Moonstone Gerbils

Breeder of Mongolian Gerbils and Southern Flying Squirrels

Worcester - Providence - Framingham

info@moonstonegerbils.com

978-494-4727

Exercise

Gerbils need to have room to run. There are two easy ways of doing this.

Run-a-bout balls are good to have, especially when cleaning the cage. It gives you somewhere to put them while you are cleaning. Make sure to block off any stairs,. Gerbils take a while to figure out how to use a ball, let them figure it out at their own pace. Nudging or rolling the ball for them will only scare them, and they will become terrified of the ball.

Gerbils need a wheel that is at least 7” in diameter. This will keep your gerbils fit while giving them an outlet for any pent up energy.  Squeaky wheels may need a little veggie oil. Many wheels will knock on the glass of an aquarium, you can place cardboard under the wheels platform to dampen the sound.

	Wodent Wheel This is a very safe wheel, and the quietest on the market. It also chew friendly, in that they sell replacement parts for it. The wheels are a little pricier, but are extremely quiet.
	Silent Spinner This wheel offers a solid running surface. The name is a little misleading, although it won't make sounds like nails on a chalk board, it does hum. The thick plastic is fairly chew resistant. Can not be inverted to hang down from top of aquarium.
	Comfort Wheel This wheel also offers a solid running surface, but has very thin plastic. Gerbils can easily chew the wheel, as well as the spoke it turns on. I don't recommend this wheel, simply because gerbils can destroy it. Can not be inverted to hang down from top of aquarium.
	Mesh Wheel with Mesh Back The wire mesh is safe for gerbils to run on. Care should be taken to see if there are any sharp wires.
	Mesh Wheel This type of wheel when hung upside down will prevent the knocking sound of the wheel hitting the base of the cage. These wheels can be annoying if they are not lubed. Vegetable oil, or chap-stick make easy and edible lubricants.
	Wire Rung Wheel These wheels are unsafe for gerbils. The wide spacing, and open running surface can injure gerbils. Their tails and limbs could slip through the spacing and be broken or worse. Do not use this type of wheel.

Chewing

Gerbils are rodents, and their front teeth are always growing. Gerbils need to keep their teeth from growing too long, which is why they chew on things. Making sure your gerbils have access to toys is important, if gerbils teeth become too long they may have difficulty eating.

These items ARE NOT suitable as toys or bedding:

· Rawhide

· Leather

· Fabric or clothing

· Cotton balls, fluff, or stuffing

· Wool or fleece

· Plywood

· Plastic

· Corrugated Cardboard

These items make GREAT toys and/or bedding:

· Cardboard boxes

· Egg crates

· Card board tubes

· Paper towels

· Napkins

· Toilet paper

· Paper, crumpled into a ball, or shredded paper

· Junk Mail

· Wood Blocks

· Fruit tree twigs

· Timothy Hay

· Natural Luffa Sponge

· Paper cups, Dixie Cups

These items make good hard toys to maintain teeth:

· Pumice stones

· Lava stone

· Cuttle bones

· Hooves

· Shells