Gerbil — enrichment (owner-practical care, Merck Veterinary Manual pet-owner)
Source: first-hand Merck Veterinary Manual pet-owner text, saved to source_file; every claim below is a C1 byte-substring of it.
Claims
Quesenberry , DVM, MPH, DABVP (Avian) Last updated: May 2026 v3226873 Housing | Diet | Exercise | Temperament | For More Information | Gerbils are active and enjoy climbing and burrowing.Gerbils may also benefit from regular sand or dust baths as described for chinchillas; rolling in the sand is a way for these desert animals to help keep their fur clean.Exercise In the wild, gerbils build elaborate burrows.Therefore many gerbil owners provide their pets with commercially available plastic tubing and other environments that allow for climbing and burrowing.Other options are sturdy rocks, wooden planks, and ladders for climbing.When choosing toys, keep in mind that gerbils chew everything, so do not choose anything with pieces that may be harmful if swallowed.Small cardboard boxes and toilet paper tubes are quickly shredded but make excellent and readily available gerbil toys.Some pet owners choose to provide their gerbils with an exercise wheel.However, the slats in a traditional hamster wheel can catch a gerbil’s feet or delicate tail.When choosing an exercise wheel, either look for one with a solid surface or cover the outside of a typical hamster wheel with tape to create a solid surface.When introducing a new gerbil to an existing gerbil’s cage, be sure to supervise them, because they may be territorial at first and may take time to adjust to each other.While the gerbil is getting used to your presence, allow it to climb over your palm before lifting it out of its cage.
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Source: pdf-raw/owner-care/merck_gerbil.txt · https://www.merckvetmanual.com/all-other-pets