Intro:
Before you begin
Step 1:
Choose your cage
Step 2:
Choose your equipment
Step 3:
Choose the animal
Step 4:
Set up the cage
Step 5:
Tend the animal

2torial #0576 - Step 2:
Learn2 Set Up a Hamster or Gerbil Cage (Continued)

Choose your equipment

Again, the equipment can work for either animal. Here are the necessities:

Bedding. Gerbils and hamsters are burrowers, so they need about two inches (five centimeters) of bedding that they can arrange and dig into. Although the most common bedding is pine shavings, think twice before buying this type. Pine, as well as cedar bedding, are known to cause allergic reactions and respiratory problems, which can be particularly dangerous if the animal is still a pup. Also, avoid "fluffy" bedding, like cotton or wool. The animals will chew on anything, and if they swallow this type of material, it can be fatal. Aspen, corncob, or any hypoallergenic bedding are your safest bets. All should be available packaged in pet stores, or online.

A hanging water bottle. Although a regular water dish will do, a hanging (or gravity flow) bottle is much safer. Since the animals like to kick their bedding everywhere, the water in a dish could be dirtied or soaked up by the shavings.

A food bowl. A sturdy, ceramic bowl is best. If you use plastic, be sure it's not easily tipped over.

An exercise wheel. Hamsters and gerbils are either sleeping or very, very awake. With all their energy, they need toys to keep busy (and fit!). An exercise wheel is the best way to help them blow off steam. Wheels come in wire or solid plastic. Both have pros and cons. Wire is usually cheaper, but if the animals are small enough they may get caught between the rungs. Plastic, on the other hand, can be chewed apart.

Wood. Hamsters and gerbils have teeth that grow constantly. To prevent their teeth from being overgrown, always have a small block of untreated wood (without chemical preservatives) that they can gnaw on. A short, thick piece (about two by four inches, or five by ten centimeters) should do fine.

Food. You can buy a commercial mix in pet stores, but supplement this with fresh foods. Gerbils and hamsters like carrots, broccoli, dandelion, clover, and beets.

Optional: More toys! Feel free to add more climbing equipment, but if you want to buy those plastic tubes and connecting rooms, be warned that larger hamsters can get stuck in them, and don't forget the chew-factor (also, those additions are difficult to clean). A plastic exercise ball is fun for some out-of-the-cage excursions (and is particularly helpful when you clean the cage). Note: Don't clutter up the cage too much. The animals need space for nesting, feeding, and relieving themselves.