Pet Gerbil Care & Information Guide
There is no doubt about it; gerbils make some of the absolute best pets ever! They are very active, rarely bite, are inquisitive and sociable all at the same time. Being that they originate for the dry grassland and desert areas, they also do not produce much urine, making it extremely easy to keep their cages clean and smelling fresh.
While it is true that they very rarely ever bite, gerbils are one of the most agile and quickest pets you can have, which means that they can sometimes be quite difficult to handle. Due to this, if you have a younger child, they may be better off with a different species of pets, at least initially.
You may not know it, but there are actually over 90 different species of gerbils, however the most common pet variety one is going to be the Mongolian gerbil. Being roughly the same size as a hamster, they will be roughly 12 centimeters long. And what makes gerbils really cool, is the fact that gerbils tails will grow to be as long as it’s body is, and will even end up being covered in fur.
They have large feet when compared to the rest of their body, as well as extremely muscular back legs. This is because they will often stand on their two back legs, as opposed to stay crouched down on all fours. Gerbils have become quite common to see in different types of pet shops, and can even be found in several different colors.
When they are taken care of properly, gerbils can live up to four years old. Here is exactly how you should take care of your pet gerbil to make sure that it is able to live a happy, healthy life.
Your Gerbils House
Like most of the pets you would ever imagine having, gerbils need a safe and secure home that they can eat, play, exercise and sleep in. Similar to other rodents, they are also notorious chewers, meaning that the cage you decide to use for them is going to need to be extremely secure to prevent them from escaping.
When you have selected the perfect cage for them, you are going to want to situate them in a location that is away from any direct sunlight or draughts. And if you are thinking that your bedroom would be the perfect place, think again. Gerbils are very active in the evenings, so you may want to put them in a room that they won’t be able to disturb anyone.
Another fact that you may not know about gerbils is that they are naturally a pack animal. This means that it is best to keep them with the company of other gerbils. So buying two or more at a time is a great way to make sure that they won’t get bored.
But if you are going to be purchasing more than one gerbil at a time, do your absolute best to make sure that they are the same sex, the same litter if possible, and younger than ten weeks old.
If you decide to add an additional gerbil to an already established group, they may show some aggression towards the new gerbil, this being especially true when it comes to female gerbils as they are normally much more aggressive than their male counterparts.
If for whatever reason you do need to introduce a gerbil that is older to your younger ones, it is best to let them get acquainted to each other first. You can do this by putting their cages next to each other so that they are able to familiarize themselves.
Once they have been introduced and are comfortable being around each other, you can then place them in the same cage. Just be sure that you keep an eye out for any type of aggressive behavior towards each other over the next several days.
When it does come to your gerbil’s cage, there are going to be three options to choose from. Those options are a wire cage, a glass cage, or a combination of both. To help you decide which cage would be the absolute best fit for your gerbil, it would serve you well to consider how gerbils normally live while they are in the wild.
When gerbils are in the wild, they normally tend to live underground in tunnels that can be up to 12 feet long and have different compartments for them to live in. So when you are setting up their cage, it is best if you are able to mimic that as much as possible.
So which type of cage is the best cage for your pet gerbil?
Wire Cages
While wire cages look neat and allow you to play with your gerbil through the cage, they are not actually going to be your best type of cage. This is because the waste and bedding will easily be kicked out between the bars of the cage. However, if you do decide to go with a wire gerbil cage, be sure that the cages bars are very close together so that your gerbil will not be able to squeeze out and escape.
Glass Cages
Glass tanks make an excellent home for your pet gerbil. But know that the tank is going to require some type of mesh covering to help prevent any type of escapes or intruders (other pets) from entering.
One of the main benefits of having a glass tank is that they are going to be cleaner than a wire one. This is because your gerbil will not be able to kick out any of their bedding or waste.
Wire and Glass Cages
While wire and glass cages both have their pros and cons, the best solution may actually be a combination of both glass and wire. These are more commonly referred to as gerbilarium and can be an excellent way for your gerbil to tunnel and burrow, but also have proper ventilation and plenty of space for their toys.
If none of these cages sound optimal, you can always go with a tube cage as well. A tube cage is normally going to be a plastic cage that is composed of different sizes and shapes, but with lots of tubes and tunnels that all connect together. These cages are one of the best ways to mimic the gerbil’s home habitat and are fun to watch, but can become quite difficult to clean.
When you are gerbil cage shopping, the absolute minimum size cage that you will want if you are going to be housing two gerbils, is considered 30cm x 75cm, with a minimum height of 30cm. But remember, the bigger the cage the better it will be for your gerbils.
The larger you are able to make the cage, the more play space your gerbil will have, as well as the countless more hiding places. All of this just means that your gerbil is going to be that much happier. Plus with a larger cage, you can always add more gerbils later down the road.
Other Housing Accessories
Besides a nice cage for your gerbil to live in, they are also going to need several accessories in order to keep them healthy and happy. Some of those accessories include:
- Food Dish – While there are several different options for a food dish, a ceramic bowl is going to be your best choice. This is because a ceramic food dish is not going to be knocked over very easily, and also can’t be chewed. It is ok to spread the food out around their cage, but any excess food should be cleaned and removed on a regular basis.
