Rocks in gerbil cages?

[foodalishous]

Hi! I was just looking at some hamster cages while I was looking for a better sand bath and saw that a lot of cages had rocks in it. The rocks were just smooth large rocks + pebbles but I loved how it looks. I was wondering all of your opinions on using it with gerbils as they tend to be more energetic and chaotic in my experience. Some problems I could see arising is getting a stuck tail, somehow being able to wedge their way under one (even if its placed on the floor where bedding isn't) or damaging their teeth trying to chew it. These are all pretty worst-case scenarios but I wanted to know your opinions on it before I think about getting some rocks for my gerbils. Id like opinions from anyone who has rocks in their cages and people who don't, too. Just seems like a cute idea to have some rocks for more different terrains.

[PipSqueak]

I have a few rocks in my gerbils tank toppep. They aren’t super smooth but they are bigger rocks. I wouldn’t recommend pebbles but larger rocks are fine. Rocks are actually very common to have in gerbil cages. They add a natural touch to the enclosure and help file their nails down. Just make sure to wash them first with hot water and soap.

[teambenji543]

If you get the rocks from outside (like I did) you can sterilize them in the oven.

[Scott]

Aug 5, 2021 5:37:26 GMT -8 teambenji543 said:

If you get the rocks from outside (like I did) you can sterilize them in the oven.

I'd boil rather than bake, and in a large amount of water. Boiling will sterilize equally well (if done long enough) and has the added advantage or removing toxins (i.e., non-pathogenic) that may not be neutralized by heat alone.

[barryozzy]

I have a big rock that I washed with hot water and soap. They sometimes rub on it. They mostly ignore it and bury it though. I just have it in the bedding. It's pretty big, as big as one gerbil probably.

[Scott]

Aug 5, 2021 11:13:24 GMT -8 barryozzy said:

I have a big rock that I washed with hot water and soap. They sometimes rub on it. They mostly ignore it and bury it though. I just have it in the bedding. It's pretty big, as big as one gerbil probably.

Soap would be good; it's an excellent antibacterial and -viral, and has the added advantage of removing many compounds that are not otherwise water soluble. 

[yeti218]

I use rocks. You can buy then sometimes in the reptile or fish section of pet stores, or find them outside, which is what I do.

I washed mine with hot soapy water and used a nail brush to scrub it.

After that, I also baked them just to be sure they were sanitized.

I have some smaller rocks on platforms and some bigger ones on the floor of the tank under the bedding.

The rocks I use are all big enough that the gerbils cant move them, and flattish on the bottom so they sit nicely on a surface. My gerbils have never tried to chew them.

[Markpd]

I have some rocks in the cage and the sandpen, in the cage they are on the platform, and on the floor of the sandpen, they can't move them.
I've never seen them chew it in the cage, but in the sandpen I put one in the corner where Blake was obsessively digging, he made the odd attempt at chewing it, it wasn't chewing really as he sort of 'mouthed' it, or bit it tentatively, realising it was way too hard for him to do anything about it! I haven't seen him mouth it in months (prior to me recently stopping them both going in there for other reasons).

[g]

Never ever bake or boil rocks. That can cause them to explode!

I good scrubbing with soap and water is all you need to do.

[southeastus]

I've used them with no trouble, both recently and for a longer period years ago. I pick rocks that sit solidly on the ground without much wobble, scrub them, let them dry, and then put them in the freezer for a few days. And then of course thaw them for a day before putting them in with the gerbils.