Gerbils Are Not Hamsters

One of the biggest mistakes new owners make is caring for gerbils like hamsters. Gerbils are highly social, active, digging animals that must not live alone. A properly cared-for gerbil will spend much of its day digging tunnels, shredding nesting material, exploring, and interacting with its companion.

The most common pet gerbil is the Mongolian Gerbil.

The Most Important Rule: Gerbils Need Companions

Gerbils should generally be kept in:

• Same-sex pairs

• Occasionally stable groups established correctly

Best combinations:

• Two males

• Two females

Never assume unfamiliar adult gerbils can simply be put together. Introductions often require a "split cage" method.

A lone gerbil can suffer from stress, boredom, and lack of social interaction.

Proper Enclosure Size

Gerbils need lots of uninterrupted floor space and deep bedding.

Minimum

For a pair:

• Around 100 cm × 40 cm floor space (larger is better)

Better

• 100–120 cm long enclosure

• Deep bedding area throughout

Many experienced owners use:

• Large aquariums

• Glass tanks

• Front-opening terrariums

Why Tanks Work Best

Gerbils dig extensively and throw bedding everywhere.

Good options:

• Glass aquariums

• Glass terrariums

• Large DIY enclosures

Avoid:

• Tiny cages

• Small starter habitats

• Enclosures with inadequate bedding depth

Bedding: Extremely Important

Deep bedding is essential.

Depth

Minimum:

• 20 cm (8 inches)

Better:

• 30–40+ cm (12–16+ inches)

Gerbils build complex tunnel systems.

Good Bedding Materials

Mixing materials often works best.

Examples:

• Unscented paper bedding

• Aspen shavings

• Hemp bedding

• Timothy hay

• Orchard grass hay

The mixture helps tunnels hold their shape.

Avoid

• Cedar bedding

• Scented bedding

• Dusty bedding

• Cotton fluff nesting material

A Proper Gerbil Setup

A good enclosure usually includes:

✅ Deep bedding

✅ Large wheel

✅ Sand bath

✅ Multiple hides

✅ Chew items

✅ Foraging opportunities

✅ Hay mixed into bedding

✅ Water source

✅ Companion gerbil

Wheel Requirements

Gerbils run a lot.

Wheel Size

Recommended:

• At least 20–28 cm (8–11 inches)

Larger is often better.

Wheel Type

Use:

• Solid running surface

Avoid:

• Wire wheels

• Mesh wheels

These can injure feet and tails.

Sand Bath

Gerbils naturally groom in sand.

Safe Sand

Use:

• Reptile sand without calcium additives

• Clean baked play sand

Avoid

• Chinchilla dust

• Dust baths

Dust can cause respiratory problems.

Chewing Needs

Gerbil teeth grow continuously.

Provide plenty of safe chew materials:

• Cardboard

• Untreated wood

• Willow sticks

• Apple wood sticks

• Safe wooden toys

Expect cardboard items to be destroyed quickly.

That is normal and healthy.

Hides and Nesting Areas

Provide:

• Wooden houses

• Cork tunnels

• Platforms

• Nesting areas

However, many gerbils prefer building their own nests inside bedding tunnels.

Enrichment

Gerbils are intelligent and active.

Good enrichment includes:

Digging

Deep bedding is the most important enrichment.

Foraging

Scatter feed instead of always using a bowl.

Hide food:

• In bedding

• Inside cardboard tubes

• Inside paper parcels

Shredding

Provide:

• Toilet paper

• Plain tissues

• Cardboard

Gerbils enjoy converting these into nesting material.

Food and Nutrition

Staple Diet

Use a quality gerbil food mix or pellet designed for gerbils.

Look for:

• Seeds

• Grains

• Appropriate protein sources

Fresh Foods

Offer small amounts of:

Vegetables:

• Broccoli

• Bell pepper

• Cucumber

• Carrot

Occasionally:

• Leafy greens

Protein Sources

Sometimes offer:

• Mealworms

• Small amounts of cooked egg

• Plain cooked chicken

Treats

Occasionally:

• Pumpkin seeds

• Sunflower seeds

• Small fruit pieces

Treats should be limited.

Avoid

• Chocolate

• Onion

• Garlic

• Alcohol

• Caffeine

• Sugary foods

Water

Provide fresh water at all times.

Most owners use:

• Water bottles

Check daily to ensure the bottle is working properly.

Temperature

Ideal temperatures:

• Approximately 18–24°C (65–75°F)

Avoid:

• Direct sunlight

• Drafts

• Excessive heat

Gerbils tolerate cool temperatures better than overheating.

Cleaning

A common mistake is cleaning too much.

Gerbils rely heavily on scent.

Daily

• Remove spoiled fresh foods.

• Check water.

Weekly

• Spot clean dirty areas if needed.

Deep Cleaning

Only when necessary.

Removing all bedding at once can be stressful and may contribute to territorial behavior.

Keep some clean old bedding when refreshing the enclosure.

Handling and Taming

Never

• Grab by the tail.

A gerbil's tail skin can be seriously injured.

Instead

• Scoop from underneath.

• Allow them to climb onto your hands.

• Use treats to build trust.

Most gerbils become quite curious and friendly with patience.

Health Monitoring

Watch for:

• Weight loss

• Lethargy

• Labored breathing

• Diarrhea

• Injuries

• Overgrown teeth

• Persistent scratching

Seek an exotic-animal veterinarian if problems arise.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Keeping a single gerbil

❌ Tiny cages

❌ Insufficient bedding depth

❌ No sand bath

❌ Small wheels

❌ Cotton nesting fluff

❌ Wire wheels

❌ Frequent full cage clean-outs

❌ Lifting by the tail

Example "Gold Standard" Gerbil Setup

For a pair of gerbils:

• 100–120 cm long enclosure

• 30–40+ cm deep mixed bedding

• Large solid wheel

• Permanent sand bath

• Multiple hides

• Hay mixed through bedding

• Plenty of cardboard and wood to chew

• Scatter-fed diet

• Daily opportunities to dig, forage, shred, and explore

The key to excellent gerbil care is remembering that gerbils are social burrowing animals. The deepest bedding possible, a compatible companion, opportunities to chew and dig, and a large enclosure will do more for their welfare than almost any toy sold in a pet shop.

Our journey began with a realisation: much of the advice given by pet shops can be fundamentally wrong. Through diligent research and personal experience with hamsters, gerbils, and a leopard gecko, we've encountered the shocking reality of widespread misinformation. It's incredibly upsetting to see how many well-meaning pet owners unknowingly provide incorrect care because they've been fed lies. At Paws in Trusted Hands, we are committed to changing this narrative. We want to empower you with accurate, ethical information to ensure the best possible lives for all animals. Your pet's well-being is our priority, and we are here to guide you every step of the way.