HOUSING AND FEEDING
Keeping a gerbil isn't expensive. Once you got the basic equipment,
all it needs is some love and attention.
- The habitat : There is two choices : a cage or a tank. The cage is good
because it costs less and there is more air, but the gerbil will throw it`s bedding out and
gnaw the bars. I find the tank more smelly and harder to wash, but the bedding stays in.
Each is good, it just depends on you.
- Feeding : There is two basic gerbils food, a mix of sunflower seeds and dried
corn or gerbil block. I find the blocks better, because gerbils tend to eat only the
sunflower seeds when they get variety. For treats, you can give them about anything that
is dry and contains no chemicals, sugar, salt, spices or greases. Like pieces of nature
cheerios, pastas, seeds, nuts etc. Sometimes I give them fresh fruits or vegetables, but
not to the pups, in case they'd get diarrhea. I also keep the amount of treats really low, to
keep their diet balanced. It is important to leave always a bottle of fresh water
and a mineral block for them.
- Bedding : I use pine shavings, because it`s the cheaper and about the only
thing I can find around. There is also corn cob and other wood shavings. To avoid
irritations, I "air" the shavings before puting it in the cage. I change it once a week.
Gerbils really don`t smell a lot. In all cases never use cedar. It irritates them.
- Other basics : All you need to complete your equipment is bowls for the
food, a bottle for the water (don`t use a bowl, they will throw bedding in it) and a couple
of toys like the tubes and wood to chew.
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