Finding the best gerbil bedding will go a long way towards keeping your pet healthy and happy. The right bedding will keep their cage clean and odor free, and it will provide them with the material they need to build burrows.
Some people might be sensitive to smells or have allergies, and in that case, you might want to get a dust free bedding or bedding that locks away odors.
Thankfully there are a number of bedding options available that will meet the needs of both you and your pet gerbil. You can even mix a few different types together in order to get all the benefits of each type of bedding.
Continue reading this article to see our top picks of the best gerbil bedding and learn the pros and cons of each option.
Best Gerbil Bedding
Gerbil Bedding
Carefresh Custom Hamster/Gerbil Pet Bedding
Carefresh Custom Gerbil Pet Bedding (Buy Online) is specifically made to meet the needs of small animals like hamsters and gerbils. It even comes in blue, white or a natural wood color.
Carefresh Custom Gerbil Pet Bedding is the best bedding for gerbils to burrow in since it is made up of small lightweight pieces. Each one of the pieces is 25% smaller than standard Carefresh bedding, which makes it much easier for gerbils to dig through and build tunnels.
This bedding will lock away odors for up to 10 days using a new and improved odor stop formula. It also will absorb three times more liquid than wood shavings, and it clumps together so you can easily remove it when it gets soiled.
Features
Volume: 30 Liter
Size: 15.8 x 5 x 9.2 inches
Weight: 4.4 pounds
10-Day Odor Control
Super Absorbent
99% Dust Free
Positives
Comes in a compact box and it expands when you open it
The small pieces make it easier for gerbils to burrow
Negatives
Hardens when it clumps
Kaytee Aspen Bedding
Kaytee Aspen Bedding (Buy Online) is the best aspen bedding for gerbils. This untreated hardwood bedding is very absorbent, and it is completely safe to use with gerbils. It’s also dust free and it doesn’t contain any dangerous aromatic oils.
Kaytee Aspen Bedding is made of hardwood that is completely biodegradable. It also has been processed to remove any dust from the wood so it won’t cause respiratory problems for you or your gerbil.
The small wood chips are suitable for tunneling, but they don’t hold their shape as well as some of the other lighter types of bedding.
If you want to make it easier for your gerbil to tunnel you can mix in a fiber-based bedding like Carefresh in with the wood chips. This will improve the stability of the tunnels, and it will give you all the benefits of each type of bedding.
Features
Volume:4 cu ft.
Size: 7 x 15.5 x 9 inches
Weight: 17.65 pounds
Material: Aspen (Hardwood)
No Aromatic Oils
100% Natural
Positives
All natural bedding without any chemicals or fillers
Very absorbent and easy to clean
Negatives
Doesn’t hold it’s shape well for tunnels
Carefresh Complete Pet Bedding
Carefresh Complete Pet Bedding (Buy Online) is one of the best substrates for gerbils and other small animals. This bedding is made from all natural plant-based fibers, so it’s safe for your pet and it’s completely biodegradable.
Each piece of bedding material is very soft and fluffy and it is almost twice as absorbent as regular wood shavings. The fluffy texture also makes it perfect for tunneling, and the pieces stick together like Velcro. In addition, the pieces clump together when they get wet, so you can easily remove them once they become soiled.
This bedding will help keep odors in check for up to ten days in between regular cleanings. It’s also relatively dust free so it won’t cause any breathing problems for you or your gerbil.
Features
Volume:60 Liter
Size: 19 x 15.8 x 5 inches
Weight: 8.5 pounds
Material: Natural Fiber
10-Day Odor Control
Minimal Dust
Positives
Very absorbent and it controls urine odors
The Carefresh bedding 60L box is compact and it’s a great value
Negatives
Quality varies between packages
Kaytee Extreme Odor Control Pet Bedding
Kaytee Extreme Odor Control Pet Bedding (Buy Online) is the best gerbil bedding if you’re experiencing odor problems. This bedding will control odors for up to 14 days, and it will absorb six times its own weight in liquid.
If you’re having trouble with urine odors emanating from your gerbil’s habitat then this bedding might help solve your problem. Not only will it lock odors in for 14 days it also has been treated with a fragrance that can help mask the odor.
The super absorbent recycled paper pieces will help keep smells at bay by keeping the habitat dry and limiting bacterial growth. The paper is also small and lightweight, which means your gerbil will enjoy spending hours crawling through it and making tunnels.
