Experts Best Bedding For Gerbils [Review and Buyer Guide]

We owe our pet quality bedding so they can live a healthier life in their home. This is why we have put together a list of best bedding for Gerbils.

The best substrate for gerbils are used for absorption of urine as well as satisfying the digging habits in the wild and nest building of your little  man.

Here are the best bedding for gerbils you can use to keep your furry companions cozy and comfortable.

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Top 15 Best Bedding For Gerbils

1. Living World Wood Aspen Shavings

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Aspen shavings from Living World are made from 10% natural aspen wood. The woods are kiln dried and virtually scent and dust-free making them hypoallergenic and lack any harmful aromatic oils.

The best substrate for gerbils is ideal to use if your gerbil have respiratory and skin sensitivities. Plus, it is highly-absorbent and can absorb up to 4 times in moisture and prevent the growth and spread of bacteria, mold, and fungus.

This keeps your gerbil’s environment clean, dry, and safe to live in.

The aspen shavings are excellent bedding material for other pets such as rabbits, ferrets, chinchillas, hamsters, and guinea pigs.

Its high absorbency also helps in making cleaning easier for your convenience. This bedding material also doubles as a burrowing and nesting material to keep your furry buddy happy always..

2. CareFresh Custom Hamster & Gerbil Bedding

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CareFresh created custom bedding made mainly for gerbils and hamsters. This bedding helps your furry friend maintain a burrow so that they feel safe, secure, and warm.

With a 10-day odor control, this bedding lasts long and keep odor at bay so you do less cleaning.

Three times more absorbent than shavings, this bedding makes sure that your pet’s envioronment is dry and stays mold-free.

This natural paper bedding comes in 25 percent smaller pieces so it is 99 percent dust-free for easy clean-up as well as ideal for pets that have skin or respiratory issues.

3. Kaytee Kay-Kob Litter and Bedding

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The Kaytee Kay-Bob Bedding and Litter is a natural corn cob product that is mainly processed to eliminate dust and wood debris that are present in other bedding materials.

This bedding is guaranteed not to stick or stick to the enclsore, thereby creating a cleaner environment and is all-natural without any toxic chemicals that can harm your cute gerbils.

It comes available in various sizes: 8, 25, 40, and 5-ound packages so you can select one that is suitable for your gerbils cage.Additionally, it can be mixed with other bedding choices and absorbs odor really well so that your cage smells cleaner for much longer.

4. Small Pet Select Natural Paper Bedding

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This sits on the #4 position of our review of the best bedding for Gerbils.

This natural paper bedding from Small Pet Select is ideal for hamster, gerbils, chinchillas, rabbits and guinea pigs.

It is 100 percent natural, comfortable and super absorbent. It is made from pure unbleached papers to maximize your pets safety.

Each bag of premium paper bedding expands up to 3 times in volume from its packaged size causing you a great value for your money.

This bedding is made in the US and is 100% safe with no harmful chemicals and additives that may bring harm to your pet.

5. CareFresh Complete Pet Bedding

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Made from natural fiber, the CareFresh  Complete Bedding offers your furry friends a nice, comfortbale, and natural feeling home which is far better for your furry buddies, your home and for the environment.

This CareFresh pet bedding offers top notch absorbency and odor control for a cleaner home and healthier pet.

Produced from scratch, it is made from raw, natural fiber that is obtained directly from its source.

Your gerbil will surely love its ultra-absorbent and pillowy soft “Comfyfluff” texture. Also, it is very easy to clean since it is low dust and offers you up to 10-day odor control.

6. Fresh News Recycled Paper Litter

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This is yet another best substrate for gerbils you’ve gotta try.

Made by Fresh News, this animal litter for small animals is home and eco friendly. It comes with Ammonia Locker and baking soda tech,  and this litter bedding helps in quickly eradicating odor on contact in order to keep the habitat of your small friend clean and fresh.

Totally dust-free, 100 percent non-allergenic, non-toxic and color safe, this awesome substrate is great for ferrets, gerbils, rabbits, chinchillas, as well as reptiles and cats.

