The Best Gerbil Cage for a Happy Pet

Written by Katie Melynn Wood
Updated: February 22, 2023
© Snappyart/Shutterstock.com

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A gerbil is a fantastic family pet, especially for young children. They are easy to handle, love to interact and play, and don’t require a lot of maintenance. With a simple feeding and cleaning routine, your gerbil will be a happy little critter and a great addition to your home.

Finding the right gerbil cage is one of the first steps of being a gerbil owner. There are small cages perfect for a single gerbil or large gerbilariums with plenty of space for multiple gerbils to run and explore. You will want to make sure that your gerbil cage is safe and has everything that your gerbil may need, including space to eat, sleep, and do its business.

Here are our top recommended gerbil cages for your happy pet for every budget and need.

  1. Kaytee Crittertrail Two Level Habitat
    • Ideally suited for small animals
    • Comes with a food dish, water bottle, and exercise wheel
    • Expandable
    • Easy to customize
    Check Amazon
  2. Awesome Arcade Hamster Home
    • Comes with everything you need
    • Very easy to put together
    • Features plenty of doors
    • Comes with exercise wheel and tubes
    Check Amazon
  3. Savic Habitat Metro Hamster Cage
    • Extra-deep bedding layer
    • Includes a food dish and water bowl
    • Solidly constructed 
    • Three levels
    Check Chewy Check Amazon
  4. Ferplast Duna Space Two-Story Gerbil Cage
    • Features two spacious levels.
    • Complete with a water bottle, food bowl, hideaway, and exercise wheel.
    • Has a large access door.
    • The plastic bottom can easily be removed for cleaning.
    Check Chewy

A-Z-Animals Top Picks for Gerbil Cages

#1 Overall Best: Kaytee Crittertrail Two Level Habitat

In our review, the best gerbil cage is the Kaytee Crittertrail Two Level Habitat.

This cage works great for gerbils as well as other small pets. With plenty of places to explore and rest, it is ideally suited for small animals. It includes a food dish, water bottle, and exercise wheel. It is a multi-level cage — providing two spacious levels for your pet to explore. It also features a removable petting zone to help you interact with your pet.

One of the best parts about this cage is that it works with other Kaytee small animal accessories and habitats. When you and your gerbil are ready to branch out or if you add other furry friends to the family, simply connect this habitat to another with some plastic tubing (also available from Kaytee). This immediately expands your gerbil’s environment while still using the cage that you already have.

Unfortunately, some reviewers noted that their water bottles didn’t function properly. However, you can work with the Kaytee customer service to get a new one or purchase a separate water bottle that fits your needs, which is what most reviewers did.

Pros and Cons of the Kaytee Crittertrail Two Level Habitat

ProsCons
This cage features two levels.The water bottle sometimes doesn’t work properly.
It comes complete with a water bottle, food dish, exercise wheel, and a removable petting zone.
It is compatible with other Kaytee accessories.
It can be connected to another Kaytee habitat with plastic tubing.
Overall Best
Kaytee Crittertrail Two Level Habitat
  • Ideally suited for small animals
  • Comes with a food dish, water bottle, and exercise wheel
  • Expandable
  • Easy to customize
Check Amazon

2. Best on a Budget: Awesome Arcade Hamster Home

Our selection as the best budget option is the Awesome Arcade Hamster Home.

This cage is smaller than others on our list but is still perfect for gerbils without costing a fortune. It includes an exercise wheel, food dish, water bottle, nesting nook, and interior tubing for your gerbil to explore. There are multiple levels in this gerbil home that are designed to maximize the use of available space. It also has a deep plastic base and a removable upper section to allow for easy cleaning. Plus, there is a convenient access door on the top.

If you want to expand your gerbil’s home later, this habitat can connect to another via two external tube openings (closed when not in use). It works with standard small pet habitat tubing.

The only drawback to this product is that the wheel is designed for hamsters and not specifically for gerbils so it may be advisable to change it.

Pros and Cons of the Awesome Arcade Hamster Home

ProsCons
This cage has multiple levels.The wheel is not designed specifically for gerbils.
It comes with an exercise wheel, food dish, water bottle, nesting nook, and interior tubing.
It can be connected to another habitat via two external tube openings which can be closed when not in use.
It has a deep plastic base and a removable upper section to allow for easy cleaning.
Best on a Budget
Awesome Arcade Hamster Home
  • Comes with everything you need
  • Very easy to put together
  • Features plenty of doors
  • Comes with exercise wheel and tubes
Check Amazon

3. Most Spacious: Savic Habitat Metro Hamster Cage

In our opinion, the most spacious option is the Savic Habitat Metro Hamster Cage which features three levels.

The big benefit of the Savic Habitat Metro Cage over other options is the plastic base. With multiple gerbils, it’s important to have plenty of room for them to burrow and engage in natural behaviors. They also create more waste, which means that they need more space to do their business. There are easy-to-use and easy-to-clean ramps that allow your gerbil to get from one level to another. Plus, the gaps between the bars are narrow enough to ensure that your gerbils will not escape.

