Gerbil Aid

Gerbils make great pets and each have their own little personalities.  They usually live up 2-4 years old, have good temperaments, plus they are easy and inexpensive to care for, outgoing, cute and friendly.  There are over 110 types of gerbils, most pets are the the Mongolian gerbil species.  Gerbils, unlike hamsters, sleep on and off throughout the day and night.

PROS:
- active
- sweet and lovable
- don’t take much space
- very little odor
- active during parts of the daytime
- very entertaining
- aren’t much of biters

CONS:
- don’t like to be held for long periods of time
- can be skittish without much handling
- they are quick little buggers
- aren’t the best pets for young children
- grow bored quickly
- they are fragile, DO NOT pick it up or hold it by the tail

The first time you bring home a gerbil, they’re very afraid of the new surroundings, new smells and new people.  So let them get used to their surroundings for 24 hours, so they aren’t really stressed when you hold them, or they might associate you with stress. Then, after that, hand feed them treats.   Always wash your hands BEFORE trying to reach in the cage. If there are any outside scents on you (mainly other animals) it will take longer for them to get comfortable with you.  With a little time and patience, a pet gerbil can be easily hand tamed using treats.

Gerbils like to live in groups and will do better in pairs because they are a social pet and may become depressed if they are alone.  They should be kept in same sex pairs. Trios and groups of four are alright, but should be for males. Females are the more aggressive gender, so they should be limited to pairs. Both are great pets in pairs, though. As long as they come from the same litter at the same time, there shouldn’t be a big problem. If you get two gerbils from different litters, it’s best to introduce them using what is called the split cage method.

Gerbils love to play, dig and chew.  The more things you give them for their enjoyment, safety, exercise, the better.  They love things such as toilet paper and paper towel rolls, cardboard boxes, etc.  Gerbils produce only a drop or two of urine a day and don’t smell because of less waste since they are desert animals, unlike rodents.  The best housing for them is a tank with a mesh lid (found in the reptile section of the pet store). For a pair, I’d recommend 15-20 gallons. 10 gallons is alright, but you’ll soon realize it’s extremely small and there’s not much room for them to run and play.

EXTRA NOTES : You should NEVER grab or hold a gerbil by its tail. It’s a defense mechanism, and if you pull on it and the gerbil struggles to get away, there’s a good chance it might break or you’ll pull the skin off.  How gross is that!    Also, gerbils evolved in dry climates and they love to have a sand bath.

Did you know it is illegal to purchase, import, or keep a gerbil as a pet in the U.S. state of California, Hawaii and New Mexico? Did you know gerbils prefer 65° F to 85°?

They are so entertaining, as a pet owner, you are guaranteed a whole lot of fun with these little critters.  Gerbils are great pets, but aren’t for everyone, so please do your research BEFORE bringing them home.

AUTHOR: GerbilAid.com