Thread: Gerbil wheel
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Old 03-14-2019, 03:53 AM  
Pebbles82
Hamster Antics
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: Gerbil wheel

I am not sure why but I was always under the impression either that gerbils shouldn't have wheels, or that they weren't necessary. It may be one of those myths but I always thought they were prone to heart attacks running in a wheel. I do know they need very deep bedding and tunnels within the bedding. Have attached the RSPCA sheet with details of the right kind of environment for gerbils - it doesn't mention a wheel. I haven't actually seen a wheel in a gerbil set up before.

I would think the set up of the cage is more important than a wheel. ie a tank style with a good height and about 40cm deep of bedding with some large tunnels under the bedding. There's a sample photo on the link below.

https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwe...ls/environment

Gerbil set ups I have seen have either been in a gerbilarium (a glass tank with a cage topper) - the 100cm Falco cage seemed popular for this on Zooplus. Or in something like the Living World Eco Habitat.

When we were children a friend had a gerbil who had a heart attack after running in a wheel, and when we got one we were told they run until they drop and they shouldn't have a wheel - but that was a very long time ago.
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