This gerbil cage includes a food dish, water bowl, and plastic tubing for your gerbil to explore. However, it does not have any hideaway or other accessories included. Some reviewers added exercise wheels, extra tubing, or other accessories to suit their gerbils’ needs.

Pros and Cons of the Savic Habitat Metro Hamster Cage

ProsCons
This cage has three spacious levels.It does not come with a hideaway or exercise wheel.
It has easy to use ramps between the levels.
It features a deep plastic base.
The gaps between the bars are narrow enough to prevent pets from escaping.
It comes with a food dish, water bowl, and plastic tubing.
Most Spacious
Savic Habitat Metro Hamster Cage
  • Extra-deep bedding layer
  • Includes a food dish and water bowl
  • Solidly constructed 
  • Three levels
Check Chewy Check Amazon

4. Most Luxurious: Ferplast Duna Space Two-Story Gerbil Cage

Our selection as the most luxurious cage is the Ferplast Duna Space Two-Story Gerbil Cagewhich features two spacious levels.

This cage has a deep plastic base which allows you to create a deep bedding layer for your pets to burrow in. It can also easily be removed for cleaning. There is also a spacious upper level which is perfect for eating and sleeping. Plus, this cage comes complete with a food dish, water bottle, hideaway, and a 5.5 inch exercise wheel.

There is a large access door on the upper level and plastic tubing to connect the upper and lower levels. There also a connecting port so that this cage can be attached to other habitats via plastic tubing.

The only drawback to this cage is that some customers have reported having to prop the tube ramp up to prevent it from falling back down again straight away.

Pros and Cons of the Ferplast Duna Space Two-Story Gerbil Cage

ProsCons
This cage has two spacious levels.The ramp needs to be propped up to prevent it from falling back down.
It features a deep plastic base which can easily be removed for cleaning.
There is a large access door on the upper level.
It comes complete with a food dish, water bottle, hideaway, and an exercise wheel.
It can be connected to other habitats via plastic tubing.
Most Luxurious
Ferplast Duna Space Two-Story Gerbil Cage
  • Features two spacious levels.
  • Complete with a water bottle, food bowl, hideaway, and exercise wheel.
  • Has a large access door.
  • The plastic bottom can easily be removed for cleaning.
Check Chewy

Choosing the Best: What to Look For

When selecting a gerbil cage for your pet it’s important to consider their environment and their safety. Like all things for pet owners, the cost is often a consideration as well.

Environment

Gerbils love to burrow, exercise, run, and play. They also need places to rest and feel secure. A great gerbil cage has the space and often the accessories to make all of these possible. Also, consider the extra cost of added accessories. When you are first starting off as a gerbil owner, having these things included takes a lot of the guesswork out of setting up the right environment.

Safety

It’s important to choose a gerbil cage that is safe for your furry friend. The bars need to be spaced appropriately for a small pet, such as a gerbil or small hamster. Ramps and runs should also be safe and not cause injury or falls. Finally, look for a cage that doesn’t have openings that your gerbil can squeeze through at the edges. This is often the place where most gerbils become escape artists.

Cost

Gerbil cages don’t need to cost a lot to be great. Look for a cage that is durable and sturdy, has what you need to take care of your gerbil, and works with your budget. Remember, purchasing bedding, food, and extra accessories can also add to the cost of getting a cage set up for your new gerbil. If the cage comes with any of these items, it may be worth spending a bit more upfront for an entire kit.

The Different Types of Gerbil Cages: Pros and Cons Compared

Most gerbil cages have the same basic features: an enclosure to keep your gerbil contained, an area for sleeping, and an area for eating and drinking. Single-level gerbil cages and multiple-level gerbil cages each have their own setups, pros, and cons.

Single Level Gerbil Cage

ProsCons
It is usually cheaper.It may not have as many features.
It is easy to clean and transport.It is not good for multiple gerbils.
Ideal as a starter cage.

Multi-Level Gerbil Cage

ProsCons
Provides plenty of space for play.It is often more expensive.
Gerbils are able to get more exercise.It can take up more space.
It is suitable for multiple gerbils.

About the Author

Katie is a freelance writer and teaching artist specializing in home, lifestyle, and family topics. Her work has appeared in At Ease Magazine, PEOPLE, and The Spruce, among others. When she is not writing, Katie teaches creative writing with the Apex Arts Magnet Program in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. You can follow Katie @katiemelynnwriter.

The Best Gerbil Cage for a Happy Pet FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

What are the advantages of a multi-level cage?

Multi-level cages are much more spacious than single level cages.  They provide a greater space for your pets to exercise while also allowing enough room for them to have their own space to sleep or eat if they want a bit of time out.

What factors should I consider when purchasing a gerbil cage?

For a start, the most important thing to consider is size.  Since gerbils should not be kept on their own it is important to ensure that the cage you buy has sufficient space for your pets.

Other factors to consider include the size of the gaps between the bars of the cage (since gerbils love to escape if given the opportunity), what accessories come with it, and your budget.

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