Gerbil

A gerbilarium with a very deep bedding layer is ideal: use a tank or bin cage at least 75 by 40 cm with 25 to 40 cm of paper and hay based bedding so they can dig stable burrows. Wire cages alone are unsuitable because gerbils need depth, not height, and kicked bedding makes a mess. Add a solid wheel of at least 20 cm, chew toys, a sand bath and a hide, and use aspen or paper bedding rather than pine or cedar.

Feed a good quality gerbil or hamster seed and grain mix as the staple, supplemented with small amounts of fresh vegetables and occasional protein such as a mealworm. Provide constant fresh water from a bottle. Offer plenty of hay and gnawing material to wear down teeth. Feed measured daily portions to avoid selective feeding and obesity, and avoid sugary or fatty treats, with sunflower seeds given only sparingly.

As a desert species gerbils tolerate warmth better than damp, and do well at about 18 to 24 degrees Celsius with low humidity and good ventilation. Avoid direct sun, radiators and draughts, and keep bedding dry. They are diurnal to crepuscular, active in short bursts through the day and night, so natural room lighting suits them.

Gerbils are highly social and should be kept in same sex pairs or small groups, ideally littermates introduced young. A lone gerbil can become withdrawn. Fighting can erupt in adults, and once a pair falls out (called declanning) they usually cannot be safely reunited, so any new introduction of adults must use the careful split cage method. They generally enjoy gentle handling, but never grab or lift by the tail as the skin can slough off.

Deep bedding for tunnelling is the single most important enrichment for gerbils, along with a large wheel. Provide cardboard tubes, wooden chews, hay, seed heads, a sand bath and safe clutter to gnaw and rearrange. They will happily shred and rebuild their environment, so replenish chewables regularly.