Gerbil Cage Ideas

The Basics

• Every gerbil cage requires a water bottle, food bowl and chew treats to keep the gerbil's teeth trim and healthy. You can choose accessories that complement a color scheme in the room or a theme presented in the gerbil cage. For example, a bright pink water bottle and a ceramic food bowl covered in pink flowers might coordinate with a little girl's pink-themed bedroom. If a little boy is the proud caretaker of the gerbil, he might choose a comic book theme for his gerbil cage. You can apply superhero stickers to a clear water bottle attached to the outside of the cage and pair the water bottle with a ceramic food bowl that complements the colors in his favorite superhero's uniform.

  Calcium, mineral and wooden chew treats come in various shapes and sizes at the pet store and are good additions to the cage. Chews shaped like hamburgers, children's building blocks and corncobs are intriguing to children and healthy for the gerbil. Pesticide-free fruit tree branches and timothy hay may also be offered as chew treats, according to the Doctors Foster and Smith website.

Tubes and Ladders

• For do-it-yourself pet owners, you might consider adding square footage to your gerbil's home by creating ladders or adding tubes. A piece of plywood can be cut into a slender 3-inch wide walkway with added grooves for traction. With this homemade ladder in the cage, the gerbil can climb and exercise. Unpainted, wooden pet parrot ladders also work for gerbils that love to climb.

  Hollow plastic tubes can be purchased at pet stores. These attach to specially designed plastic and wire cages, allowing the gerbil more space to roam, hide and play. Available in a variety of colors, tubes can coordinate with gerbil cage themes.

Exercise Wheels

• Gerbils require exercise to stay healthy. Because they are too small and agile to run around on the floor, exercise wheels provide limitless exercising opportunities. You can choose fun varieties such as cage ceiling mounted wheels that the gerbil must climb up and into to access, or ball-shaped wheels that allow the gerbil to run in any direction to make the wheel spin. It is important to choose a running wheel with a smooth, solid surface. Wheels with slats or wire can cause foot injuries.

Hiding Houses

• Gerbils love to chew. Glass jars cannot be chewed and are available in a variety of sizes and colors. Gerbils will eventually destroy houses made from plastic, cardboard or wood. Pet stores offer novelty houses in the shape of over-sized fruit, cheese wedges and doll-house style furniture. These hide outs provide a dark, secure place for the pet to rest and get away from bright lights or noise.

  Gerbils enjoy burrowing in their bedding. It is best to add a minimum of 2 to 3 inches of wood fiber-based small animal bedding for tunneling, according to the Doctors Foster and Smith website.