Gerbil toys: gnawing, foraging and shredding allowed
Gerbils are curious, busy animals. They spend a large part of the day digging, gnawing, dragging things around and searching for food. Toys for gerbils are therefore mainly enrichment: something they may investigate, take apart or climb on. A toy that has been gnawed to shreds within a few weeks has done exactly what it was meant to do.
In this category you will find chew toys made of willow, straw, bamboo and wood, enrichment games in which you hide food, branches and climbing toys, and nibble hangers made of natural materials. Toys work best in an enclosure where there is already plenty going on. For our own animals we combine a thick layer of bedding with Zooply hay and Zooply scatter herbs to sprinkle through the bedding.
In short
- ✓ Choose toys made of untreated, natural materials; gerbils gnaw everything.
- ✓ Let your gerbils work for their food: hide some of it in toys or in the bedding.
- ✓ Rotate toys, so there is always something new to discover.
- ✓ Place toys in a stable spot, not on top of the digging zone where they sink in.
- ✓ Remove broken toys with sharp edges, loose threads or small hard parts in good time.
What will you find in the Toys category for gerbils?
Chew toys made of willow, straw and bamboo
From Trixie there are willow balls of ø 6 and ø 10 cm made of 100% willow wood. Gerbils roll them around, gnaw them apart and use the pieces in their nest. The straw toys in the shape of a corn cob and carrot (15 cm) and the radish straw toy set (8 cm) are made of straw and may be gnawed up. The bamboo ball (ø 5 cm) is made of bamboo and hay. The set of wooden chew dumbbells (ø 4.5 × 9 cm) is a sturdy chew toy that lasts a little longer.
Enrichment games
Trixie makes a range of games in which you hide food or a treat: the snack ball (ø 6 cm), which releases food as it rolls, the wooden snack cups, the snack board (ø 20 cm), the flip board with little flaps and the Slide & Fun board with sliders (both ø 23 cm). Your gerbil has to slide, push or lift to get to the food. The snuffle box from JR Farm lets your pet search and forage. For these games, use part of the regular gerbil food; then you are not adding extra calories and the menu stays balanced. Keep an eye on plastic games: gerbils gnaw those too, and if they do, remove them.
Branches and climbing toys
The grapevine branches from Trixie are made of 100% grapevine wood and come in three lengths: 30–40 cm, 40–60 cm and 55–80 cm. You can stand them at an angle in the bedding for climbing or lay them flat as a gnawing and hiding spot. The bark wood climbing wall (16 × 20 cm), the bark wood seesaw (22 × 7 × 8 cm) for hamsters, gerbils and mice, the flexible ladder and the suspension bridge with rope ladder and flexible suspension bridge provide some differences in height. The platform with ladder and the bark wood shelter and lying platform give an extra level. For gerbils, keep everything low, with a thick layer of bedding underneath.
Willow corner elements
The willow corner elements (20 × 10 × 13 cm and 30 × 20 × 20 cm) fit into the corner of the enclosure and create a sheltered spot there. Gerbils use them as a hiding place, as a piece of gnawing material or as a spot to hide seeds.
Nibble hangers
Flamingo makes nibble hangers from natural materials. Jao hanger (22 cm) is made of loofah, sisal and wood, Mareb hanger (14 cm) of grass, loofah, maize leaves and wood, and Oda hanger (20 cm) of nuts, wood, maize, loofah and grass. Hang them low, or simply put them in the enclosure. Gerbils pull the parts off and work them into their nest. Remove sisal threads and the string as soon as they start hanging loose.
Grass growing kit
With the Trixie grass growing kit (100 grams) you grow fresh grass yourself for the enclosure. A tray of fresh grass is a fun change for gerbils to dig in and nibble on. Give fresh greens in small amounts and remove leftovers before they go mouldy.
Why toys are important for gerbils
A bored gerbil often shows it. It digs endlessly in one corner against the glass, gnaws at the bars or keeps running the same little circuit. Toys and enrichment give that energy an outlet. The most important thing remains the basics, though: a spacious enclosure with a thick digging layer, nesting material, hay and a sand bath. Toys are the layer on top that provides variety.