Fresh News also absorbs greatly so it is long lasting and cost effective. Plus, it is produced from 100 percent post-consumer biodegradable paper that helps reduce waste in landfill and saves more trees.

7. Kaytee Aspen Bedding Bag

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The Kaytee Aspen Bedding is produced with all natural Aspen shavings that are uniquely processed in order to eliminate excess wood dust and debris.

Kinda decent for burrowing, and can hold a good shape.

It contains no aromatic oils or inks that may cause harm to your little buddies and can be used in all habitats.

It greatly reduces odor and is absorbs liquid and smell highly so a clean habitat can be maintained to prevent your pey from developing respiratory problems as a result of ammonia build-up caused by their urine. Being disposable, this bedding is environmentally-friendly.

8. CareFresh Shavings Plus Bedding

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The CareFresh Shavings Plus offers a unique blend of kiln-dried shavings and super absorbent comfy fluff that will keep your pets dry, warm and comfortable.

Spotting a blue color, this bedding offers total comfort for small pets such as hamster, rabbits, gerbils, rabbit, and other small animals.

Low dust, this bedding makes it easy to clean for your convenience. With 5-day odor control, you do not have to worry about replacing the bedding every now and then. The bedding is also 60 percent more absorbent than shavings along, giving your small pets a dry and healthy environment to live.

9. Healthy Pet Critter Care Natural Bedding

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Maintaining the #9 spot on our countdown of the best bedding for Gerbils is The Critter CARE Natural Bedding from Healthy Pets.

It is made from reclaimed wood pulp which is compostable and biodegradable after use. It helps reduce ammonia odor that is caused by your pet’s urine. It has soft pieces that are designed to absorb 3 times its weight from urine and leaky water bottles, keeping your furry friends dry, cozy and warm.

And since it is completely dust-free, your pet and you can and will experience less respiratory and allergy issues as well as an easy-to-clean session and habitat.

Furthermore, this bedding helps promote the natural nesting and burrowing behavior of gerbils to keep them happy and contented.

10. Kaytee Extreme Odor Control Bedding

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If you have gerbils that ease themselves on a frequent basis, then the Kaytee Extreme Odor Control Litter and Bedding is a great buy.

It is uniquely created to reduce the ammonia odors caused by pet urine for up to 14 days while still being 99 percent dust-free to prevent any allergic or respiratory issues.

It absorbs up to 2 times more than wood shavings and is super-soft. This makes it safe for your gerbils, guinea pigs, rats, hamsters, and chinchillas.

Lastly, it is designed not to stain your pet’s habitat.

11. eCOTRITION Natural Corn Cob Bedding

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Produced out of natural corn cub, this bedding from eCOTRITION is light yet powerfully absorbent that can last longer than wood or paper. It features 99 percent dust-free formula without any aromatic oils or clay that can harm your pets or cause allergy and respiratory issues.

Sifted, this bedding guarantees a soft surface to keep your pets comfortable.

It comes with paper twists, that offers a fun opportunity for burrowing and nesting to keep your pet comfortable and happy.

12. Kaytee Clean & Cozy White Bedding

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The Kaytee Clean & Cozy paper bedding offers you a whole new standard of softness and absorbent bedding for your furry buddies.

Soft and fluffy, this bedding encourages the nesting and burrowing behavior of small pets while absorbing up to 2 times more liquid than wood shavings, keeping your pet and its habitat clean and dry.

Featuring long recycled fiber strands, it offers better absorbency, consistency, and quality. Available in various sizes, you can choose one according to your needs. It is also 99.9 percent dust-free that can help prevent allergies or any other respiratory issues.

13. CareFresh Complete Confetti Pet Bedding

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This pet bedding from CareFresh is made from scratch with ultra-absorbent, pillowy soft comfyfluff that is designed to keep small pets comfortable. With up to 10-day odor control, this bedding will keep your pet’s habitat clean and fresh for longer.

