The lid should consist of a close fitting wire mesh. This housing is preferable to a cage since gerbils will inevitably gnaw at metal bars and this is the cause of a very common complaint of a sore nose. By providing a gerbilarium as housing this will be prevented.

In the wild, gerbils would live in the desert and would spend much time tunnelling and burrowing. In order to provide this facility a good medium must be present in gerbil cages and housing. The best material for this is a mixture of peat, pre-packed potting compost and hay, all of which the gerbil can shred up. This mixture is very absorbent and is ideal for the gerbil to burrow and tunnel. If the peat is kept damp it is likely that the tunnelling will hold its shape and not collapse. This is better than using plastic tunnels and tubes in their cages and housing since the gerbil will inevitably gnaw at these.

Unlike most other rodents, the gerbil excretes very little urine and so their bedding does not need changing nearly so frequently. Perhaps it should be changed every 4-6 weeks when the housing should be emptied and cleaned completely and refilled with a fresh mixture. Although this is most helpful in terms of time and effort, it will be necessary to check daily for any fresh food given, that it has not been buried as it would rot if left. It is a useful fact to know that this mixture used in gerbil cages and housing makes an excellent soil conditioner for your garden!

Gerbils do not like their living quarters disturbed too much and indeed this can cause them to have a seizure, as can too much handling or sudden noise.

A water bottle is of course required and this will need cleaning at least once a week with a brush and sterilised occasionally with Milton or similar. Always make sure there is fresh water in the bottle and that the bedding does not pile up underneath it and cause leakage