What Is the Best Bedding for a Gerbil Cage?

Gerbils are born diggers. In the wild they build deep tunnel systems, and in your home they’ll be happiest with bedding deep enough to do the same.

Go deep

Aim for several inches of bedding — deeper is better — so tunnels hold their shape. A tank-style enclosure keeps deep bedding from being kicked out.

Choose safe materials

• Good: paper-based bedding, aspen shavings, and hay or straw mixed in for structure.
• Avoid: cedar and untreated pine (aromatic oils can irritate airways), and scented beddings.

Mix for tunnels

Paper bedding alone can collapse. Mixing in hay or a little coconut fiber helps tunnels hold.

Clean smart

Gerbils produce very little waste. Spot-clean soiled areas and refresh part of the bedding at a time so your gerbils don’t lose all their hard work.