Gerbils are very active and need physical exercise as well as
mental stimulation. Good toys for gerbils include seesaws,
climbing tunnels, gerbil wheels, and Run-About Balls; basically
just about anything on which they can climb or explore. Be sure
that any exercise wheels you use are absolutely safe—tails can
easily get caught and broken or even torn off in open-wire
wheels. You may wish to use special wheels designed for gerbils,
or you can use a wire hamster wheel if you make some
alterations. Cover the entire outside of the wheel with a heavy
masking tape (sticky side on the inside of the wheel). Avoid
thread-reinforced tapes such as duct tape. Cover the inner
sticky surface with small amounts of bedding so the gerbil's
feet will not stick to it. Alternatively, cover the outside of
the wheel with thin card board or other material which will not
cause harm if it is chewed, and then apply the masking tape to
securely hold it. You will routinely need to recover the wheel
as the gerbil chews on whatever outsi