What are some of the essential items needed as well as toys for gerbils.?

Question

I am going to get a 20 gallon long aquarium for 3 gerbils I will get in a month. I am going to use Carefresh bedding. What else should I get? Are there any toys that you have had success with? What is the best type of house for gerbils? If you can answer this next question, you will probably get the 10 points.

How large are the risks of a gerbil's tail getting stuck in a hamster wheel? If they are large, what is a solution?

Answer 1

Scarlett360 is right. You will need a food dish, some gerbil food, water bottle, exercise ball and/or wheel, safe chew toys, hides, houses, tubes(PVC is better then plastic ones), climbing toys(look in the bird section for this), and a dust bowl(glass or ceramic bowl) to roll around and dig in(chinchilla dust). For more help ask someone at a pet store.

Now the answer to your next question. A gerbil's tail can sometimes be too long for the wheel. And if caught it can damage or loose it's tail. Which is much needed for balancing and running. I like to play it safe. I wouldn't even take that chance. I would only put it in a ball and let him/her roll around outside the cage. So I ask you is it a risk your willing to take?

Answer 2

Ceramic food bowl, 16 oz. water bottle, commercial gerbil food, apples & carrots, nest house ( mini igloo made by Super Pet ), exercise ball, an 8" wheel (a solid wheel like a Silent Spinner or Wodent Wheel is a good choice) , safe chew toys, cardboard toilet or kitchen rolls, a care booklet.

Gerbils love to chew. A cardboard tube from a toilet paper roll or paper towel roll is one of a gerbil's favorite things. Some people have expressed concern about the types of glue used in these -- and now colorful safe (and a bit more sturdy and long-lasting) cardboard tubes are made for pets to play with. Look for Totally Chewbular Tubes, Chubes, and Critter Caves, along with others. Twin Squeaks also has a wonderful suggestion - just take old file folders, lay them flat and cut them into smaller sections, then roll up tightly and hold for a bit. When you let them go, they loosen but stay more or less rolled, and your gerbils can have a ball with them. Even a small brown paper lunch bag will provide hiding, play and shredding possibilities!

Any untreated wood (vegetable dyed is okay) items make great chew toys too. You can buy them or make your own out of untreated wood scraps. Branches can be offered for chewing too - try apple or willow (avoid any evergreen tree branches). You can also check you pet store for things like cholla, driftwood, and other wood such as grapevine (which you might in the reptile section) which make good climbing toys.

There are also lots of wicker and natural grass and plant fiber tunnels, balls, and huts out there (especially marketed for rabbits), and these are also great for gnawing.

First and foremost, toys for your gerbils must be safe. Gerbils have a habit of sticking their heads into things to explore, so make sure any toys (especially those with holes cut in them) don't have spaces in which your gerbil could get his or her head stuck. Make sure your gerbils aren't able to splinter off sharp pieces of plastic or other materials and swallow them. Remove any plastic toys once the gerbils start chewing on them. Also make sure they are just shredding cardboard, rather than eating it. Make sure they are no parts or strings on toys that could trap a gerbils toes, legs, or tail.

Answer 3

you will need a gerbil carrier incase you go on trips then you will need lots of stuff for the gerbil to chew like toilet paper rolls old rags or even boughten things at the pet store you will need care fresh bedding then you will need a food dish water bottle a little hut and about the thing about the gerbil tail getting stuck not very likely i have a gerbil his tail has never gotten stuck but if you are still worried then you can get an enclosed wheel it has no holes but it has foot grips