Gnawing is also a necessity for gerbils. Their teeth grow throughout life. By gnawing on untreated wood, willow, straw and cardboard, they stay busy and their teeth wear down along the way. So always offer several gnawing materials at the same time.
Making your own food enrichment
In the wild, gerbils spend a large part of the day searching for seeds. You can easily recreate that foraging behaviour at home. Scatter part of the daily gerbil food through the bedding instead of putting it all in the food bowl. Fill a willow ball or a cardboard tube with some hay and a few seeds. Or use one of the Zooply scatter herbs from the Gerbil scaping category: mix a small handful through the bedding and your gerbils will be busy for a while. Keep it small; food enrichment comes out of the daily portion.
Toys for a group of gerbils
Gerbils live in pairs or small groups. They usually play and forage together, but over something very tasty or one popular toy there can be some jostling. So do not put down just one enrichment game, but divide the food over two or three places in the enclosure. The same goes for chew toys: two willow balls or a few straw toys in different places cause less fuss than one. That way each animal can do its own thing.
Also look at the size. Large games and long branches take up floor space that your gerbils need for digging. In a smaller enclosure, choose compact toys that you can rotate. If you have a large enclosure, you can build a real landscape with a few grapevine branches and a corner element.
Rotating and checking toys
Even the most fun toy becomes boring if it always lies in the same spot. So rotate: put something different in every week or two, or move what is already there. Gerbils usually investigate new things straight away and with great enthusiasm. Do not leave too much in the enclosure at once; the floor should mainly remain digging space.
Check toys every time you clean. Remove pieces that are wet or dirty, toys with sharp points and anything with loose threads or strings hanging off. Remove plastic that is being gnawed. Natural gnawing material can simply be used up; replace it once it has disappeared.
Useful combinations
- Gerbil scaping: Zooply scatter herbs, forest mix, moss and branches for a naturally furnished enclosure.
- Gnawing wood: safe gnawing material for every day.
- Hay: Zooply hay to fill toys with and as building material.
- Tunnels: routes to explore and to hide food in.
- Snacks: a small reward for in an enrichment game.
Frequently asked questions about toys for gerbils
What are the best toys for gerbils?
Toys they are allowed to destroy. Gerbils get the most fun out of natural material they can pick apart: willow balls, straw toys, branches, cardboard and hay. An enrichment game in which they have to work for their food is a good addition. Soft fabric or plastic toys are less suitable for gerbils, because they gnaw them to pieces.
My gerbils gnaw their toys to pieces within a few days. Is that normal?
Yes, that is completely normal. Gerbils make nesting material out of anything they can shred. In that case choose mainly natural chew toys that are allowed to disappear, such as straw, willow and cardboard, and top them up regularly. Sturdier toys, such as the wooden chew dumbbells or grapevine branches, last longer.
How do I use an enrichment game such as the flip board?
Put a few seeds or pellets from the regular food in the compartments and first show your gerbils where it is. After a few times they understand the idea and get to work by themselves. Place the game on a firm surface, so it does not sink into the bedding, and remove it afterwards if it is made of plastic.
How many toys does a gerbil need?
There is no fixed number. Do provide several gnawing materials, a few hiding places and something to forage in. Variety is more important than lots of toys. A few things that you swap or move regularly work better than a crowded enclosure with no room left for digging.
Are the nibble hangers with nuts suitable for gerbils?
Yes, as an extra. Nuts are fatty, so the hanger does not replace food and is not meant to be given every day. Let your gerbils pick the hanger apart at their own pace and remove the sisal, string and hanging wire as soon as they come loose.
Toys for gerbils at Knaagplaza
At Knaagplaza, the webshop of 't Knaagplein, you will find natural toys and enrichment games to keep gerbils busy. Combine them with Zooply hay and Zooply scatter herbs, our own premium brand that we use every day for our own animals, and your gerbils will have something to discover every day.