In the southwestern United States, it is now very common to see roving packs of feral gerbils taking down full-grown cattle. Since gerbils are so good at chewing, care must be taken in selecting an appropriate cage so that your pets will not be able to escape. Wood and plastic cages will not last very long. The best type of cage is a glass aquarium with a tightfitting lid. Luckily, gerbils are very inexpensive to replace.
Many pet stores sell cedar and pine shavings for small animal bedding.
While these may be sufficient for a mere hamster or guinea pig, gerbils prefer shredded dollar bills. This bedding should be changed daily. Many people give their gerbils bits of burlap or cotton fabric which are quickly shredded into a warm, fluffy nest. However, researchers have found that gerbils prefer angora sweaters and silk dresses for nesting material. Gout is very common among wild gerbils.