Bringing home a new gerbil? Whether you’re a first-time owner or preparing for your next furry companion, it’s important to have the right supplies in place. Gerbils are active, curious, and sensitive little animals that thrive when given a habitat that supports their physical and emotional needs.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through every essential item to add to your gerbil shopping list—from habitat basics to enrichment and health must-haves. Let's ensure your new pet has the happiest start possible.
🏠 1. Gerbil Enclosure or Tank: The Foundation of a Healthy Habitat
A proper home is the single most important investment you'll make for your gerbil’s health and happiness. Gerbils are incredibly active, social, and curious creatures that need space to dig, explore, and interact with one another.
🧱 Minimum Size Guidelines
For a pair of gerbils, the minimum recommended floor space is 80×50 cm, but bigger is always better. In fact, gerbils thrive in multi-level habitats or large tanks that mimic their natural desert environments, where they dig complex tunnel systems.
❌ Avoid Wire Cages
While small animal cages with horizontal bars might look practical, they come with risks:
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Gerbils are notorious chewers and may damage their teeth or even escape through flimsy bars.
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Wire floors or levels can hurt their delicate feet, leading to a condition called bumblefoot.
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Shallow bases don't provide enough space for burrowing—one of their favorite natural behaviors.
✅ Best Housing Options
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Glass Tanks: Durable, escape-proof, and perfect for deep substrate layers.
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Detolf Hacks: Popular IKEA glass cabinet conversions that give ample space at low cost.
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Bin Cages: DIY-friendly and highly customizable with deep bases and secure lids.
Whichever option you choose, make sure it includes:
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A well-ventilated, secure mesh lid (for airflow and safety)
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A deep base (20–30 cm minimum) for ample digging and tunnel-building
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No sharp edges or gaps that could injure or trap your gerbil
🧺 Turn Any Enclosure Into a Gerbil Paradise
While Moony Paw doesn’t sell full enclosures, we offer a thoughtfully curated range of accessories and natural enrichments that can transform any habitat into a natural, stimulating gerbil wonderland.
From foraging toys to hideouts and chew stations, our collection helps you build a home your gerbils will love to explore, sleep in, and play around.
👉 Explore Gerbil Accessories to upgrade your setup naturally.
🧻 2. Bedding for Burrowing: Fueling Their Natural Instincts
Gerbils are expert burrowers. In the wild, they create complex underground tunnel systems that serve as shelter, sleeping quarters, and escape routes from predators. Replicating this environment in captivity is essential for their physical and mental well-being.
Providing the right bedding isn't just about comfort—it supports their natural behaviors, reduces stress, and helps prevent boredom-related issues like bar chewing or repetitive digging at corners.
🪵 What to Look For in Gerbil Bedding
Not all bedding is created equal. Here's what makes the perfect bedding for a healthy, happy gerbil habitat:
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✅ Dust-Free & Unscented
Gerbils have sensitive respiratory systems. Dusty or scented bedding can irritate their lungs and cause long-term health problems. Always opt for unscented materials labeled as dust-extracted or low-dust. -
✅ Excellent for Tunneling
The bedding should be easy to mold into tunnels and burrows that don’t collapse too easily. Paper-based or plant-fiber beddings often hold structure better than wood shavings alone. -
✅ Natural & Safe
Stick with organic materials like:-
Paper bedding (e.g., unbleached shredded paper)
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Hemp bedding (absorbent, soft, and eco-friendly)
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Aspen shavings (a safe wood-based option that’s low-dust and non-toxic)
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🚫 Avoid:
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Cedar or pine wood shavings (toxic oils)
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Scented litters
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Cat litter, sawdust, or soil
🧺 Make It Cozy and Enriching
To create a truly enriching burrowing zone:
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Layer the bedding 20–30 cm deep, especially in at least one half of the enclosure
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Mix in soft hay, such as timothy or orchard grass—this reinforces tunnels and gives gerbils nesting material
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Add foraging elements, like dried botanicals or flower petals, so your gerbil has to "hunt" for treats naturally
You can even create zones in the enclosure:
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A deep dig zone with paper and hay
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A lighter area for food, water, and accessories
🌿 Build the Ultimate Bedding Blend
At Moony Paw, we carry a variety of natural foraging materials and flower blends that you can mix into your gerbil’s bedding for both sensory enrichment and practical tunnel reinforcement.