It is also 2 times more absorbent than shavings to keep the cage dry. Low dust means that cleaning is a breeze and prevents skin or respiratory issues.

It also doubles as creative design in your pet’s habitat, thanks to its multi-colored confetti design.

14. Kaytee Soft Granule Blend Bedding

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Kaytee offers a Soft Granule Blend Bedding that is made from wood fibers which are converted into a super soft and highly absorbent bedding and litter. It is 99.9 percent dust-free which helps in preventing respiratory issues in pets.

You see why it made our listing of top best bedding for gerbils?

It is made of soft environmentally-friendly wood fibers and can absorb up to 3 times its weight in liquid offering a cleaner and healthier habitat for chinchillas, guinea pigs, gerbils, hamster, and other small animals. Proudly made in the US, you can be sure that is of high-quality.

15. Small Pet Select Unbleached White Paper Bedding

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Super absorbent and soft, this unbleached white bedding makes it easier to spot mess and used litter, so cleaning of dirty areas is easy.

Premium paper-based bedding, it is absorbent and super soft; encouraging nesting and burrowing of small animals.

It is super safe for pets since it is made from unbleached virgin fiber, never recycled print and sludge-free, meaning that the papers used are not from potential dangerous leftovers and not from recycled paper which has been printed on either that may have toxic residues.

The bedding is also 99 percent dust-free so it does not trigger allergies or any respiratory issues. Available in various sizes, you have the option to choose according to your needs.

With this, we reach the end of our ratings of the best bedding for Gerbils.

Now, let’s rate another list of best gerbil bedding tunnel for

Best Gerbil Bedding for Tunnels

1. Carefresh Natural Premium Soft Pet Bedding

Being one of the top favorite of many pet parents, especially when it comes to gerbils, this is rated #1 on our list of best gerbil bedding for tunnels.

The natural premium soft bedding option is one of my most loved for its softness, 3x absorbancy, and low dust content.

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This scent free option means that I don’t need to worry about my gerbils olfactory senses being overwhelmed or damaged by strong smelling bedding.

The premium Carefresh gerbil bedding is made from pulp waste fibers that were too short to make paper.

This “waste” from the papermaking process is gathered before the additions of inks, clay, dye or chemicals.

Since it’s impossible to determine which trees were being used at any point in time for the production of paper, Carefresh further processes the pulp to remove potentially harmful aromatic hydrocarbons that could come from cedar and pine woods, leaving a basically odorless bedding.

Once that is done, they then sanitize the bedding to 380 degrees farenheight to prevent any type of growth of mold, bacteria, or mold.

When it comes to bedding material, this option is my top choice.

2. Kaytee Clean & Cozy White Small Animal Bedding

Kaytee may be well known for treat and food options, but they make a good paper bedding as well.

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Super soft strips of paper-based bedding makes for a  99.9% dust free option for your gerbils.

It makes a great buroowing and nesting material and the white color and absorption rate of 3x to 5x it’s normal size allows for quick and easy spot cleaning.

This feature makes it last longer without having to do a full cage cleaning each time. No wonder it is rated #2 on the row of best bedding for Gerbils.

3. Small Pet Select Premium Soft Paper Bedding

Being another paper baed bedding, this product is listed for guinea pigs and rabbits, but has had great success with gerbils too!

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It is highly absorbent and expands 3x its packaged size. It is odor free, and is comparable to Carefresh natural bedding.

It is lightweight enough for burrowing, sturdy enough for tunneling and soft enough for building nests.

4. Kaytee Aspen Bedding

This Kaytee brand option is an all natural Aspen wood shaving bedding that has been kiln dried.

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Sitting on #4 of the best gerbil bedding for tunnels, this bedding is my second favorite, to the point where I mix it with the Carefresh paper bedding.

Aspen wood shavings are a great product that locks the odor in, has less dust than other wood shaving types and is durable and soft for burrowing, nesting, and tunnelling.

Best of all it is biodegradable for an eco-friendly gerbil bedding option.

