How can I keep my gerbils cool?

[baddyface]

I have two gerbils in a glass tank. It's huge and has a wire mesh top. It's mostly full of wood shavings that they burrow in. With two shelves for food, water and sand bath, and a big card tunnel between the two (that they are working on destroying).

Noticed one of them this morning was panting a little and a lot stiller than usual. Her little nose is redder than I've noticed before.

I'm assuming she's hot. They are in the coolest room in the shadiest place. They aren't animals that are easily handled. She has never bitten us but she's very fast and will only sit on my hand for a few second before she leaps off it!

What can I put in their cage to cool them down? They nibble EVERYTHING!

Ice shavings

Or even freeze some of their food if possible

I was worried their little tongue or mouth would stick to the ice

I've put some ice cubes in their water, some boxes for them to destroy in the freezer, and given them some cold apple.

Crushed ice in their water bowl?

If you aren't home all day, freeze some water in a bowl, take it out so it defrosts during the day and they have a supply of cold water for much of the day.

Put some of the sand in the freezer so they have cold sand to play in.

Bags of frozen veg propped up against the glass outside.

I freeze bottles/tubs of water, put an old sock over and put those in the cage. Helps bring the temperature down a bit. They nibble the sock a bit but lose interest before they cause a leak.

Have you tried something like frozen peas or whatever their favourite vegetable is? They can't have too many peas due to sugar content but it might help to keep them cool.

For my indoor guinea pigs they have bottles of water frozen then placed in a sock to sleep against and they have ice packs on top of their huts and under neath their sleeping pads (long mop microfiber noodle pads). Place a fab near them with a bottle of ice water in front? X

Thanks for all the ideas.

I was out all day today so left them with water full of crushed ice (although they don't drink much).

I will try a frozen water bottle with a sock in tomorrow while I am in and keep an eye on them. They are pretty extreme shredders though so may not give up so easily!

Are frozen peas safe for them? I just imagine them being too hard, small and slippery. Also are they ok for guinea pigs? I'm sure mine would love some frozen ones if safe.

I will put an ice pack under the guinea pigs petsafe where they hide out I think. Great idea. They nibble nothing but copious amounts of food so that should be safe enough.

pebbles that have been in the freezer.