Carefresh or cardboard shavings
– This is soft, cozy bedding that is great for tunnelling. It’s digestible, and gerbils can’t get tangled up in it. Shredded paper – A long as the paper is ink- and dye-free, shredded paper can be a good choice of bedding, and has the benefit of being cheap too.
Can gerbils have straw for bedding?
Straw and peat
Too dry and the gerbils
cannot burrow
and any tunnels made will collapse. Too damp and it can cause fungal infections, such as ringworm and can also cause chest problems.
What do you put at the bottom of a gerbil cage?
Fill the cage with 4 inches of bedding.
A large amount of bedding will also allow your gerbil to bury its food. Use absorbent bedding such as
recycled paper bedding or dust-free Aspen shavings
.
Can gerbils have wood shavings as bedding?
Many gerbil owners prefer wood shavings
over paper bedding
because it is highly absorbent and cost-effective.
Is Cotton safe for gerbils?
Gerbils, especially young gerbils, have been known to lose limbs when they have gotten tangled in paper strips. For this reason you should never give your gerbil any fibrous material including cotton wool or pieces of cloth. The
only exception is burlap, which can be used safely
.
Are gerbils happy in cages?
Gerbils also
need time outside of their cages to be happy
. Once you have established trust with your gerbil, take him out of his cage once per day for a little supervised play time outside of his cage.
What does a gerbil need in its cage?
Gerbils need:
A gerbilarium large enough to provide shelter, opportunities to dig and space to exercise
, with adequate bedding and nesting material. … Gerbils have fur on the soles of their feet and so do not climb well.
What bedding is bad for gerbils?
Bad Bedding Options
Pine and cedar bedding
– These are terrible options, as they cause respiratory problems in gerbils due to the fact that they break into tiny pieces and can be breathed in. Young gerbils are particularly susceptible to these problems.
How often should you change gerbil bedding?
The bedding needs to be cleaned
at least once a week
, but more often if you have more than two gerbils in the same cage. You will find that your gerbils tend to go to the bathroom in one location, so this should make cleaning your cage easier.
What do gerbils like to sleep in?
Gerbils also like a nest box – but not made of wood or plastic, which they’ll chew.
A clay flowerpot cut in half
makes a good sleeping area.
Can gerbils have too much bedding?
Gerbils need
a lot of thick bedding
so that they can satisfy their burrowing instincts, and create little sleeping places. … In this case, not providing enough material for your gerbil to burrow in will make them unhappy, particularly if they can’t even make a hideaway to bolt into when they’re scared.
Do gerbils like to be held?
Are Gerbils Affectionate Pets? Gerbils are affectionate pets that show affection towards other gerbils and humans. You can show affection by petting, holding, or cuddling your gerbil.
Most gerbils will like a basic form of affection
, like being pet or held.
Do gerbils like fleece?
Fleece is fine for out of cage play time, but not for living with.
gerbils are just too destructive
. Many rat, mice and hamster owners can use fleece without a problem, since they don’t spend their time destroying it, and they can’t snag their toes in it.
Do gerbils prefer sand or sawdust?
Although this is very cheap to buy, there is little to recommend it.
Sawdust has
been known to cause irritation to gerbil eyes and noses, so it is best to avoid it. On the whole this is very clean, especially the dust extracted form and it does not usually cause problems for gerbils.
Why do my gerbils bury their food?
Gerbils bury food
so that some food will be available when there’s less
. It also keeps the food fresher. Captive gerbils behave this way even though they don’t need to. You can stop your gerbils from burying their food by scatter feeding instead of using a bowl.
What is the best bedding for gerbils?
- Hay – hay is an excellent bedding option for gerbils as it is easy to dig tunnels through, as well as being a natural bedding. …
- Carefresh or cardboard shavings – this is soft, cozy bedding that is great for tunnelling.