🛍️ Try pairing your bedding with:
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Flower Mix – Premium for soothing scents and color
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Jerusalem Artichoke Forage to promote gnawing and activity
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Angel Flower Mix to calm and enrich nesting areas
🍽️ 3. Food & Water Bowls (or Bottles): Staying Nourished and Hydrated in Style
Providing your gerbils with clean, consistent access to fresh food and water is absolutely essential—and how you serve it matters more than you might think.
While gerbils aren't particularly picky about containers, the wrong setup can lead to spills, contamination, or stress. That’s why choosing the right food and water accessories plays an important role in both hygiene and enrichment.
💧 Water: Bottle or Bowl?
Gerbils can drink from either a water bottle or a dish, but there are pros and cons to each:
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Water Bottles
✔️ Less likely to be contaminated with bedding or waste
✔️ Keeps water fresher for longer
❗ Make sure the spout works properly, and the flow isn’t blocked -
Water Bowls
✔️ Mimics natural drinking behavior
✔️ Easier to clean
❗ Must be heavy and shallow to avoid tipping
Moony Paw Tip: Try both and see which your gerbils prefer. Some owners even offer both during bonding phases to encourage drinking during stressful times.
🥣 Food Bowls: Function Meets Enrichment
Food can also be offered in:
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A small, sturdy bowl to prevent tipping and scattering
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Foraging-style setups, where food is hidden in bedding or enrichment items to stimulate natural digging instincts
Use ceramic or glass dishes—they’re easy to sanitize and hard to chew or tip over. Avoid plastic bowls as gerbils may gnaw on them and ingest tiny, harmful fragments.
🧼 Cleanliness is Critical
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Change water daily, whether you use a bottle or bowl
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Wash bowls and bottles weekly with pet-safe dish soap
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Remove uneaten moist food (like veggies or fruit) within a few hours to prevent mold or bacterial growth
🛍️ Add Style and Safety to Their Setup
Looking to combine function with aesthetic charm? We’ve curated a beautiful selection of gerbil-safe feeding dishes that bring joy to you and enrichment to them:
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🩷 Pink Sakura Dish – A soft, floral touch with a stable base
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💜 Amethyst Bowl – Eye-catching and chew-resistant
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🌸 Floral Serving Spoon – Perfect for hand-feeding or portioning dried forage
All our bowls are selected for:
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Chew resistance
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Weight and stability
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Aesthetic appeal for modern enclosures
👉 Check out our full bowl & accessory collection to find the perfect fit for your gerbil habitat.
🌾 4. Complete, Natural Diet: Fuel Their Health the Right Way
A gerbil's health starts with what's in their bowl. From energetic zoomies to healthy teeth and a glossy coat, a well-balanced diet influences nearly every aspect of their wellbeing. That’s why feeding your gerbil a complete, natural diet is one of the most important steps you can take as a responsible owner.
❌ Skip the Sugary, Artificial Mixes
Many commercial gerbil foods found in pet shops are visually appealing but nutritionally unbalanced. These mixes often contain:
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Sugary pellets or fruit chunks
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Artificial colors and flavors
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Preservatives or sweetened puffed cereals
While they may look “fun,” these ingredients can lead to obesity, diabetes, and digestive issues in small animals like gerbils—especially if they start selectively eating only the tastiest bits.
✅ Choose Nature-Driven Nutrition Instead
Gerbils thrive on variety. In the wild, their diet would consist of:
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Seeds and grains
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Dried grasses and flowers
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Occasional herbs and insects
Your goal should be to replicate this diversity in captivity with a balanced, foraging-style diet that promotes chewing, natural eating patterns, and optimal health.
