This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.
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After hours of burrowing in the compost, your gerbil's coat may look a little drab. To get your gerbil's coat shiny, give it a sand bath! Since they are a desert species, gerbils are accustomed to cleaning themselves in the sand. To keep your gerbil's coat clean and prevent bacterial infections, you should give your gerbil access to a sand bath at least once a week.[1]
Steps
Making the Sand Bath
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1Purchase a small dish to use as a “gerbil bathtub.” You could buy a small dish, such as a cat dish, at your local pet store or online. This will serve as your “gerbil bathtub.” Find a dish or a bowl that has a relatively flat base, since your gerbil will be rolling around in it. It could be a plastic, ceramic or a metal dish. Pick one that doesn't have any sharp edges, so it is completely safe.[2]
- Find a dish that fits inside the gerbil tank.
- The dish should be more than 1 (2.54 centimeters) in depth.
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2Get a bag of chinchilla sand. You'll want chinchilla sand rather than dust, which is potentially harmful for your pet. Chinchilla dust may lead to respiratory problems, for example.
- You can find chinchilla sand at your local pet store or online.
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3Pour ½ inch (1.27 cm) of chinchilla sand into the bathtub. You want to fill the bathtub with just enough sand for your gerbil to bathe, which should be less than half the depth of the bathtub. The sand shouldn't be deep enough for your gerbil to burrow. Rather, you just want enough sand for your gerbil to roll and around, rub itself, and play!
- You should use a dish that is greater than 1 (2.54 centimeters) in depth.
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4Place the bathtub in the tank for ten minutes. Find an open area of your tank to place the bathtub. Put the bathtub in place and give your gerbil ten minutes to take a bath.
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5Bathe your gerbil every week. Since gerbils are very susceptible to bacterial infections, you'll need to give your gerbil a regular, weekly opportunity to clean itself. One of the things that can happen if you don't give your gerbil a regular bath is “sore nose,” which is a bacterial infection of the glands around their nose. A weekly bath can help prevent this condition.[3]
- You may want to leave the bath inside the cage at all times so that the gerbil has access to it, which is okay. If you do this, make sure it stays clean and you clear out any waste or soiled sand.[4]
Bathing the Gerbil
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1Let your gerbil bathe itself. Let your gerbil roll around in the bathtub. It may play in the tub. It may run in and out of the bathtub. Your gerbil may kick its feet and rub its back, or it may flip onto its back and roll around. Bottom line: it'll be funny to watch, and it'll make your gerbil feel nice and clean. Let them do their thing without interference.
- If your gerbil doesn't go to the bathtub, you could gently place it in the bathtub. Scoop it up from underneath its belly, and then put it in the bathtub.[5]
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2Don't pour sand over your gerbil. You may be tempted to help your gerbil with its bathing routine. However, it is best to let your gerbil clean itself by rolling in the sand, kicking the sand and playing around in the bathtub.[6]
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3Remove the bathtub from the tank. After ten minutes, you can take out the bathtub. Otherwise, your gerbil may end up going to the bathroom in the tank. Put it back in the tank a week later, so your gerbil has a regular chance to clean itself.
Warnings
- Do not use chinchilla dust, which can lead to respiratory issues.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Do not get your gerbil wet. It will get cold and may get sick.⧼thumbs_response⧽
Things You'll Need
- Small bowl
- Chinchilla sand
References
- ↑ https://petopedia.petscorner.co.uk/all-about-gerbils/
- ↑ https://www.omlet.co.uk/guide/gerbils/gerbil_hygiene/bathing_your_gerbils
- ↑ https://petopedia.petscorner.co.uk/all-about-gerbils/
- ↑ https://www.omlet.co.uk/guide/gerbils/gerbil_hygiene/bathing_your_gerbils/
- ↑ https://www.omlet.co.uk/guide/gerbils/gerbil_hygiene/bathing_your_gerbils
- ↑ https://www.omlet.co.uk/guide/gerbils/gerbil_hygiene/bathing_your_gerbils
About This Article
To give your gerbil a bath, fill a flat-bottomed dish with half an inch of chinchilla sand, which you can buy from a pet store. Then, place the dish into your gerbil's tank, and leave it there for 10 minutes so your gerbil can take a bath. You should aim to give your gerbil a bath once a week to prevent common infections, such as “sore nose.” Alternatively, you can leave the bath in the cage at all times. However, make sure to replace the sand regularly to keep the bath clean. To learn more from our Veterinary co-author, including why you should avoid using chinchilla dust, keep reading!
