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The 3 things that you can keep a gerbil in are:
- A Wire Cage
- Plastic Cage
- Glass Tank i.e. Aquarium
These are some of the things that you cannot put gerbils in, because it is
inhumane, or just a changing tank:
- Recycle Bin
- Glass Jar
- Shoe Box
- Anything that has holes in it, or is made out of cardboard will not hold
a gerbil!
I don't recommend plastic, because indigestion can be fatal to gerbils! I
do recommend gerbils to have the wire cage, or aquarium, because they both will hold gerbils, and come in a variety of sizes!
Recommended aquarium sizes are 10 gallons for 2 gerbils. If you want more than 2, and only can afford 10 gallon aquariums,
you can invest in a tank topper, that upgrades it with a wire top, that works out to 15 - 20 gallons, or get a 3 or 4 story
wire cage, that you can get on sale at most pet stores! Wire cages people don't like because some people believe that you
should have 3" or more of shavings, because gerbils are desert animals, and they dig. There for, they would dig, and
the shavings would go out of the cage, and you only can put 1" of shavings in a wire cage. I have seen many cages, that are
wire, but have a tube going from the first floor of a three story cage, to a aquarium fitted with a tube inserter. I like
this cage, and it can be purchased at PetSmart.com :) (http://pet.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pPETS-3761137t400.jpg) Your cage has to be safe for you and your gerbils, no nails etc sticking out
of floor or walls. It should not be wood, unless it has a water repellent coating on the wood. Also, don't keep your tank
in the sun if it is plastic, or glazed tanks, because you cannot put them in the sun, or else it will turn into a sauna,
and are difficult to clean. Gerbils are desert animals, they like to sun bath, you should only have it in 50% Sun, and should
have a house for them to run into if it gets too hot, that is out of the sun. The best bedding for gerbils is wood, or sand,
but I recommend wood, because although gerbils will have fun in the sand, wood keeps the insulation in, and it smells really
good!
Pine and Cedar V.S. Allergies?
Yes, some gerbils are allergic to Pine and Cedar, and the allergies
are either genetic, or self-developed. You shouldn't breed your gerbils if they have these, because these allergies will be
passed to the pups, causing not only them to suffer, but also your wallet. Shavings other than Pine and Cedar are expensive,
like CareFresh, Aspen, or Compressed Pellets, and some shavings like Paper Shavings, Hay or Straw, don't absorb urine, so
aren't recommended. The only way to find out if your gerbils are allergic to the shavings, is if you put them in when they
are less than 3 months old (age where you can find these out and immune them to the gerbils before too old) and if you see
red noses with pine, or rashes with cedar, switch to aspen.
How to supply a gerbil with water
Gerbils do enjoy water and it is advisable to have a supply in a bottle. A bowl will have bedding flicked
in it, as they are usually digging. They will also step in it, as they are not used to vast quantities of standing water,
being desert animals. A bottle should be fixed through bars on the outside of a cage, as if the gerbil gets to it, it will
almost certainly attempt to chew the bottle. Water does not have to be fresh from tap, there is no harm in rainwater. However,
actually, gerbils have a mechanism inside them that allows them to reabsorb their own urine, therefore meaning they need little
liquid for survival, although it is kinder to supply it. Fresh vegetables and fruit can be provided to give moisture. If one
is doing this it is wise to not put too much in as too much will simply be buried and left to befoul the bedding.
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