What natural bedding is best for my gerbils' new desert habitat?

It would depend on the species of vine being offered. Certain woods, such as Apple, Ash, Sycamore and Willow, are safe for gerbils to chew on. Gerbils like to burrow, so the layer of bedding should be 5-6 inches deep.

Care fresh bedding is what is recommended. It is the safest, healthiest bedding. Controls odors up to two times longer than traditional bedding. Absorbs up to three times its weight in liquid. Made from reclaimed wood pulp waste, not recycled paper. *99% dust-free for easy cleanup *Natural paper small animal bedding *CareFresh pet bedding with 10-day odor control formula *Absorbs 3 times more liquid than wood shavings Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Wow I can't believe she is allergic to plain care fresh paper bedding. You can always try plain AstroTurf or reptile carpet which is really easy to clean but may not be as comfortable. I honestly think your shredded t-shirts are a great idea as long as she isn't trying to eat any of it.

Thanks for reaching out. Some animal tame better than others. The key is gaining their trust, often with the use of treats. Once they're used to your hand in the cage with slow and deliberate movements, leave the hand flat and allow them to crawl over it. Next your can attempt to lift them from below. Grabbing them from above often results in fear biting. Not sure if your asking about breeding or bedding. The bedding should be spot cleaned daily, as gerbils will often choose a corner to use as a toilet. The flooring should be a solid bottom to prevent leg damage. It can be covered with a softer material such as recycled paper products, which are absorptive and non-toxic. Many of the wood products are aromatic and damage lungs if inhaled over long periods of time. Good luck.

Generally you want to avoid pine and cedar shavings as they tend to have a higher dust concentration. Carefresh or aspen pellets are the best bedding for rodents in general. If possible, try to avoid the pine. You can always lay down a towel to wash daily or paper until you can get to the store and pick up more of your usual bedding. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

It would be safest to avoid all types of pine bedding. There are other options that are safer such as aspen shavings or any one of the recycled paper type bedding materials. The current bedding is fine to use as well.

You will find negative reviews of almost every product if you look long enough. Aspen, CareFresh or kiln dried pine shavings are all acceptable choices for bedding. Use what works best for you and your chin and is easy to buy.