Can a Gerbil 🐭 Live in a 20 Gallon Long Glass Tank?

Our Verdict

The 20 gallon long meets the 10-gallons-per-gerbil guideline for a pair. Substrate can be filled 6 inches deep for burrowing tunnels. A mesh lid is required. For three or more gerbils, upgrade to a 40 gallon tank.

Pros & Cons of the 20 Gallon Long Glass Tank

What Gerbils Need in an Enclosure

Gerbils need both burrowing depth and vertical climbing space. A "gerbilarium" — a deep-substrate tank base topped with a wire section — is the gold standard. Pure wire cages are unsuitable as gerbils will chew through plastic fittings and escape. Always house at least two.

⚠️ Things to Avoid for Gerbils

• Housing a single gerbil alone — causes severe stress and early death
• All-plastic enclosures — gerbils chew through everything
• Wire cages without a deep substrate base
• Enclosures under 20 gallons for a pair
• Hamster-marketed cages — nearly all are too small

Frequently Asked Questions

• What size tank do gerbils need?

  The standard guideline is 10 gallons per gerbil. A pair needs a 20 gallon long minimum. Four gerbils need a 40 gallon tank. Always buy the "long" variant — floor space matters more than height.
• Can gerbils be kept in a wire cage?

  Wire cages are not ideal for gerbils. Gerbils chew through most plastic fittings and wire floors are inappropriate. A glass tank or a gerbilarium (tank base + wire top) is strongly preferred.