🌿 Moony Paw’s Natural Diet Picks
While our Ultra-Premium Gerbil Food Mix is in development (designed to be completely pellet-free, with over 50 ingredients of pure botanical brilliance!), we already offer supplements and toppers that boost your gerbil’s current diet naturally:
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🌸 Angel Flower Mix
A calming blend of edible flowers to support digestion and encourage gentle foraging. -
🌾 Amaranth Forage
High in fiber and natural minerals—plus, it looks stunning in any enclosure. -
🌼 Botanical Bloom Blend
Enriched with herbs, petals, and leafy greens to create a nutrient-rich experience every time they eat.
🍴 Feeding Tips for Optimal Nutrition
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Offer 1–2 teaspoons of food per gerbil daily
Remove uneaten portions before refreshing -
Scatter feed or hide food in tunnels and bedding to stimulate mental activity
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Introduce new ingredients slowly to prevent digestive upset
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Supplement with treats wisely — healthy treats like Freeze-Dried Pumpkin or Rose Petals make great rewards, but only in moderation
🌟 Coming Soon: Moony Paw’s Ultra-Premium Gerbil Food Mix
We’re crafting the most comprehensive, science-backed gerbil mix on the market—featuring 50+ natural ingredients, including:
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Whole seeds and ancient grains
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Dried vegetables and flowers
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Natural calcium sources and protein boosters
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Absolutely no pellets, no added sugar, no fillers
This mix is developed with gerbil health, enrichment, and longevity in mind—and will soon be available for purchase through our Gerbil Collection.
🛒 Explore our current nutritional collection to build a well-rounded gerbil menu while you wait for the premium blend:
→ Browse Forage, Flowers & Treats
🦷 5. Chews for Dental Health: Keep Those Tiny Teeth in Check
Gerbils may be small, but their dental needs are serious business. Like all rodents, gerbils have open-rooted teeth—meaning their incisors never stop growing throughout their lives. Without proper wear, their teeth can become overgrown, misaligned, or even cause painful jaw injuries and difficulty eating.
That’s where the right chews come in.
🪵 Why Chewing Matters
In the wild, gerbils wear down their teeth naturally by gnawing on roots, stems, seeds, and other tough materials. Domesticated gerbils need the same opportunity to chew on safe, durable items to prevent dental issues and stay mentally engaged.
When gerbils don’t have access to proper chews:
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Teeth may become too long or sharp
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Eating becomes difficult or painful
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They may lose weight or avoid food
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They can even develop infections or abscesses
Providing natural, vet-approved chews ensures their teeth stay healthy, trimmed, and pain-free.
✅ Moony Paw’s Essential Chew Picks
We offer a thoughtfully curated range of all-natural chews that support dental health while doubling as enrichment. These options are safe, tasty, and 100% gerbil-approved:
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🍏 Apple Wood Sticks
A classic, firm chew made from untreated apple branches. Great for daily use and full of natural flavor. -
🌿 Jerusalem Artichoke Chew Sticks
Unique texture and high fiber content—perfect for curious nibblers and ideal for tooth maintenance. -
🌱 Twisted Vine Chew
Offers a fun shape to gnaw and climb on. Encourages natural play and keeps boredom at bay. -
🎸 Chew-a-Tune Guitar
A quirky, functional toy that doubles as a durable chew and photo-ready accessory!
🧘♂️ Bonus Benefits: Chewing = Stress Relief
Chews aren’t just dental tools—they’re also a form of environmental enrichment. Chewing helps:
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Relieve stress
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Curb cage bar biting
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Reduce destructive boredom
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Encourage natural foraging and burrowing behavior
Place chews in different areas of your gerbil’s enclosure to stimulate curiosity, or offer them by hand during bonding sessions to associate your presence with positive experiences.
🛒 Ready to build a stress-free, tooth-healthy habitat?
→ Shop Natural Chews Now
And don’t forget to combine chews with dried sprays and forage items from our Gerbil Collection for a fully enriched and balanced routine.
