How to choose a gerbil cage

There are lots of choices out there for gerbil cages, and I know that it may seem a bit hard to find one that is all safe, easy to clean, and large enough. Look for comfort in the cage. Some cages have a wire grate bottom which is not comfortable for your gerbil. Avoid those. A solid bottom is preferable. Also look for safety features. For example, are the tunnels or chambers too small for your gerbil? Or in the case of a wire cage, are the spaces between the wire bars too wide which may cause your gerbil to escape?

I highly recommend bigger hamster cages, for an aquarium, the larger the better but a minimum 12x24 inches (30x60 cm) for two gerbils. More gerbils means more space is required. Or at least buying as big a cage for your hamster as you can afford. It is best to choose gerbils that have already been caged together, or home made gerbil cages.
Aquarium is the best for gerbil. For an aquarium, you will need a mesh or wire lid securely fitted on top in order to provide air circulation. This will also prevent the gerbil from jumping out of the cage. You can buy the lid at a store or construct it yourself out of hardware cloth. There should also be a few different levels for them to climb on. Gerbils are very active, especially at night. They will always appreciate another level to climb on and as much space as you can give them to explore within their cage. Most glass aquariums do not have second levels, so you may need to make one yourself. A simple unfinished wooden platform with an access ramp will do nicely.

Aquarium guidelines:

10 gallon tank 1 or 2 gerbils
15 gallon tank 3 gerbils
20 gallon tank 4 gerbils
30 gallon tank 6 gerbils


Wire cages can be use for gerbil and wire bars should be no more than inch apart. A wire cage must be at least 12 by 24 by 12 inches. Use a metal clip for extra security on wire cage doors. Some gerbil are notorious for "cage breakouts". It you use a wire cage, the floor should be made of a fine mesh so the gerbil's feet can't fall through. Open wire cages are generally healthier, as air can circulate, helping volatile oils from certain types of bedding evaporate more quickly and lessening the dust the animals will breathe from any sort of bedding. A gerbil will kick bedding out between the bars of a wire cage, making a daily mess and they sometimes chew on the wire resulting in sores on their noses. For these reasons, wire cages are not ideal.

Plastic cages are another option. These tend to be more attractive to the owner but provide little ventilation to the gerbil and can easily be chewed through. Gerbils will attempt to chew through plastic cages, and may get sores, so these are not highly recommended. Another thing about plastic cages is they smell more quickly.


Next you have to choose bedding for the cage. Experts recommend aspen shavings or a safe recycled paper bedding.Put down a layer of newspaper on the bottom of the cage, and then add shredded paper, timothy hay and other fun materials. NEVER use cedar and pine shavings, as their fumes can irritate your pet's throat, lungs and nasal passages and they can cause liver disease and respiratory problems in all small mammals. Some pine shavings may contain high amounts of oils that can cause skin problems, so it is best to avoid shavings if possible. Don't give them anything made of soft plastic or cardboard, which they'll simply chew to bits.

After choosing the cage, you will need a heavy ceramic food dish that won't easily be tipped. Add a nest house - wood or ceramic ones are durable and available commercially (plastic ones will be quickly chewed to bits). A clay pot with holes works well too. Provide materials for climbing - stable chunks of wood, stable rocks, ladders, ramps and platforms will all be used.Add some chewable toys - wood toys from pet stores, branches, hay, and cardboard. Toilet paper tubes, though quickly destroyed, will likely be a favorite toy. Getting an exercise wheel, but get one with a solid surface, and no place for a tail to get caught.

Ensure that there is adequate ventilation in the cage, especially if you plan on having more than one hamster.