Housing
Housing
An ordinary pet cage just won't do for gerbils. No, what any self-respecting gerbil needs is a gerbilarium - there are many kinds available from pet shops in the high street or online.
A gerbilarium is a wire cage on top of a tank filled with natural wood shavings which takes account of your gerbils’ natural instinct for burrowing. It's very digging-friendly.
The cage can be unclipped from the base, making it easy to get your gerbils out for playtime and to clean the cage. You can find gerbilariums with two or more floor levels connected by ladders, which is ideal for them.
These cages are usually durable, lightweight and relatively cheap. But there are three points to watch out for:
• A shallow base makes it easy for your gerbils to kick wood shavings out – it's messy, and deeper is better.
• Double-check that the door fastening is secure before you buy – a pushy gerbil will soon be free.
• These cages aren't draught-proof, so careful siting is required.
Another welcome addition is somewhere to have a bath. A dust or sand bath, not the shampoo and fluffy towel kind. Make a special corner in the cage for this. No need for curtains, gerbils aren't shy. Put some fine, absorbent sand into a bowl or box. They'll love it. And it helps to keep their coat in good condition by removing excess oils and encouraging grooming.
Gerbils are very clean animals, so you don't need to clean out the accommodation very often. But hygiene is still important, so give it a thorough clean once a week. And replace the tank contents every two weeks.
To keep the gerbilarium comfortable, try to maintain a constant temperature. That means keeping it away from radiators and draughts. And avoid direct sunlight at all costs – gerbils can suffer from heat-stroke.
