Gerbil Questions?

Question

Is it ok to use shredded paper for beding? And what kind of treats should I give them besides Chew sticks? Also what are some good homemade toys to give them?

Answer 1

Your substrate needs to be some sort of wood shavings (not pine or cedar, or sawdust), recycled paper (i.e. Carefresh-- avoid Kaytee SoftSorbent), or other commercial substrate (EcoPet, MegaZorb, etc.)

As for bedding (the actual nesting material), you can use clean white paper, paper towels, toilet tissue, facial tissue (not the kinds with lotion or antibacterial agents, though), and timothy hay. Basically anything they can shred that doesn't have fibers like cloth or the "fluff" bedding sold in pet stores (that stuff kills).

Treat Do's and Do-Not's:
http://www.sensi-media.com/gerbil/domestic.htm

Cheap potential toys:
http://www.sensi-media.com/gerbil/practical3.htm

If you're more adventurous, you can make them a gerbil playground!
http://www.sensi-media.com/gerbil/practical7.htm

Answer 2

Shredded paper is okay, but make sure there is no printing on it. Also, it stinks up the cage faster than normal store-bought shredding. You may give your gerbils cheerios, nuts, occasionally you may give them a sunflower seed or a carrot (chopped up). A good homemade toy? I give mine paper towel tubes, tissue paper, and... well, check out http://www.twinsqueaks.com It has a lot of cool things, with how to make your own toys, and stuff like that.

Answer 3

Shredded paper should be ok to make a nest, but there should be some sort of absorbant bedding, also; NOT cedar chips. Geribls like all sorts of things as treats:

Sunflower seeds, but not many
Kiwi, but not a lot
Cheerios
Sometimes I give mine a little tiny crumb of cheese

Toys:
Paper tubes
Toothpaste box
Assorted small boxes (mac and cheese)
A washed out can if you are VERY sure of no sharp edges
A coffee mug
YOu could wrap a treat in tissue paper, stuff it in apaper tube and then wrap that in more tissue paper.

Answer 4

Be careful of what kind of paper you use. Some inks are vegetable based and some aren't. I was advised that black ink is safe, but colored ink is not and can be toxic. They love wheels, or tubes they can crawl into (toilet paper roll cardboard thing, non scented!) and same with paper towels. Chew sticks are ok, but, a carrot will do, too. You can get salt licks from a feed store. They also enjoy a well scrubbed carrot once in awhile.

Answer 5

Yes news paper works fine even though they like the pine chips best. Maybe those dog bones for dog snacks would be good. Toys are easy garage sales have lots of little toys. Anything out of a Happy Meal. But I really think they are partial to the wheel thing. Good Luck

Answer 6

We used to use paper bags (except for the part of the bag with printing. We would rip the bag into strips and put it in the aquarium that we kept the gerbils in. The gerbils had a blast playing in it. Within a day or so they would have all of it shredded.

Answer 7

hi. i give my gerbil a piece of paper towel every time i clean his cage and he makes his own bed out of that. and when i run out of shavings i do use shredded paper and my gerbil is fine with it. i also give him fresh veggies to snack on as well......

Answer 8

yah, i put shredded news paper in my hamsters cage and he loved it, he would try and climb on top of the paper. It provides lots of hiding spots

Answer 9

I have found this web site that will help you with your questions. www.agsgerbils.org/Gerbil_Care_Handbook/index.html

Answer 10

wood blocks and yes.