Gerbil Care

What is a gerbil?

A gerbil is a fairly small rodent that origininally came from the deserts of Mongolia. Now they come in many different and beautiful colors with black or ruby eyes. They are active during the night and day, so they will always be ready to play. They are fun to watch and they can entertain you for hours. If rasied properly, they are extremely friendly. They are fairly easy to care for; their homes take up little space and they create little odor. The do not require frequent vet visits either. They are a very good choice for a first pet. They're friendly, rarely bite, and entertaining.

Companionship

Gerbils are very social and do not like being alone. They need another gerbil friend because no amount of human interaction can make up for lack of gerbil companionship. They get along great with a companion of the same gender, especially a littermate. Even though gerbils don't enjoy being alone they are also very territorial, and will attack a strange gerbil. If a littermate is not available or the cagemate passes away, a split cage introduction is necessary. Split cage introductions are best done in an aquarium. It consists of a partition dividing the aquarium into two seperate habitats, with water and food available on each side. One gerbil is placed in one side and the other in the other side. They should be switched every couple of hours for at least a week. Then remove the partition and observe them for an hour or so, and if any fighting or strange behavior is noticed, replace the partition and split cage them for another week.

Bedding

I recommend aspen. Carefresh also works, but it is very dusty. Corncob has a tendency to mold. Pine and cedar can cause respritory problems in small animals. Some people say one is good and the other is bad, and other people say the opposite; but most people, myself included, say no to both. I use aspen and have never experienced a problem.

Cage or Aquarium?

I would recommend a standard 10 gallon aquarium for a pair or trio of gerbils. They are easy to clean (probably a bit too heavy for children) and fairly cheap. If they have a secure lid they are virtually escape proof, and there is lots of room for toys and such. Gerbils like to dig in their bedding, so if they were in a wire cage the bedding would go everywhere and it would be a big mess. Also, chewing on metal bars can iritate little noses, and they will chew on the bars. The plastic crittertrail, habitrail, or S.A.M. cages are pretty cool looking, but the tubes and such are a pain to clean (not to mention expensive). Plus they are plastic, so it is possible for the gerbil to chew out of them. But gerbils can successfully live happy lives in these such cages, as long as they have enough room.

Feeding

I would recommed a good premixed gerbil food. The average non-breeding gerbil requires about 12% protien and 7% fat. The food can be placed in a food dish or straight onto the bedding. Gerbils will chew up plastic food dishes in a matter of days, so ceramic or glass dishes would be better. If the food is placed directly on the bedding, it will allow the gerbil to forage. Fresh veggies and fruits can be given as treats, as well as cereals like plain cheerios, rice crispies, corn flakes (with no sugar, sweeteners, marshmellows, etc.) Before you hand your gerbil a veggie or fruit, you should check and make sure it is safe for them. The Petwebsite is a good source of information on feeding your gerbil.

Water

Fresh water should be available to your gerbils at all times. I would highly recommend having a water BOTTLE. Water bowls are not very clean: gerbils will do their business in them; when they dig the bedding will land in it; the gerbils will drop food in it; etc. They also harbor bacteria. Bottles are very efficient. You will, however, need a water bottle protector because the gerbils will chew on plastic bottles and then you've got a big mess. Water bottle guards can be purchased at local petstores or online.

Toys

Gerbils can get bored, and when they're bored, they go crazy. They need toys and such to spark their curiosity. Many gerbils enjoy running on wheels, but some wheels are not safe for gerbil activity. There are many different types of wheels out there. Many rat enthusiasts recommend Wodent Wheels for their rats, so I'm sure they'd be great for gerbils too. Wheels with only metal bars are not safe for gerbils. Their feet and tails can get injured or torn off by these wheels. PVC pipes make good toys for gerbils. It takes a very long time for the gerbils to chew it up, unlike the cute plastic toys they sell at petstores, which will be gone if a few weeks. Gerbils need stuff to chew on too; t.p. and paper towel tubes are great for gerbils; as well as cardboard boxes and such. If gerbils are not able to chew, their teeth will become overgrown, causing them to not be able to eat.

Behavior

Gerbils have many interesting behaviors. For one, when they think they are in danger (or if they're excited), they will thump their back legs to alert any other. Some gerbils will thump back if you mimic their thumping on a wall or table. It is also normal for gerbils to dig in the corner of their aquarium or cage. It would appear as if they were trying to dig a hole to escape, but in fact, it is just a crazy gerbil instinct. Some gerbils do it, some don't.

Health Issues