Hides and houses
Shelves and ledges
Foraging and toys
Cage accessories
Kits and bundles
Fairy forest
Spooky mischief
Sweetie stash
Game mode
Forest floor
Castles and cathedrals
What kind of cage does a gerbil need?
A glass tank, often called a gerbilarium. The RSPCA recommends solid glass walls, a secure wire-mesh top and a solid floor, and advises against metal-bar cages: gerbils can hurt their legs and feet, damage their teeth gnawing the bars, and kick bedding out through the gaps. Gerbils are diggers, so the home is really a container for 25 cm (10 in) of bedding with air on top.
Oregon Humane Society does allow a wire cage with at least 600 square inches (3,870 square cm) of floor, as long as there is room for deep bedding. In practice, few wire cages have a solid base deep enough, so we'd pick glass unless you find a cage with a tall solid tray.
Tank, gerbilarium or cage: the quick comparison
| Type | Good | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Glass fish tank with a mesh lid | Holds deep bedding, chew-proof, easy to watch | Heavy; a normal fish tank lid is not suitable |
| Gerbilarium (glass base, mesh topper) | Bedding in the glass, airflow up top | Many have shallow bases or plastic trims |
| Glass cabinet on its side (IKEA hack) | Huge floor for the money | Needs a home-made or bought mesh lid |
| Bar or wire cage | Light and airy | Bedding flies out, bars hurt feet and teeth |
| Plastic cage with tubes | Cheap and colourful | Too small, chewed, and can cause fights |
How big of a cage do you need for a gerbil?
At least 100 × 50 × 50 cm (39 × 20 × 20 in) for a pair. That is Woodgreen's minimum and the European welfare standard, giving 5,000 square cm (775 square in) of floor. For three, Woodgreen says 120 × 50 × 50 cm (47 × 20 × 20 in). There is no cage size for one gerbil, because gerbils should never live alone. Our gerbil cage size guide has the full table.
What size tank do I need for 2 gerbils?
In the UK and Europe, 100 × 50 × 50 cm (39 × 20 × 20 in). In the US, Oregon Humane Society gives 40 gallons as the minimum for two. A 40-gallon breeder tank, about 36 × 18 × 16 in (91 × 46 × 41 cm), is the easiest version to find, and gives about 648 square inches (4,180 square cm) of floor. That is a little under the European figure, so treat 40 gallons as the floor and go longer if you can.
A 10 or 20 gallon tank is too small for gerbils. PetMD still lists 20 gallons for a pair, but that leaves no room for the deep bedding, a 28 to 30 cm (11 to 12 in) wheel and a sand bath that welfare charities now ask for.
How to choose a gerbil cage
- Floor of at least 100 × 50 cm (39 × 20 in), measured inside, for two
- A solid glass or clear base at least 40 cm (16 in) deep, which Gerbil Care UK says is needed to hold enough bedding
- A secure mesh lid; Woodgreen suggests a wooden frame with 1 × 1 cm (0.4 × 0.4 in) welded mesh fixed on the inside
- Room for a solid wheel of 28 to 30 cm (11 to 12 in)
- No plastic edges, hooks or trims within reach of teeth
- No mesh shelves, which Woodgreen says can damage feet
- No solid shelves a weaker gerbil can be trapped under
- No separate pods joined by tubes, which Gerbil Care UK says can cause territorial fights
Measure floor space, not litres or gallons. Gerbil Care UK says length matters far more than height, and tanks with many levels can give gerbils areas to claim, which it lists as a cause of fighting.
Gerbil cages to skip
Gerbil Care UK has measured many popular cages and rejects them for gerbils. Labels like "gerbil cage" or "gerbilarium" don't guarantee the size.
| Cage | Floor size | Main problem |
|---|---|---|
| Omlet Qute | 39 × 31 cm (15 × 12 in) | Far too small, 19 cm (7.5 in) plastic wheel |
| Pets at Home Classic Premium glass home | 78 × 48 cm (31 × 19 in) | Too shallow for digging, small plastic wheel |
| Pets at Home Habitat cages | Various, all small | Plastic, too small, no room for a proper wheel |
| Savic Gerbilarium | 52 × 51 cm (21 × 20 in) | Too small, wire ladders and floors |
| Critters Choice Jumbo Gerbilarium | 70 × 40 cm (28 × 16 in) | Too small, 21 cm (8 in) wheel |
| Ferplast Karat 100 and Domster 100 | About 100 × 50 cm (39 × 20 in) | Solid base only 25 cm (10 in) deep, plastic parts |
| Little Friends Savoy | 59 × 38 cm (23 × 15 in) | Far too small |
| PawHut-style wooden small pet houses | Various | Gerbils chew through wood, too many levels |
The best gerbil cages and tanks
We don't make pieces for gerbils yet, so these are from other shops we'd look at. Sizes are from the shops' pages and Gerbil Care UK, checked in November 2026.
Skyline Marrakesh 120
A wooden-framed gerbilarium with a glass base and front and a metal mesh top, 115 × 50 × 50 cm (45 × 20 × 20 in) outside. Good for a pair or a trio, and one of the few ready-made gerbil homes Gerbil Care UK recommends. Check the wood frame stays out of reach of teeth, and add bedding up to the glass line, not above it.