5. Carefresh Shavings Plus Bedding

If you need an all-in-one bedding style then this is it!

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The Carefresh shavings plus bedding brings the best of two bedding styles together for a fantastic gerbil burrowing bedding option.

This is a mix of all natural aspen wood shavings with a 30% addition of paper bedding.

This allows for FUN, fast, and easy burrowing, optimal odor control, an option for chewing the wood for nesting, and overall an added aesthetic to your gerbil habitat.

6. Supreme Tiny Friends Farm Chinchilla Bathing Sand

Because I do not recommend Sand as a gerbil friendly burrowing bedding, try this sand instead for an enjoyable sand-bath!

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Gerbils love keeping their fur shiny and clean by rolling around in sand.

Unlike dust baths, sand is a larger kernel that won’t be breathed in after rolling around, making sand a safe alternative for keeping your gerbils healthy and clean.

7. Kritter’s Crumble All Natural Coconut Husk Fiber Reptile Substrate and Small Animal Bedding – Coarse

For a natural fiber bedding that works excellent for burrowing gerbils, I’ve heard great things about Kitter’s Crumble.

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Since it’s made from natural coconut husk fibers it is great for chewing, burrowing and nesting.

While it’s listed mainly for reptiles, many gerbil and other pocket pet owners enjoy using this fiber-based bedding to help keep their little furry friends clean and entertained.

And this makes it the end of the review of the best Gerbil bedding for tunnels.

Good Bedding Options

• Gerbil bedding Hay

One homemade gerbil bedding you’ve got to try is hay. It is easy for your pet to dig through and create tunnels as well as enjoy this natural bedding.

If you would like to use hay in your gerbil enclosure, we advise you freeze it for 48 hours, to kill off any parasites and pests that could be lurking in there.

Just be sure to defrost it thoroughly, and let it dry off properly before you use it in your gerbil’s enclosure – you don’t want them to catch a cold!

It’s nice to note that hay isn’t absorbent, so it is best used in combination with another bedding material, such as carefresh.

• Carefresh or cardboard shavings

This is soft, cozy bedding that is excellent for tunnelling. Carefresh gerbil bedding is digestible, and won’t cause any issues by tangling up your pet.

• Shredded paper

As long as paper lacks any sort of ink, shredded paper can be an ideal choice if you need cheap, temporary option. But, owners report that this particular material causes smell to build up quite quickly.

Bedding is really important to gerbils – they’ll sleep in it, tunnel in it, and spend a lot of time playing with it

Bad Bedding Options

While the above options are great materials for lining your gerbil’s cage, those below have been shown to be actively harmful, and so we strongly advise against using them in your pet’s enclosure, no matter how briefly.

• Pine and cedar bedding are terrible bedding options

They cause respiratory problems in gerbils as they break apart into small bits and can be easily breathed in.

These materials are mainly poor choices for young gerbils that are more susceptible to its problems.

• Newspaper

The dyes and inks used in creating newspapers are harmful to your pets if they lick or eat any, and in the process of making their nests and tunnels they will certainly chew and reshape their bedding material with paws.

• Fluffy bedding

This is made of long, thin fibres that can cause issues if your gerbil tries to ingest it.

Especially bad options are those that include a section on the packaging that warns that it’s indigestible – this isn’t a good idea when these animals would naturally nibble their bedding material.

Another potential hazard is that your gerbil will become entangled in it. Since it’s made of individual fibres, gerbils can get their feet caught in it, a scenario that can easily lead to a broken leg as your stressed pet tries to struggle free.

When To Change Bedding?

This depends on how much and what kind of bedding you use. Generally speaking, the average 10 – 15 gallons tank needs to be cleaned at least a month or two and not more than every 2 weeks.

If you clean the tank on a daily basis, it may not have smell, but, it can lose the gerbils natural scent and forget about their inmates, causing them to fight (even to death).

If water is spilled, you only need to take out the soaked bedding and replace with a clean one.

Can You Mix Various Beddings Together?