- Water Bottle – Being that gerbils are originally from the desert, they are not going to require a whole lot of water. That being said, they are going to need access to a steady source of water. By attaching a water bottle to the side of their cage, they will have the steady water source that they require.
- Special Bedding – The bedding that a gerbil requires is going to need to be deep. This will allow them to build a nest and burrow as well. There are several different options of bedding available, the likes of which range from wood and recycled paper, all the way to peat and organic soil.
- Nesting Materials – Besides just giving your pet gerbil bedding material, it is also highly recommended that you also give them nesting materials to help them create a nice, cozy nest to sleep in. This, similar to the bedding, has several different options, some of which include toilet paper, hay, or whatever your local pet shop has in stock.
- A Nesting Box – Yes, gerbils are going to dig their own nest, but adding a nesting box will only help them create a nicer space to sleep in. Just keep in mind that they are going to chew on this, so it may need to be replaced often.
- A Dust Bath – In order for your gerbil to keep their coat in good health, you are going to need to give them some type of shallow tray that is filled with Chinchilla Sand. This will allow your gerbil to bathe and maintain their health. Just be sure that you don’t leave the bathe in their cage after they are done using it.
- Wood or Cardboard – As with any other rodent, your pet gerbil is also going to need something to chew on so that their teeth do not overgrow. For this you can use wooden chew toys or even paper towel rolls. Giving them a small sized branch is also a great way to get them something to chew on.
- Lots of Toys – Gerbils are very active by nature and simply love to play. Tubes, tunnels, ramps and branches are all excellent choices for toys in your gerbil’s cage. You may even want to consider having several different toys that you can rotate through periodically to prevent them from becoming board.
- An Exercise Wheel – An exercise wheel is a great addition to your gerbil’s cage, however you need to make sure that it is an enclosed exercise wheel. This way they will not be able to get their tail caught between the wires.
Feeding Your Gerbil
To ensure the health of your gerbil, it is going to be very important for you to make sure they are receiving a nutritious and balanced diet. The best food that you can feed your gerbil is going to contain a variety of different ingredients, essentially providing all of the essential nutrients that they are going to need.
While having a commercial food as their primary is a great way to cover your basis, there are many other types of foods that you can incorporate into their diet as well. Some of these foods include:
- A variety of fruits
- A combination of different vegetables
- Seeds, nuts, and grains
- Wheat cereal, dry pasta, oats, and millet
- Live crickets and mealworms. These are also an outstanding source of protein, which can sometimes be lacking in the commercial foods.
While incorporating extra food into your gerbil’s diet is great, there are also some certain foods that you are going to want to keep away from your gerbil at all costs. These foods include:
- Rhubarb
- Spinach
- Grapes
- Lettuce
- Potatoes
- Tomato leaves
- Citrus fruits
- Fatty seeds such as sunflower (pumpkin seeds are healthier and ok)
The more varied your gerbil’s diet is, the better they are going to enjoy it. However, whenever you decide to introduce a new food into their diet, be sure that you do it gradually. And for whatever reason your gerbil ends up being a fussy eater, incorporating a mineral and vitamin supplement into their water will ensure that they are receiving all of the nutrition that they need to be healthy.
Cleaning Your Gerbil
While the cleaner the cage the better, that is not necessarily the case when it comes to your gerbil’s cage. In fact, if you over clean their cage, it can actually become very stressful for them. Just remember that they are already naturally a clean animal, so there is no need to clean excessively. However, you are going to want to make sure that their bedding is not allowed to become smelly or damp. If this does happen, be sure to replace it as necessary.
When you do need to replace their bedding, be sure that you leave a little bit of the old bedding in place. This is because once all of the odors have been completely removed from the cage; it can trigger your gerbil’s to start fighting with each other.
If there are certain parts of the cage that become dirty or smelly, all you have to do is wash it with some soapy water (and this goes for their toys as well). Just be sure that everything has been well rinsed and dried prior to putting it back into their cage. As for the food bowl and water bottle, they should be cleaned about once a week.
On a side note, gerbil’s love to hoard their food. This means that it is very important for you to do regular checks throughout the cage, including their nesting areas, and make sure that you remove any and all food items that are stale. This will also help to prevent anything from becoming rotten and smelly.
Your Gerbil’s Health
Gerbils can be very fun to watch and you will more than likely become familiar with the different ways they interact, look and even behave. If you do notice that your gerbil is starting to behave or look differently than normal, it is a good indication that something may be wrong. Be sure that you are monitoring your gerbils very closely and if you notice anything out of the ordinary, that you take them to your vet immediately.
Gerbils are both fascinating and entertaining pets to have for your older children, or for yourself as well. When you provide your pet gerbils with the absolute best housing that you can, healthy food and the best care that you can give them, the reward that they give you will be entertaining and endless! Just be sure to follow the guidelines as outlined in this guide and you will have no problems with your pet gerbils.
If after reading this guide you are feeling a little overwhelmed, just know that you have nothing to worry about. Taking in a lot of information about any subject can cause you to feel overwhelmed, but that is the entire reason for this guide.
When you follow these guidelines, you will not only be able to have a per gerbil that will be happy, healthy, and live a long time, but you will also be able to enjoy your new pet as it should be enjoyed. Just take a deep breathe and take it one step at a time. You got this!