Caring for your pet > Gerbils

Caring for Gerbils

Gerbils

Facts

  • Life Span: 3-5 years
  • Average Weight: About 2 ounces
  • Female: Sow
  • Male: Boar
  • Young: Pups
  • Sexual Maturity: Male 10-12 weeks Female 10-12 weeks
  • Diet: Omnivorous

Gerbils 101

Gerbils are great pets for older children who have mastered proper handling techniques. They are easy to look after, gentle, hearty and seldom bite. And unlike hamsters, Mongolian gerbils — which are most commonly kept as pets — are active during the day, which fits in well with a child’s schedule.

However, all gerbils are very frisky and can easily escape from a cage that isn’t closed securely. And because they have poor eyesight, you’ll need to take extra care when they are outside the cage.

Environment

Gerbils are very sociable animals and get lonely and unhappy if they are kept on their own, so it’s a good idea to get at least two. However, do not keep males and females together, or they will breed.

Gerbils also like lots of room to run around and play, so a large wire cage or a 10-gallon aquarium with a wire mesh cover will work best. The enclosure should be placed away from direct sunlight and drafts, and lined with pet-healthy CareFRESH bedding. Avoid pine or cedar shavings at all costs. Aromatic oils in pine and cedar bedding have been shown to have adverse health effects on small pets.

Give your gerbils an exercise wheel that does not have any openings in which their tails can get caught. Gerbils love to gnaw, so place hearty toys in the cage that will stand up to constant chewing. Also, provide your pet with either a sterilized bone or a twig that has not been treated with pesticides, chemicals or paints. This is crucial for keeping their teeth in good condition.

Gerbils like to hide and sleep inside enclosed spaces, so place a small box or flowerpot in the cage.

Gerbils also love to dig, so provide them with plenty of extra CareFRESH bedding, hay or shredded paper towels, plus cardboard tubes from paper towels and toilet paper for tunneling.

Diet

A good diet consists of commercially available pellet-based food specifically formulated for gerbils. Because gerbils are omnivorous, the ideal diet should contain 16-20 percent protein.

You can also supplement your gerbil’s diet with carrots, leaf lettuces, turnips, broccoli and small amounts of apples or banana. But beware — gerbils will eat these tasty treats instead of their balanced gerbil food. Therefore, limit the amount of treats you give your gerbil because seeds are high in fat, and fruits and vegetables don’t include enough protein.

Gerbils will not drink large quantities. In fact, in the wild, gerbils don’t drink water at all because they get enough of it from plants and roots. However, they do need a constant supply of clean fresh water at all times.

Care & Handling

Remove soiled bedding, droppings and any uneaten food every day. Clean the cage completely once a week.

Gerbils love to have a dust bath. Place a high-quality sand into a box or bowl, and let your gerbils roll around and flip over. They will thoroughly enjoy themselves, and the sand will help to keep their coats healthy by removing excess oils.

Before you handle a gerbil, he may need a little time to get used to you. Start by feeding him small treats. Once you’ve earned his trust, you can pick him up by scooping him into your hand. Never pick up a gerbil by the tail.

After that, you can let him out of the cage for supervised exercise every day in a small, secured area where your pet can’t get stuck behind furniture or chew on electrical wires.

Health & Veterinary Care

If you think your gerbil is sick, seek medical attention immediately. Common symptoms include sneezing, difficulty breathing, diarrhea and lethargy. Gerbils are also susceptible to external parasites such as fleas and lice. If you think your pet is infested, you’ll need to treat the animal, housing and surrounding environment.