Pet Gerbils

Coming home one day to find two new family members was a joy! At first sight I fell in love with the active furballs in my new lively room. Having two cats and a dog, I thought the gerbils were not in a safe environment, but the glass aquarium was safe from cat claws. The dog didn't come into my room so she wasn't a problem. My gerbils are truly a great pet to have!

Picture: Pet Gerbil (Tappinen)

A great reason to get a pet gerbil is that they are surprisingly clean animals. They come from Mongolia, a desert area with low water, so they do not need a lot of water or cage cleaning. Another reason to consider a pet gerbil is that they are very friendly and cute animals. When you walk into the room don't be surprised if they take your breath away! Their shining eyes beam at you in the most friendly way possible. They do everything in an adorable manner. They walk fast fast to greet you, with their noses high to smell you. They don't bite unless they see you as a threat. I personally have never been bitten by my gerbils. The last good reason you should get them is for their quietness. Unless you have a squeaky wheel for them to run on (like I do), they should be very quiet.

Gerbils usually grow to be 6" long (with tail). They will live to be about 5-6 years old, if cared for properly. They do need some sort of attention from people. Gerbils have the perfect ability to adapt to your home environment/climate. They are members of the rodent family. The word rodent comes from the Latin word rodere, meaning "gnaw", which seems to be the gerbil's favorite activity. They also sniff the air a lot

Pet stores are usually wrong when they try to guess what sex your gerbil is! If you want to be sure, take them to the vet (probably not worth it). I believed the store and thought I had two males, so I woke up to a surprise one morning. If you have a male and a female, expect baby gerbils. If you won't want babies, keep only males or only females. Gerbils prefer to be kept in groups of two or more, so try to make sure your gerbil has a friend.

Gerbils eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. If you give gerbils fresh food, be sure to wash the food first. If your gerbils don't eat the fresh foods that you offer within one day, then remove the food so that it doesn't spoil. Most hamster/gerbil food that you buy at the pet store contains everything your gerbil needs for proper nutrition. What you gerbil gnaws on (e.g., cardboard) is not a replacement for food.

Gerbils should not eat rotten food. They also should not eat apple seeds or anything you might find outdoors. However, you can give gerbils most of the vegetables (washed) that you can grow in your garden. Gerbils especially love unbuttered popcorn! Don't feed your gerbils just any old thing you find in your pantry.

At young age you should give your gerbil toilet paper tubes to gnaw on. As they age start giving them more challenging objects to chew on such as wood blocks, cardboard boxes, and store bought chew toys.Not only gerbils but all rodents dull their teeth instinctively because their teeth will grow long and sharp making them uncomfortable to have. Always make sure they have something to gnaw on (food does not count).

You can hold and play with your gerbils, but you should be aware of these tips: do not put your gerbils at risk of falling down, Hold your gerbil securely in your hand but be gentle, and don't have any other pets in the room when you are playing/holding with your gerbils. Your gerbil will like to be held and played with. You really put a shine on your gerbil's day.

I use wood chips but you can use any kind of bedding provided at your pet store. Do not use pine straw/sand. Sand is worse than pine straw because sand can get into their eyes and blind them, it is uncomfortable as well. Gerbils do love plain white paper though. Sticks are fine as long as they can fit in their cage. Be sure your furball is comfortable with the bedding you choose.

You rarely have to clean their cage. Their cages don't get filthy like hamster cages. It mainly gets messy from small ripped up of whatever your giving them to gnaw on. I recommend cleaning the cage every 2 weeks or 14 days. Gerbils like their environment to be clean. They wont clean their cage themselves.

First take out all items in the cage. Then remove your gerbils and place them with a person for them to get played with. Next tilt the cage towards a trash can. Stick your hand in the cage and remove anything left in the cage. Make sure you get a good majority of it. Then use water to clean all the items you took out of the cage (not the gerbils). Do NOT use cleaners. Next put fresh bedding in the cage making sure your gerbils can dig in it (about an inch). Dry the items you cleaned and put them in different places so your gerbils wont get bored of their cage arrangement. Put your gerbils in their fresh clean cage. Close the cage and watch your gerbils get excited in its clean home.

If you want baby gerbils, get female and male gerbils. Baby are adorable and twice as much work than a grown gerbil. If your gerbils have babies put a few paper towels in their cage, dim the lights, make sure the cage has food and water in it and the room is quite, and leave the room. Do not disturb them. When the babies are 4 weeks or older you can give them away. When the pups are grown up the mom gerbil won't want them around anymore and will fight them if they don't leave. If you would like to keep them put them in a separate cage and enjoy your gerbils.