🧂 6. Healthy Treats (For Bonding & Training)
While your gerbil’s main diet should always be balanced and complete, treats play an important supporting role—especially when it comes to bonding, training, and enrichment. Think of them as your secret tool for building trust, reinforcing positive behavior, and adding a little joy to your pet’s day.
But not all treats are created equal.
❌ What to Avoid
Many commercial small pet treats are filled with:
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Added sugars or syrups
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Artificial colors and flavors
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Sticky or fatty ingredients
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Yogurt coatings or cereals
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Honey seed sticks and chewy bars
These can lead to obesity, digestive upset, and dental problems, particularly in small-bodied animals like gerbils.
✅ What to Choose Instead
Healthy gerbil treats should be:
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Natural and sugar-free
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Dried or freeze-dried for preservation
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High in fiber, low in fat
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Portion-controlled—just a pinch goes a long way!
At Moony Paw, we curate only safe, nourishing, and gerbil-approved options that support health while encouraging interaction.
🍬 Moony Paw’s Most Popular Gerbil Treats
🟠 Freeze-Dried Pumpkin
Naturally sweet, crunchy, and packed with beta-carotene. Excellent for digestive health and gentle on tummies.
🍒 Goji Berries
A vitamin-rich superfood that’s high in antioxidants. Just one berry is enough to reward your gerbil without overdoing it.
🍩 Natural Nibbles Forage Donuts
Hand-pressed and full of flowers, herbs, and seeds—these are perfect for special occasions or weekend enrichment.
🍓 Freeze-Dried Strawberries
Lightweight and delicious with no additives. Great for taming and introducing new environments.
🌼 Angel Flower Mix
A gentle blend of aromatic petals to sprinkle on their food, bedding, or hand during interaction.
💡 When & How to Use Treats
Using treats strategically helps you:
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Build trust with new or shy gerbils
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Encourage hand feeding and calm behavior
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Reinforce positive actions, like coming to your palm or staying still
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Add excitement to foraging toys or puzzles
Here are some bonding-friendly scenarios:
📍Free-roam time: Hide treats around a safe playpen
🖐️ Hand feeding: Offer a small treat while keeping your hand still
🧺 Hide in toys: Fill a Banana Leaf Basket or coconut shell with forage + treats
🎓 Training: Use treats to teach simple behaviors like coming when called
🛒 Ready to Treat Your Gerbil (the Smart Way)?
Visit our Treats Collection for more low-sugar, wholesome options that encourage both happiness and health.
And remember: a little goes a long way. A treat is a tool, not a meal.
🪥 7. Sand Bath for Grooming
Gerbils are naturally clean animals, but unlike humans or some other pets, they don’t need (and shouldn’t have) water baths. Instead, they rely on sand baths to keep their fur clean, fresh, and healthy.
In the wild, gerbils groom themselves by rolling in dry, dusty soil—this helps remove excess oils and dirt from their coat. Replicating this behavior at home isn’t just good hygiene; it’s also a form of enrichment and stress relief.
🌿 Why Gerbils Need Sand Baths
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Prevents oil buildup in their dense fur
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Removes dirt and moisture that can lead to skin problems
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Reduces odors naturally—no harsh chemicals needed
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Encourages natural behavior like rolling, digging, and kicking
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Improves mental health by offering a fun, familiar activity
Gerbils love their sand time, and some will even line up for a turn when it’s introduced regularly.
🧴 What You’ll Need for a Gerbil Sand Bath
✅ Chinchilla-safe sand
Always choose fine, natural, dust-free sand that’s made specifically for small animals. Avoid “dust” labeled products or craft sand—these can irritate your gerbil’s eyes and lungs.
Some great options include:
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Volcanic ash-based chinchilla sand
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Dust-free bathing sand blends (available at most pet retailers)
✅ A safe, sturdy container
Use a shallow ceramic dish, glass ramekin, or even a Banana Leaf Basket for an eco-conscious setup. Make sure the container:
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Is heavy enough not to tip over
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Has low sides for easy entry and exit
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Is cleaned regularly to avoid buildup of oils or feces
🌿 Moony Paw Twist: Go Natural With Style
For extra enrichment, lightly sprinkle in dried herbs from our Forage Collection like Angel Flower Mix or Birch Leaves. Your gerbil will enjoy scent exploration as they bathe.
