Gerbils that don't know how to burrow

[leafwhisp]

So, no matter how much bedding is in their cage, my gerbils don't try to make tunnels. They make a shallow dip, big enough for the 3 of them to sleep in, and thats it. Sometimes they kick bedding around too. I use a combination of care fresh, aspen, and timothy hay.

Is this normal? Should I change anything to help them be able to make tunnels?

[redsky]

I'd try to get them started, make sure the hay is well mixed in with the other substrate (I find it really helps to hold the tunnels) and then stick your hand in and slowly removed so there is a tunnel entrance. Another option would be to put more boxes and tubes so that they can get 'underground' easily and hope they pick it up.
Some gerbils do dig more or less than others, seems strange that you have 3 that don't. I guess it's probably due to not being able to as babies, parents not teaching them etc.

Have you had them long? I'd do the above methods to get them started and then just leave them to it, they will either start digging eventually or won't, can't miss what you don't know I suppose...

[betty]

Yeah, I would get loads of tubes or small boxes, and next time you cleaned out the tank I would put them all down on the base before any bedding with a few small gaps between and a second layer if you have enough.

Then to start with, cover these thinly with your bedding leaving a few holes in four their noisy little noses. Once they get used to them being underneath for a day or two - perhaps with a treat supplied underground to encourage them down there, add more bedding up to the usual height, then hopefully they will want to dig back down to the tunnels because they know they are there in the first place, and they want to get to that treat again...

Hopefully they will get the hang of it soon and start enjoying it. If they don't, then man made tunnels is all they will have...

[rilence]

I create large hideouts for them by making platforms and buying large twistable wooden logs-- They made nests below.

[daisy]

My gerbils didn't start to burrow and really build nests until I put in some "grass" huts and balls.   The "grass" is stronger than regular hay and the gerbils loved taking it apart and restructuring it as part of their burrow.

[leafwhisp]

I will try some of these when I change their cage this weekend.

[vexorg]

As can be said for all gerbils, some are smart, some not so, and some just lazy. One of ours struggled to make a decent bed, she still takes it out and throws it round the cage then sits sat in her bed corner. Usually we have to push it all back in and she gets the idea after one or two times. She also has a habit of simply sitting on the bedding rather than fluff it up and hide in it like every other gerbil does.

[eleda]

my boys were always half hearted about digging. once in a while they'd get industrious and move all the bedding to one side of the tank. Data once dug out a whole cave but it didn't last long. aside from that it's mainly just shallow/ surface digging/ kicking bedding around - I got them from a pet store so I suspect they never learned properly. data will dig in corners for what seems like hours though. its like he's determined to prove he can get through glass

[leafwhisp]

I got mine from a pet store too

[blanknote]

For how long have you had them? I think at least some pet store gerbils eventually learn how to make tunnels. They haven't had much to dig in the tank while in the store, thus don't really know what they are supposed to do, I guess.

Do you have around 6-8 inches of bedding in the tank? If they do end up digging, having enough bedding at least makes sure that they are able to make nice tunnels.