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 toys do gerbils love?
Toys that match what gerbils do in the wild: dig, run, gnaw, forage and hide. The RSPCA lists a large solid wheel, tubes and tunnels, a large stone to scent-mark, gnaw sticks, cardboard tubes and boxes, and wooden bridges, tunnels and logs. Woodgreen adds kitchen roll tubes, cardboard boxes to chew and nest in, apple or willow twigs, a handful of meadow hay every other day, a sand bath and a dig tray of organic compost or coco soil.
Gerbils get bored easily, so the trick is not one expensive toy but a steady supply of new things. The MSD Veterinary Manual suggests rearranging the tank now and then to keep them interested. Fresh cardboard is the cheapest toy there is, and to a gerbil it is a whole afternoon's work.
The wheel: the one toy worth spending on
A good wheel is the most important thing you buy. Gerbils run a long way, and a small or open wheel can hurt them.
- At least 28 cm (11 in) across, as Gerbil Care UK sets; Woodgreen and Oregon Humane Society say 12 in (30 cm)
- Back stays straight when the gerbil runs, not curved upwards
- Solid running surface, with no rungs, mesh or ridges
- No central axle or crossbar that could trap a tail or foot, as the RSPCA advises
- Wood or metal; plastic gets chewed, says Gerbil Care UK
- Raised on a platform or the firm side of the tank, so it isn't buried
PetMD suggests one wheel per gerbil, and Gerbil Care UK gives each gerbil its own wheel in its tanks, because a single wheel can be guarded. If a gerbil's feet look sore, the RSPCA says to see a vet and take the wheel out.
Never use an exercise ball or a flying saucer wheel. Oregon Humane Society says balls are dangerous for any animal, and Gerbil Care UK also rules out flying saucers and open-rung wheels, which can catch toes and tails.
Chews: keeping teeth in shape
Gerbil teeth never stop growing, so they need things to gnaw every day. The RSPCA names willow, hazel, beech, birch and fruit tree branches as preferred woods, and says never to give ivy, yew or holly, which are poisonous. Gerbil Care UK adds balsa, spruce, poplar and pear, and recommends kiln-dried wood.
| Chew | Safe? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Apple, pear, willow, hazel, birch, beech sticks | Yes | Untreated, unsprayed, washed and dried |
| Plain cardboard, egg boxes, toilet roll tubes | Yes | No glossy, inked or coloured card, no tape |
| Hard dog biscuits | Occasionally | Oregon Humane Society lists them as a chew |
| Compressed sawdust "edible" chews | No | Gerbil Care UK links them to stomach blockages |
| Ivy, yew, holly | No | Poisonous, says the RSPCA |
| Painted, varnished or treated wood | No | Oregon Humane Society says unpainted, untreated wood only |
Sand bath
A sand bath is part toy, part grooming kit. Gerbils roll in it to keep their coats clean, and the RSPCA says a tray of clean sand keeps the coat in good condition. Gerbil Care UK uses a wide, shallow glass dish of about 25 × 17 cm (10 × 7 in), and says the bigger the better. It recommends dust-free, calcium-free reptile sands such as Reptisand and Exo Terra Desert Sand, and warns against several small-animal bathing sands and chinchilla dust. The sources disagree on chinchilla dust, and our gerbil sand bath guide explains why we'd follow Gerbil Care UK.
Tubes, bridges and things to climb
Gerbils don't climb well, the RSPCA notes, because of the fur on the soles of their feet, so keep things low. Tubes should be at least 5 cm (2 in) across, says the RSPCA, and Gerbil Care UK prefers 7 cm (2.75 in) or wider for adults. Bendy willow or bark bridges make good ramps between the digging side and the activity side, and over a dip they make an instant hide.
- Cardboard postal tubes, at least 7 cm (2.75 in) wide
- Unglazed terracotta pipes with a flat base
- A bendy wooden or willow bridge
- A cork or bark log to hide in and chew
- A flat stone or tile for scent-marking and wearing down claws
- Low wooden platforms on legs to raise the sand bath and water
Avoid tall ladders and high shelves a gerbil can fall from, and mesh ladders that can trap feet.
Free and DIY gerbil toys
Many of the best gerbil toys are already in your recycling. Gerbil Care UK's ideas cost almost nothing.
- Forage box. Fill a plain cardboard box with meadow hay and a scatter of the daily food. The gerbils dig through it, shred it and eat as they go.
- Forage rolls. Stuff a toilet roll tube with hay and a few treats, then fold the ends in. It is a puzzle and a chew in one.
- Dig tray. Fill a shallow tray or box with organic compost or coco soil, as Woodgreen suggests, and keep it slightly damp so it isn't dusty.
- Egg box maze. Hide a few pieces of food in the cups of a plain egg box and close it.
- Scatter feeding. Skip the bowl and scatter the daily food across the bedding. The RSPCA says it encourages natural foraging.
Free-roam time
Gerbil Care UK recommends daily time out of the tank in a pen or gerbil-proofed area, and Oregon Humane Society suggests a supervised playpen once gerbils are tame. Remove cables, close gaps and stay with them: the RSPCA says never leave gerbils out unattended or overnight, and Oregon Humane notes gerbils don't see well, so watch for falls. Gerbil Care UK also warns that free-roam space can make gerbils territorial, so stop it if a pair starts squabbling.