Bucatstate 3.0 metal cage
A metal-framed enclosure with clear panels, in 100 × 50 × 52.5 cm (39 × 20 × 21 in) and 120 × 60 × 62.5 cm (47 × 24 × 25 in). The maker says the base takes 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12 in) of bedding. Gerbil Care UK prefers the 120 cm size. The panels are acrylic, so keep chewable edges covered. It was sold out when we checked, so watch for restocks.
A Diversa glass tank with a fitted lid
Plain glass aquariums in 100 × 40 × 40 cm, 100 × 50 × 50 cm and 120 × 50 × 50 cm (47 × 20 × 20 in) sizes, which Gerbil Care UK recommends. Happy Henry's Homes makes fitted mesh lids and toppers for them and for Bucatstate and IKEA Detolf enclosures. Pick 100 × 50 cm or bigger for two.
Marineland 40 gallon open glass tank
A 40-gallon glass tank, 36 × 18 × 16 in (91 × 46 × 41 cm), the US minimum for two gerbils. The 16 in (41 cm) glass depth fits 10 in (25 cm) of bedding with standing room. It has no lid, so pair it with a mesh screen cover.
Zilla screen cover, 36 × 18 in
A welded steel mesh lid with a steel rim, sized 36 × 18 in (91 × 46 cm) to fit the 40-gallon tank above. Check it sits flat on your tank's rim with no gaps, and weigh it down or clip it if your gerbils can push it up.
IKEA Fabrikör cabinet, converted
A glass-door cabinet, 57 × 47 × 150 cm (22 × 19 × 59 in) standing, that Gerbil Care UK shows how to convert into a gerbil home of about 115 × 50 × 40 cm (45 × 20 × 16 in). A good project if you are handy. You will need a mesh lid, and the cabinet is heavy once full.
Skyline Falco 120
The biggest gerbil home Gerbil Care UK lists, at 114 × 74 × 75 cm (45 × 29 × 30 in), with a glass base and a powder-coated metal mesh top. Good for a large pair or trio with room to spare. It is rarely sold new in the UK, so look for it second-hand.
A second-hand fish tank or IKEA Detolf works just as well. The tank doesn't need to hold water, so a small leak doesn't matter, as long as the glass isn't cracked.
Gerbil cage setup: what goes inside
Once you have the tank, split it into a deep digging side and a firmer side for the wheel, sand bath and water. Fill the digging side with 25 cm (10 in) or more of paper bedding, cardboard and hay. Add a nest box, tubes and chews, and scatter the food rather than using a bowl. Our gerbil cage setup guide walks through it step by step, our digging and burrowing guide explains how to make tunnels hold, and our best gerbil hides and best gerbil toys pages cover what to put in.
Gerbil cage questions
What kind of cage does a gerbil need?
A glass tank with a secure wire-mesh lid and a solid floor. The RSPCA recommends this and advises against metal-bar cages, which can injure legs and teeth and let bedding fly out. Plastic-based cages are usually too shallow for the 25 cm (10 in) of bedding gerbils need and get chewed.
Can two gerbils live in the same cage?
Yes, and they should. The RSPCA says gerbils should never be kept alone. Two of the same sex, ideally littermates, share one tank of at least 100 x 50 x 50 cm (39 x 20 x 20 in). Avoid tanks with separate rooms joined by tubes, which can make gerbils territorial.
Is a 20 gallon tank big enough for gerbils?
No. PetMD's older figure of 20 gallons for a pair leaves no room for deep bedding, a wheel and a sand bath. Oregon Humane Society gives 40 gallons as the minimum for two gerbils, and Woodgreen's minimum is 100 x 50 x 50 cm (39 x 20 x 20 in), which is bigger still.
Are Pets at Home gerbil cages any good?
Gerbil Care UK has measured several and rejects them. The Classic Premium glass home is 78 x 48 cm (31 x 19 in) with too little depth and a small plastic wheel, and the Habitat and Savic cages are too small and plastic. Check any cage against 100 x 50 x 50 cm before buying.
Is the Omlet Qute good for gerbils?
No. Gerbil Care UK measured the Qute at 39 x 31 cm (15 x 12 in), far below the minimum for two gerbils, with a 19 cm (7.5 in) plastic wheel and a narrow access tube. It is sold for hamsters and other small pets, but it has no room for gerbils to dig.
Are PawHut wooden cages good for gerbils?
Not really. Gerbil Care UK says gerbils chew through wooden hamster and guinea pig houses, the wood stains, and many levels can lead to fighting. A wooden cage also can't hold 25 cm (10 in) of bedding unless it has a deep solid base. A glass tank is a better buy.
What is the biggest gerbil cage you can buy?
Of the ones Gerbil Care UK has measured, the Skyline Falco 120 is the largest, at 114 x 74 x 75 cm (45 x 29 x 30 in). The Bucatstate 3.0 at 120 x 60 cm (47 x 24 in) and an IKEA Detolf laid on its back are other big options.
For everything else your gerbils need, see the complete gerbil care guide.
