Knowing how to keep a gerbil entertained starts with supporting three natural behaviours inside a deep-bedding habitat: digging stable tunnels, shredding safe materials like ink-free cardboard, paper, and hay, and searching for scattered portions of their normal daily food ration. A cardboard tube resting on a shallow floor cannot replace true burrowing depth, and repetitive digging in one corner is a signal to review bedding depth and shelter layout rather than a home behavioural diagnosis.
Choose activities and check materials before offering
The RSPCA gerbil housing guide recommends shreddable ink-free cardboard, plain paper, and hay, while rejecting nesting materials that separate into fine, thin strands—such as ”fluffy” cotton-like bedding—which can entangle limbs or be swallowed.
For exploration and chewing, Blue Cross's gerbil care guide recommends placing cardboard tunnels both above and buried beneath the substrate, alongside cardboard boxes to chew, enter, and hide inside, while advising owners to avoid plastic toys. Because a tunnel on a bare or shallow floor does not allow real excavation, review our gerbil enclosure setup guide first so accessories sit within proper burrowing depth.
Use the checklist below to verify materials before putting them into the gerbilarium and to know when worn items must be removed. A general material name never guarantees that every printed box or unidentified branch is safe:
| Activity & Material Item | Source Guidance & Selection Rule | Pre-Use & Discard Check |
|---|---|---|
| Shredding & nesting: Plain paper, cardboard, and hay | Use ink-free cardboard, plain paper, and hay; never use ”fluffy” bedding or material that pulls into thin threads (RSPCA housing guide). | Strip away tape, glue, staples, and printed ink before offering; remove damp or soiled shreds during spot checks. |
| Tunneling & hiding: Cardboard tubes and boxes | Set cardboard tubes both on the surface and buried in deep substrate; avoid plastic toys (Blue Cross). | Confirm tubes sit in deep burrowing substrate rather than on a shallow floor; replace collapsed or soiled boxes without blocking established shelters. |
| Gnawing & climbing: Gerbil-safe branches and rotated items | Vary or reposition optional items and provide safe gnawing wood (Blue Cross). | Inspect chewed wood regularly and replace branches as soon as chewing creates sharp points or splinters. |
| Foraging: Scattered daily food allowance | Scatter the normal measured daily ration across the bedding surface (RSPCA diet guide). | Check underground food stores daily and remove stale or damp pieces; do not turn foraging games into extra meals. |
Offer searching without adding extra meals
The RSPCA gerbil diet guide suggests scattering food over the bedding surface to encourage natural foraging while following the food manufacturer's daily portion guidance. Scattering changes how the normal diet is presented rather than adding extra calories or sudden new treats.
Check buried food caches each day and remove any stale or spoiled items so hidden hoards stay clean.
Leave room to participate or retreat
Add optional tubes or chew boxes without blocking access to water, familiar nest areas, or companion escape routes. Let your gerbils enter and leave tunnels voluntarily—never push a gerbil into a tube to test whether they like it.
If your gerbil repeatedly digs at the glass in one corner, the RSPCA recommends reviewing the enclosure’s enrichment, hiding places, and substrate depth for building burrows. Tossing in another surface toy will not solve shallow bedding or a lack of cover.
Inspect and adjust the offer
Blue Cross notes that moving or varying accessories helps keep the layout engaging, and stresses replacing chewed branches once they develop sharp edges. Inspect every reused item for splinters, dampness, or unstable placement, and keep core shelters untouched when rotating surface tubes.