The best gerbil toys and accessories
We don't make pieces for gerbils yet, so these are from other shops we'd look at. Checked in November 2026.
Tic Tac metal exercise wheel
Hand-made aluminium wheels with a powder-coated finish and a 5 in (13 cm) deep solid running track, sold in 8 to 16 in sizes. Gerbil Care UK recommends Tic Tac's 12 in (30 cm) size for gerbils, and suggests metal if your gerbils chew wooden wheels. Check it fits under your lid.
Trixie wooden exercise wheel
An untreated wooden wheel with a cork running surface on a wooden stand, sold in 21, 28 and 33 cm sizes. Gerbil Care UK lists the 28 cm (11 in) size. Skip the 21 cm, which is too small for gerbils. The 28 cm was out of stock when we checked; the 33 cm (13 in) also works if it fits your tank.
Niteangel wooden wheel
An oak and poplar wheel with a cork track, sold for hamsters, gerbils and mice. Gerbil Care UK lists the 11.6 in (29.5 cm) size for gerbils. Choose the large size, not the medium, and check the diameter before you order.
Oxbow Enriched Life Apple Stick Bundle
A bundle of untreated apple sticks that can be pulled apart and given one at a time. Oxbow lists it for gerbils and hamsters as well as larger small pets. Good as a daily chew.
Full Cheeks willow twig chews
A pack of 25 plain willow twigs, sold for most small animals. Willow is one of the RSPCA's preferred gnawing woods. Scatter a few across the bedding or bury them for the gerbils to find.
Trixie bark bridge
A bridge of real bark, sold in sizes from 22 × 10 cm up to 65 × 40 cm (9 × 4 to 26 × 16 in). Use it as a ramp between the two sides of the tank or arched over the bedding as an open hide. The 51 × 30 cm size suits most gerbil tanks.
Happy Henry's Homes platforms and sand baths
Slot-together wooden platforms and sand bath boxes made in the UK without glue or nails, which Gerbil Care UK recommends for raising the sand bath and water above the bedding. Pick a sand bath with a wide opening rather than a small hole.
Gerbil toys to avoid
- Exercise balls and flying saucer wheels
- Wheels under 28 cm (11 in), or with rungs, mesh or a central axle
- Plastic toys, tubes and houses within reach of teeth
- Compressed sawdust or seed-and-glue chews
- Pine and cedar wood
- Cotton wool and fluffy nesting fibre
- Second-hand toys from another pet, which Gerbil Care UK says can carry scents that upset a pair
For more ideas see our gerbil enrichment guide, for houses see best gerbil hides, and for where it all goes, our gerbil cage setup guide.
Gerbil toy questions
What toys do gerbils love?
Gerbils love things that let them dig, run, chew and shred. Top of the list is deep bedding, a solid wheel of 28 to 30 cm (11 to 12 in), a sand bath, cardboard boxes and tubes to rip up, willow or apple sticks to gnaw, and food scattered to forage for. Most of the best ones are cheap or free.
What size wheel does a gerbil need?
At least 28 cm (11 in) across, says Gerbil Care UK, and Woodgreen and Oregon Humane Society say 12 in (30 cm). The gerbil's back should stay straight while it runs. The wheel must be solid, with no rungs, mesh or central axle, and wood or metal rather than plastic.
Are exercise balls safe for gerbils?
No. Oregon Humane Society says never to use an exercise ball for any animal, because they are dangerous and stop the animal exploring. Gerbil Care UK also rules out balls and flying saucer wheels. Give supervised time in a gerbil-proofed pen instead.
What wood is safe for gerbils to chew?
Willow, hazel, beech, birch and fruit tree branches such as apple and pear, according to the RSPCA. Gerbil Care UK adds balsa, spruce and poplar. Never give ivy, yew or holly, which the RSPCA says are poisonous. Use untreated, unpainted wood, washed and dried before use.
Do gerbils need toys every day?
They need something new to dig, chew or shred every day, but it can be as simple as a toilet roll tube or a scatter of food. Fresh cardboard and a handful of hay every other day, as Woodgreen suggests, keep them busy. Swap toys around now and then, as the MSD Veterinary Manual advises.
Can gerbils have plastic toys?
Best not. Gerbils chew everything, and Woodgreen warns plastic can be chewed into sharp edges. PetMD says swallowed plastic can block the gut. Choose wood, cardboard, willow, cork, terracotta or metal, and take out anything plastic that shows tooth marks.
For everything else your gerbils need, see the complete gerbil care guide.
Sources
- RSPCA: Gerbil behaviour
- RSPCA: Gerbil environment
- RSPCA: Gerbil health and welfare
- Gerbil Care UK: Enrichment, wheels and sand baths
- Gerbil Care UK: Declanning and fighting
- Woodgreen: How to house your gerbils
- Oregon Humane Society: Gerbil care
- PetMD: Gerbil care sheet
- MSD Veterinary Manual: Providing a home for a gerbil