Features
Volume:65 Liter
Size: 15 x 16 x 5.5 inches
Weight: 5.5 pounds
Material: Recycled Paper
14-Day Odor Control
99.9% Dust Free
Positives
Most absorbent gerbil bedding on the market
Helps solve serious odor problems
Negatives
Some people might not like the fragrance
Healthy Pet HPCC Natural Bedding
Healthy Pet HPCC Natural Bedding (Buy Online) is the best dust free gerbil bedding on the market. This bedding is made from wood pulp that has less dust than other paper and plant-based fibers.
Even though this bedding is made from wood pulp it’s still relatively soft and fluffy. Each one of the pieces can absorb three times its own weight, and it will expand to twice its size when it’s exposed to moisture.
The bedding pieces are also lightweight so a gerbil can easily move them around to make tunnels. They also haven’t been treated with any dyes or bleach, so they are completely safe and they don’t contain any harmful chemicals or byproducts.
Healthy Pet HPCC Natural Bedding is your best option if you’re looking for a gerbil bedding that won’t release a lot of dust whenever you open it. This bedding has the benefit of being relatively dust free like wood shavings, but it is still lightweight and soft so your gerbil will love it.
Features
Volume:60 Liter
Size: 19 x 15.8 x 5 inches
Weight: 9.5 pounds
Material: Wood Pulp
Odor Control
Dust Free
Positives
Perfect for people who have allergies or respiratory problems
Easy to clean and it won’t stick to the floor of the habitat
Negatives
Not as absorbent as paper or soft natural fiber
Kaytee Clean & Cozy Colored Small Animal Bedding
Kaytee Clean & Cozy Colored Small Animal Bedding (Buy Online) will let you add a touch of color to your gerbil cage. This bedding comes in 8 different colors, and you can even get one that has dried carrots mixed into it to help encourage foraging.
This paper-based bedding is very absorbent since it can soak up six times its own weight in liquid. It’s also cleaner than most bedding since it is 99.9% dust free, and it is very effective at controlling strong odors.
Kaytee Clean & Cozy Colored Small Animal Bedding is great for kids or anyone who wants to have fun decorating their gerbil’s habitat. The brightly colored bedding can even make cage clean up more fun for young kids, so they might even enjoy changing the bedding especially if you let them choose the color.
Features
Volume:49.2 Liter
Size: 12.5 x 16 x 5.5 inches
Weight: 6 pounds
Material: Paper
Odor Control
99.9% Dust Free
Positives
Kids love it
Comes in a wide range of colors
Negatives
Paper can stick together and get matted
RentACoop Hemp Bedding
RentACoop Hemp Bedding (Buy Online) is an affordable all natural bale of hemp bedding for gerbils. This bedding is made of 100% hemp fiber that is grown without any pesticides or harmful chemicals.
Hemp is a good natural alternative to wood shavings, and it’s sustainable and environmentally friendly. Another good thing about hemp is that it only takes one season to grow to maturity, unlike trees which take years before they can be harvested. Hemp also tends to be more absorbent than wood, and it doesn’t contain any aromatic oils.
Hemp bedding is still a little dense just like wood, so it isn’t that great for making tunnels. If you want to make it better for burrows you could mix it with lighter bedding to make it hold its shape better.
Overall hemp-based bedding can go a long way towards making the act of keeping a small pet more sustainable. It also helps keep forests intact and it is a renewable resource that’s easy to grow and it doesn’t need a lot of pesticides and fertilizer. So, if you want to try a new type of bedding that’s safe for gerbils and good for the environment then hemp might be your best option.
Features
Volume:300 Liter
Size: 16 x 10 x 30 inches
Weight: 31 pounds
Material: 100% Hemp
Absorbent
Pesticide Free
Biodegradable
Positives
All natural and sustainable
Works well when mixed with other types of bedding
Negatives
Not great for building tunnels
Gerbil Sand Bath
Oncpcare Small Animals Bath Sand
Oncpcare Small Animals Bath Sand (Buy Online) should be a mainstay in any gerbil cage. In order to keep a gerbil clean, they will need to take sand baths on a regular basis. The sand helps remove dirt and oils, so they can remain healthy and happy in their enclosed environment.
