Gerbil enrichment: toys and boredom busters

What is gerbil enrichment?

Enrichment means giving gerbils the chance to carry out their natural behaviours every day. The RSPCA says gerbils must be able to dig and hide at all times, day and night, and warns that a wheel alone is not enough. Wild gerbils dig burrows as deep as 1.7 m (5.5 ft), forage for seeds, gnaw constantly and live in family groups. A tank that lets them do all of that is enriching; one that does not is boring, however many toys are in it.

Gerbils that cannot do these things show it. The RSPCA warns that a poor environment or stress can cause repetitive behaviour, such as digging in one corner for long periods. If you see the same scrabble in the same corner, hour after hour, the answer is usually more depth and more space, not another toy.

Digging: the enrichment that matters most

Deep, diggable bedding is the single biggest thing you can give a gerbil. Gerbil Care UK says at least 25 cm (10 in), and owners can spend hours watching tunnels being built against the glass. A mix of paper bedding, shredded cardboard and meadow hay holds tunnels best. Bury a wide cardboard tube running down towards the nest to give them a head start.

Our guide to gerbil digging and burrowing covers the best mix, how to stop tunnels collapsing, and how deep to go in your tank.

The best gerbil wheel

A solid wheel at least 28 cm (11 in) across, in wood or metal. Gerbil Care UK sets 28 cm as the minimum and says a gerbil arching its back while running means the wheel is too small. The RSPCA asks for a large, solid, axle-free wheel, ideally with a non-slip surface, and the MSD Veterinary Manual warns that slatted wheels can catch feet and tails.

• Metal. Chew-proof and easy to clean. Gerbil Care UK uses 12 in (30 cm) metal wheels, which need about 30 cm (12 in) of height above the bedding.
• Wood. Quiet and natural. Gerbil Care UK names several 28 to 30 cm wooden wheels; swap to metal if your gerbils chew it.
• Plastic. Avoid. Gerbils chew it into sharp edges and may swallow pieces.

Gerbil Care UK suggests two of anything gerbils might squabble over, wheels included, in a pair or trio. Stand the wheel on a firm platform or the shallow side of the tank so it is not buried overnight. See our picks of the best gerbil toys for wheels from other shops.

Sand baths

Every gerbil tank needs one. Gerbils roll in sand to keep their coats clean and stop them going greasy, and Gerbil Care UK notes they also use it to relax, eat snacks and often as a toilet. Use a wide, shallow glass or ceramic dish rather than a narrow jar, which one gerbil can guard. Gerbil Care UK uses a 25 × 17 cm (10 × 7 in) oval oven dish and says the bigger the better.

The sand matters. Gerbil Care UK avoids fine dusts, including chinchilla dust, and clay-based sands, and prefers a plain reptile sand that is free of dye, clay and calcium. The RSPCA allows fine sand or chinchilla dust, so sources disagree; we'd follow Gerbil Care UK, because a dust-free sand gives a gerbil less to breathe in while it rolls. Sieve it daily. Our gerbil sand bath guide has the detail.

Things to gnaw and shred

Gerbil teeth never stop growing, so gnawing is a daily need as well as a pleasure. The RSPCA lists willow, hazel, beech, birch and fruit tree branches as favourites. Gerbil Care UK adds balsa, spruce, poplar, pear, apple sticks and cork, and prefers kiln-dried wood. Supreme Petfoods suggests untreated apple or hazel branches.

• Toilet roll and kitchen roll tubes
• Plain cardboard boxes and egg boxes, labels and tape removed
• Brown packing paper
• Untreated apple, pear, willow, birch or hazel twigs
• Cork bark or cork logs
• Hay, stuffed into tubes or mixed through the bedding
• A terracotta pipe, at least 7 cm (2.75 in) wide, which also files claws

Foraging games

Make gerbils work for their food. The RSPCA and Gerbil Care UK both suggest scattering the daily food across the bedding rather than using a bowl, and Supreme Petfoods suggests spreading it across several spots. Then add a few games.

1. Forage roll. Stuff a toilet roll tube with meadow hay and push a few seeds into the middle. Fold the ends over.
2. Forage box. Fill a plain cardboard box with hay, scatter food through it, and cut a gerbil-sized hole in the side.
3. Layered tank. When you rebuild the tank, scatter food between layers of bedding, as Gerbil Care UK does, so they find it as they dig.
4. Herb hunt. Sprinkle a pinch of dried forage herbs or a sprig of millet spray in a different place each day.
5. Paper parcel. Twist a seed or a mealworm into a square of plain brown paper.

Count these treats as part of the day's food, not on top of it. Our gerbil diet guide has the daily amounts.

Tunnels, hides and climbing

Gerbils feel safest with a way to dive out of sight. The RSPCA says tubes must be no less than 5 cm (2 in) across or gerbils can get stuck; Gerbil Care UK uses 7 cm (2.75 in) or wider, especially once bedding is inside. Brown cardboard postal tubes are cheap and double as a way to lift a gerbil out calmly.

Gerbils need length more than height. Gerbil Care UK warns that tanks with many levels, compartments and connecting tubes give gerbils places to claim and can lead to fights, and recommends a single nest box for a pair. A couple of low platforms, a ramp and a log bridge are plenty. Our pick of the best gerbil hides and houses covers what to look for.

Free-roaming and playtime

Time out of the tank adds space and novelty. Gerbil Care UK gives gerbils time out daily if possible, in a gerbil-proofed room or bathroom behind a solid board at least 45 cm (18 in) high, with ramps, tubes, a wheel and something to dig. Check for gaps around pipes, because gerbils find them.

• No wires, cables or houseplants within reach
• Gaps under doors and around pipes blocked
• Other pets out of the room
• A tube or sand bath at the tank door so they step out on their own
• You sitting on the floor the whole time

The RSPCA says never leave gerbils out of their tank unattended or overnight. Gerbil Care UK notes free-roam space can trigger territorial squabbles, so pause it if a pair starts arguing.

Keep it fresh: rotating enrichment

The MSD Veterinary Manual suggests rearranging the cage now and then to keep gerbils interested. Add fresh cardboard every few days and move a tube or a platform every week or two. Do it in small steps: Gerbil Care UK warns that a complete set-up change, or a full clean without keeping about 20 percent of the old bedding, can upset the scent that holds a pair together. Second-hand toys can carry another animal's scent, so wash or skip them.

What do gerbils need in their cage?

A glass tank of at least 100 × 50 × 50 cm (39 × 20 × 20 in) for two, around 25 cm (10 in) of bedding, a nest box, a solid wheel, a sand bath, two water sources, chews and scattered food. Supreme Petfoods gives the same 1 m × 0.5 m footprint for a pair. Our gerbil cage setup guide lays it out, and the complete gerbil care guide covers the full routine.

Company is enrichment too

The best toy a gerbil can have is another gerbil. They groom each other, sleep in a heap, dig together and keep watch. The RSPCA and Gerbil Care UK both say gerbils should never be kept alone, and Gerbil Care UK finds pairs the most stable. Our guide to gerbil pairs, clans and split cages explains how to bond a new partner, and gerbil behaviour explains what the grooming, boxing and thumping mean.