Why do my gerbils think it's funny to chew their cage wires?

Question

My gerbils chew the wires at the top of their cage, they seem to enjoy hanging off it, anybody know why?

Answer 1

its better to keep gerbils in a tank. no chewing of cage bars and no sawdust everywhere! and boredom.

Answer 2

Dear Lady Hyena, Before you buy any pet, make sure you have a home set up for them to minimize the stress of adjusting to a new home. If you are bringing home a new hamster soon, here is a list of supplies you will need before you get your hamster. Cage Get a cage that is large enough, escape-proof, and easy to clean. While the modular cages with tubes are fun, they can be difficult to clean and poor on ventilation (and the tubes can be too small for some Syrian hamsters). Never underestimate the ability of a hamster to escape as they can fit through pretty small spaces and can chew through plastic walls surprisingly quickly. If you are getting a Syrian hamster, keep in mind that many cages marketed for hamsters will be on the small side. Conversely, dwarf hamsters can often squeeze through the bars of an average hamster cage. For more detail, see: •Before You Buy a Hamster Cage (Syrian Hamsters) Bedding and Nesting Material Avoid cedar and pine wood chips; aspen is a safer option. You can also use many of the newer paper or other fiber-based beddings. Hamsters love a cozy nest for napping. However, the cotton nesting materials found a pet stores is unecessary (and can cause problems if eater or wrapped around toes). Shredded toilet paper or facial tissues are an excellent nesting material (and economical too). For more discussion, see: •The Problem with Cedar Shavings •Do Hamsters Need Cotton Nesting Material? Food Choose a good quality food for your hamster. Pelleted foods offer a good nutritional balance and for many hamsters are a better option than loose food mixes. With a loose mix (seeds and other items), your hamster might pick out what they like and leave what they don't, which could result in a dietary imbalance. A pelleted mix can be supplemented with a variety of other items though. More on feeding hamsters: •Feeding Hamsters Food Dishes A shallow, small, but heavy bowl is ideal -- anything that won't be easily tipped. A small ceramic or porcelain crock is ideal, as it is sturdy and won't be chewed up. Water Bottle A hanging bottle with a stainless stell spout and ball is the most commonly used water container for hamsters. A bowl is too likely to be spilled, dirtied or filled with bedding. Exercise Wheel Hamsters love to run, and need the exercise. Do not largest, best quality wheel you can. It should have a solid surface for running and ideally no cross supports (that might catch a leg or neck), so look for one that mounts on the side of the cage. Make sure the wheel is quiet as well, since hamsters run at night (especially if your hamster will be in your room). Some different options can be found here: •Exercise Wheels and Run-Abouts House / Hide Your hamster will appreciate a private getaway for sleeping. It can be as simple as a small cardboard box (will have to be replaced often, but economical), a plastic hide box (may be chewed up), a wooden box (may be chewed or get soiled and smelly), or other things like a half coconut shell, or a small clay plant pot. Toys In addition to a wheel, you hamster should have a variety of things to chew on and climb on. Hopes this helps!! Enjoy!! -Sam

Answer 3

do your gerbils actually laugh when they do this(strange gerbils you have there) what do they find funny?? or how do they laugh is it a mwhahahahahahaha or it is a giggle or is it a snigger laughing gerbils you could make money out of that hmmmmmmmm

anyway there need to grind there teeth and they will chew anything in sight thats just the way they are if they did not grind there teeth they would have 3 foot teeth

Answer 4

Gerbils are one of those critters that if they do not "chew" there teeth will grow and grow, this can develop into a very serious problem (such as not being able to eat there food), and can result in death.

Give them plenty of things to chew on, if they do not have anything left in there cage to chew on they will chew on anything availible, such as there cage wires....

Answer 5

Do you have any wood in there for them to chew, or a wheel for them to exersice on? Gerbils are rodents and need wood to keep their teeth shaved down. (Rodents teeth never stop growing like our fingernails.) If you don;t have wheel he may have pent up energy and need to run it off. Or maybe the cage smells funny and he wants fresh air. lol Get a piece of untreated hard wood, a running wheel, maybe a exersice ball, and then kaytee makes these much boxes they are a card board box filled with treats, give that to them to exersice their, mind him/she maybe bored you can also use a toilet paper roll, put fresh fruit and peanut butter (unsalted) in it an the give it to the little bugger. have fun

Answer 6

Gerbils are rodents and need to chew things to keep their teeth from becoming overgrown. Give them other things to chew and they shouldnt chew the cage so much.

Answer 7

they chew the bars out of boredom and as everyone has said to grind their teeth down. its actually not good for them to chew on the bars too much so definitely put some toys in the cage to keep them from boredom and something they can chew on like a piece of untreated wood.

Answer 8

its not just gerbils, my 2 hamsters do it to, as well as hang from the top. i think its down to bordome, i use a ball for them, when mine are put back in their cage from being in their ball they dont chew on the cage till at least the next day/night

Answer 9

They're rodents, so they're teeth are constantly growing. If you have other stuff in their cage to chew on, and they don't seem to be using it, try an unflavored milkbone dog biscuit (make sure there's no garlic). I've heard it works like a dream.

Answer 10

Gerbils (like rabbits) are rodents, their front teeth are always growing. You should provide them with safe chew toys that they can grind their teeth on.