🐾 8. Travel Carrier: Safe Transport for Vet Visits & Emergencies
Even though gerbils are homebodies by nature, there will be times when you need to take them out of their habitat—whether it’s for a vet checkup, a move, or an unexpected emergency. In those moments, having a dedicated travel carrier ready to go is essential for your gerbil’s safety and peace of mind.
A proper travel carrier not only prevents escapes and protects against stress, but also ensures that your little one stays comfortable and secure during the journey.
✅ What to Look for in a Gerbil Travel Carrier
When selecting a travel carrier, keep the following in mind:
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Size: It should be small enough to prevent your gerbil from being tossed around, but large enough to allow turning around and resting.
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Ventilation: Make sure it has plenty of air holes or mesh sides for good airflow without any wide gaps they can squeeze through.
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Material: Choose chew-resistant plastic or fabric with strong zippers or clasps.
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Security: Check that the lid or opening is tightly sealed and cannot be nudged open from the inside.
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Visibility: Semi-opaque sides or covers can help reduce stress by blocking out bright lights or movement.
🧺 How to Prepare the Carrier for Travel
Gerbils are easily stressed by changes in environment, so it’s important to make the carrier as familiar and calming as possible:
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Line the base with soft, dust-free bedding or a handful of hay from their main enclosure.
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Add a small hideout or tissue paper ball to give them a sense of cover and privacy.
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Avoid using water bottles during short trips, as they can leak—use cucumber slices or a damp paper towel for hydration instead.
💡 Bonus Tip: Always bring a small amount of their regular food in case of delays.
🌿 Calming Additions From Moony Paw
While Moony Paw doesn’t sell travel carriers directly, we do offer several natural, calming botanicals that can ease anxiety and make travel more comfortable.
Try tucking a pinch of one of the following into a corner of the carrier:
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Flower Mix: A soothing, aromatic blend of edible flowers that can promote calm behavior.
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Birch Leaves: Naturally gentle and comforting, with light foraging value.
These subtle scents can help your gerbil feel safe and reduce the shock of a new environment.
🚗 When to Use a Travel Carrier
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Vet appointments or health checks
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Introducing new gerbils in a neutral zone
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Emergency evacuations (e.g., fire, flooding)
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Cleaning or deep maintenance of the main enclosure
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Short trips to another location (e.g., pet sitter)
Even if you don’t travel often, it’s a smart idea to keep a travel carrier packed and ready, especially with small animals that can be sensitive to change.
🧳 Final Thoughts: Travel Comfort = Trust
When used correctly, a travel carrier isn’t just a transport tool—it’s an extension of your gerbil’s safe space. Pair it with familiar textures and gentle herbs from the Moony Paw gerbil collection, and you’ll reduce stress while building trust during every trip.
→ Shop Forage and Comfort Herbs
🧰 9. Cleaning Supplies: Keep Your Gerbil’s Habitat Fresh and Healthy
A clean enclosure is more than just nice to look at—it’s critical to your gerbil’s health, hygiene, and overall comfort. Gerbils are naturally tidy creatures, but they still need your help to keep their home free from harmful bacteria, ammonia buildup, and bad odors.
Whether you’re doing daily spot-cleans or weekly deep cleans, having the right cleaning tools on hand makes the job easier, quicker, and safer for your furry friends.
🧼 Why Cleanliness Matters for Gerbils
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Prevents respiratory issues from ammonia or dust buildup
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Reduces bacteria and mold growth in damp spots
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Keeps bedding fresh and tunnels usable
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Minimizes stress, especially in shared habitats
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Prevents skin irritation from dirty or moist bedding
Gerbils love to dig, burrow, and scent-mark their territory, so a balance is key—clean enough to be healthy, but not so sterile that it removes their natural scent trails entirely.