Yes, you absolutely can. There are some gerbil beddings that works better when combined with others so, feel free to try different combinations until you find that ones to suit your gerbils best.

OTHER FAQ

• Is Sawdust Ok For Gerbils?

Some sawdust can lead to allergic reactions. Sawdust made from cedar or other strongly smelling woods can cause illnesses or  irritation.

• Can You Use Sand For Gerbil Bedding?

Yes, the only drawback is the difficulty of digging burrows with small particles. If you want your gerbils to look their best, sand helps keep their coats grease free and makes them look glossy and sleek. Sand can also make a cage extremely heavy to move.

• What Do Gerbils Like To Sleep In?

They like to sleep in a nice bedding. Gerbils do not sleep all day and play all night. Instead, they have many sleep/wake cycles throughout the day and night. Gerbils burrow in the ground to sleep, and they love scratching and digging when they are awake.

• Are Pine Wood Shavings Safe For Gerbils?

Pine and Cedar shavings both give off strong smells that can be hazardous togerbils. Don’t use any bedding unless you’re 100 percent sure it’s safe for your pet.

• Can You Use Hay For Gerbils?

Many Gerbil owners say hay is best used in conjunction with other bedding options. Hay is often best used when combined with another material, such as beddings made from wood pulp

• Can You Use Cat Litter For Gerbils?

No, I strongly advise against it.  A lot of times, the stuff they put in the cat litter can hurt our little gerbil lungs. It’s best to use a nice, safe bedding for your gerbils.

• Is Aspen Wood Shavings Good For Gerbils?

Aspen bedding for gerbils is a great choice for a wood shavings-based bedding. Another nice mixture that holds its shape well and resists excess moisture is wood shavings mixed together with Carefresh, a brand of commercial gerbil-safebedding.

• What Should I Put In My Gerbil Cage?

The best way to set up a gerbil cage is to line the bottom of the cage with a layer of newspaper, then add timothy hay, shredded paper and other fun materials for bedding. NEVER use cedar shavings because they can cause respiratory problems and liver disease in all small mammals.

• Is Aspen Bedding Safe For Ferrets?

 Bedding wood shavings are not a safe choice because they contain essential oils that vaporize and are harmful to ferrets’ lungs. Therefore, recycled paper, corn cob, newspaper, or wood pellet bedding are the best options for ferret litter boxes.

• Is Timothy Hay Safe For Gerbils?

Gerbils require and enjoy moderate to large handfuls of timothy hay or orchard grass several times a week. They like to play in it, nibble it and add it to their nests. Hay can be found at pet stores and online. Avoid alfalfa hay.

• What is the Best Bedding For Gerbils?

Carefresh or cardboard shavings – this is soft, cozy bedding that is great for tunnelling.

• Do Gerbils Like Hamster Balls?

Gerbils benefit from exercise balls the same way hamsters do. Just like hamsters, too, gerbils may or may not enjoy the experience. As a responsible owner, you need to choose a ball that ensures your gerbil stays safe and feels secure. Even then, your pet may not enjoy being inside an exercise ball.

• How Do I Know If My Gerbil Is Happy?

Feel if your gerbil vibrates or purrs when you pet it. This is a sign that it is happy and relaxed. It is responding positively to your petting and scratching.

Conclusion

At the end of the day it’s up to you to determine which breeding brand and type works best for your gerbil family.

While I have personally had lots of positive results with a mix of aspen wood shavings and carefresh natural paper bedding for my burrowing trio, you may find you like something different!

Don’t be scared to try new bedding types, and mix your favorites to find the best burrowing solution, odor control and absorbency levels that fit your gerbils.

You may be surprised by their responses to different bedding types!

The recommendations I’ve provided in this overview are great starting places for starting places for anyone looking to welcome gerbils into their home, you’ll love watching your little furry friends burrow into their bedding as they make nests and tunnels.

Gerbil bedding is such a crucial part of creating your pet’s at-home habitat. They are natural diggers and tunnel dwellers, so choosing the best bedding for gerbils is extremely important to keep them happy, safe and contented.