. Give the animal some shredded computer paper. Cardboard tubes, such as empty toilet paper rolls, also make great chewing toys for the small rodents.

    Exercise

    • Keeping your gerbil active and healthy will help keep the animal happy and avoid it from chewing out of boredom. Provide a spinning wheel in the cage that your pet can run on to get exercise. Ensure this wheel has a metal mesh covering, which won't catching its tail. Also, take your gerbil out of its cage for some exploring. Secure a clear space in a room, free of electrical wires, where the gerbil can run around.

    Dangers

    • Gerbils will chew just about anything that's put in their cage, so it's important to only place safe equipment and chew toys in its habitat. Don't give your gerbil plastic toys, which will not only be easily shredded by the animal but might also harm the gerbil if swallowed. Make sure all wood chips and natural materials are free of pesticides and other chemicals. Don't put colored, inked or waxed paper in the tank, which could be harmful to your pet.