✅ Must-Have Gerbil Cleaning Supplies
Here’s what you should keep stocked near your gerbil enclosure:
🧹 Mini Dustpan Set
Our Mini Dustpan Set is the perfect size for small enclosures. It helps you:
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Scoop out soiled bedding
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Remove leftover food
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Clean up around the enclosure without bulky tools
💡 Its compact size makes it easy to use inside tanks or bin cages without disturbing your gerbil’s setup too much.
🧴 Pet-Safe Cleaner
Always choose a non-toxic, fragrance-free, and pet-safe disinfectant for wiping down the enclosure during weekly cleans. Avoid bleach or harsh chemicals.
You can also use a simple homemade solution of 50/50 white vinegar and water—just be sure to rinse thoroughly and let everything dry before adding your gerbils back in.
🪵 Extra Bedding & Liners
Keep a stash of your gerbil’s usual dust-free bedding ready to go. This ensures you can refresh corners during spot cleans or completely reset their tank during a deep clean without delays.
Pair this with soft hay or natural forage blends to make their new setup feel familiar and welcoming.
💕 Optional But Great Additions: Enrichment That Elevates Your Gerbil’s Life
Once you’ve covered the gerbil care essentials—like a spacious enclosure, safe bedding, quality food, and enrichment—it’s time to level up their lifestyle with some thoughtful extras.
These optional additions aren’t just cute—they provide mental stimulation, satisfy natural instincts, and make your gerbil’s space more exciting and personalized. Whether you’re looking to add a pop of enrichment, a fun texture, or a challenge that mimics wild foraging, these picks will upgrade your gerbil’s setup from basic to brilliant.
🌻 Sunflower Half Head
A favorite among small pet owners, the Sunflower Half Head is both nutritious and engaging. It offers:
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A natural foraging challenge as gerbils pull seeds straight from the head
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A nutrient-dense treat packed with healthy fats and protein
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A way to encourage slow, mindful eating rather than food bowl boredom
💡 Pro Tip: Use it during bonding sessions by holding it gently while your gerbil nibbles—it builds trust through shared calm time.
🍩 Palm Leaf Donut
Chew? Toy? Hide? The Palm Leaf Donut is all three.
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Made from 100% natural palm leaf
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Satisfies the chewing instinct while being safe and digestible
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Doubles as a snug hideout for younger gerbils
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Helps prevent cage boredom and redirects chewing from tank corners
It’s durable enough to last through several play sessions, and soft enough for gentle gnawing.
🦋 Coconut Husk Butterflies
Shop Coconut Husk Butterflies →
Add some whimsy to your gerbil’s world with these adorable, eco-friendly chews:
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Made from sustainable coconut husk
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Lightweight and easy to carry or toss
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Texture-rich for gnawing, scent-marking, and play
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Visually cute—makes your setup feel magical
These are great enrichment items to leave around the enclosure, or introduce during free-roam time on a soft surface.
🎁 Why Extras Like These Matter
Gerbils are highly intelligent and active creatures that thrive on variety. By rotating enrichment items every week, you can:
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Prevent stress and boredom
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Support natural behaviors like chewing, foraging, and nest-building
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Improve their emotional wellbeing and tame behavior
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Strengthen your bond during play and feeding time
Each of these additions fits naturally into Moony Paw’s mission: to provide premium, safe, and species-appropriate products that mirror the wild—but feel like home.
🛍️ Build Your Dream Gerbil Habitat
Explore our full enrichment collection and find the pieces that spark your gerbil’s curiosity:
→ Shop All Gerbil Accessories
→ Browse Forage, Treats, Chews & Toys
Would you like help wrapping up the article with a final summary and CTA?
🧠 Final Thoughts
Your gerbil’s first days in their new home can shape their entire life. Providing a complete, natural setup from day one helps build trust, reduce stress, and support a long, happy life.
With the right shopping list and a little love, you’re not just setting up a cage—you’re creating a cozy, enriching home where your gerbil can thrive.
