Gerbil Bedding
The requirements for gerbil bedding are very similar to that of other small rodents such as hamsters, mice and rabbits. Gerbil bedding needs to keep gerbils dry and clean and provide them with the opportunity to express natural behaviours such as nesting, foraging and burrowing.
Here we look in more detail at the care requirements of gerbils, what makes the ideal gerbil bedding and how using SmartBedz can provide an easy to clean and cost-effective solution.
Gerbil Bedding click here to buy our universal bedding litter from our online shop
Gerbil Cages
A ten gallon glass tank with a wire mesh on top is ideal for keeping two gerbils. These are generally favoured over the use of wire cages because gerbils have a tendency to kick litter out of a cage when they burrow and dig. Avoid plastic cages as your gerbil is likely to chew and burrow its way out and escape! A nesting box made out of wood or ceramic should be placed in a corner for your gerbil to hide and sleep in.
Gerbils love to explore by burrowing and will enjoy the ability to dig down and to crawl through tubes. So part of your gerbil bedding solution should include a deep layer of something diggable. Also aim to provide materials for climbing such as ladders, ramps or platforms.
The ideal gerbil bedding consists of either two or three layers.
The first (optional) layer is an inch or two of sand. Its main purpose is to give your gerbil something to burrow into. The wrong type of sand can be harmful however. A sharp variety can cause eye irritations or damage, and a dusty variety can cause eye and respiratory problems. The other problem with sand is that it is non-absorbent by itself and will do nothing to prevent odours - so it may need to be changed more frequently than the litter layer above it. SmartBedz offers a good alternative to using sand, since the pellets are ideal for digging and burrowing into.
The next layer of your gerbil bedding is the litter layer which needs to have absorbency and odour control properties. This layer needs to be dust free, non-toxic and safe to eat, as your gerbil will be in direct contact with it and, being a rodent, will inevitably try nibbling on it. Do not use cedar or pine shavings because these give off aromatic phenols and acids which can be damaging to the respiratory tract. Similarly, never use any type of kitty litter, either clay or silica based.
SmartBedz is a natural straw-based product which has no added chemicals or scents and is completely safe to eat. It is also super absorbent and has superior odour binding qualities which prevents the formation of ammonia, the primary source of odour.
If for some reason you want to retain the bottom sand layer as part of your gerbil bedding, perhaps to provide a more natural environment for your gerbil, SmartBedz can help here too. The size and shape of the pellets means that the pellets will tend to stay on top of the sand, even when they have been kicked around by a gerbil - the smaller sand granules will tend to fall through. This helps to keep most of the absorbent part of the bedding towards the top. And because SmartBedz absorbs moisture very quickly, it will greatly reduce the amount of urine that can permeate through to the sand layer.
The final layer is some type of soft nesting material which your gerbil can play with and pull around itself to make a nest. This also needs to be non-toxic and safe to ingest. Hay is a popular choice but shredded paper or pieces of fabric are all widely used.
Using SmartBedz as Gerbil Bedding
You can use SmartBedz as a replacement for both the sand and litter layers described above, or use it on top of a sand layer. We recommend using our smaller 6mm pellet (purple and green bag).
Place it throughout the bottom of the cage, to a total depth of 50-75mm as gerbils like to burrow. If your gerbil shows a tendency to urinate in some places more than others, place extra SmartBedz in these areas.
Once in place, spot clean daily to remove solid droppings and scoop out wet areas, indicated by swollen pellets. If you are also using a sand layer, take out as much sand from the associated area as you can. In general, using a sand layer will mean more complicated cleaning and more frequent complete changes required.
Completely remove and replace the whole litter layer when it begins to smell. If you have been spot cleaning regularly you will generally find that the frequency of complete changes required will reduce compared to other forms of litter, helping to make SmartBedz a cost-effective choice.
Dispose of used SmartBedz either on the garden (on compost heaps or even directly onto the garden as mulch) or flush down the toilet (in small quantities).
Caring for Gerbils
It is best to keep gerbils in same sex pairs as they need companionship.
Gerbils are diurnal which means they are awake during the day and sleep at night. This is partly why they are popular as pets for younger children since they don’t have to stay up late to see them awake and active.
You will need to supply a food bowl (a heavy ceramic one is best as this is harder to tip over) and a water container with a metal spout. Gerbils do also enjoy a good sand bath. There is nothing a gerbil enjoys more than a cardboard toilet roll - they live to chew so will demolish one of these in about 5 minutes, not eating it, but chewing it into small bits of bedding. A wooden chew stick, block or branch is essential to keep your gerbil’s teeth healthy. No gerbil should be without a wheel but make sure the wheel you buy is safe, with small gratings, so that your gerbil’s legs and tail cannot get caught. Some owners modify standard wheels by sticking tape or cardboard over the gratings. Gerbils love treats and these are great for handling and general training - sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds or raisins are favourites although all these should only be given in small quantities (one or two) to avoid obesity.
Gerbils will typically live inside the houses of their human owners and so it is important that whatever bedding or food used for your gerbil is also safe for humans, especially children. As well as being chemical free, SmartBedz is also virtually dust free as the product has dust extracted during the manufacture process. It is also heat treated which ensures that bacteria, mould and mites are killed off. This makes SmartBedz a very low allergy product for pets and humans alike.
Gerbil Bedding click here to buy our universal bedding litter from our online shop