Gerbil Care Sheet

Housing:

   -Gerbils need to be kept in aquariums, in my opinion, not wire or plastic cages. They will chew a plastic cage and if in a wire cage, will kick bedding out of the cage making quite a mess.
   -A 10 gallon is the minimum for two gerbils and 20 gallon for four, although a pair of gerbils will really appreciate a 20 gallon. More room is always better.
   -I recommend Aspen bedding. I may use less bedding, and as they knaw paper towel rolls or egg cartons the bedding thickens. Gerbils like to burrow so don’t be skimpy.
   -A secure lid is a NECESSITY as gerbils jump!
   -I clean the cages about every 12 days.

Behavior:

-Same-sex pairs should be kept together (male-male or female-female). Sibling pairs work easiest as they already know each other, or pair two gerbils who are 6-8 weeks. If the gerbils are older, a split cage will be needed. Some adult gerbils refuse to live peaceably with another, but normally gerbils enjoy each others company, grooming each other and sleeping together.
-NEVER introduce a lone gerbil to an already established group. If two gerbils are apart from each other for a length of time you will find that they forget each other and will need to be split-caged.

-Gerbils fight viciously and are very territorial. Don’t take a chance to “see” if they will get along by plopping one into the other’s cage. You will have a blood-bath on your hands.
-A group of males may live peaceably together, but I recommend females only in a pair for a beginner gerbil-keeper; they tend to be more aggressive of the sexes.
-There are exceptions to every rule, but airing on the site of caution is always best so no one gets injured.

Feeding:

-Water should be available at all times in a water bottle. A water dish is useless as it will be filled with bedding in a very short time. Check the bottle often to make sure it is working properly.
-Food should be given daily. Find a food with a variety of ingredients, not mostly sunflower seeds. You can mix different bags together or mix your own blend. For a variety in their diet, fresh fruits, vegetable, dry cereal low in sugar like cornflakes or oats, timothy hay, uncooked noodles, etc. can be given. Be sure to make sure it is safe for gerbil ingestion and don’t overdo it on any one item, especially greens. Dry cat or dog food keeps their teeth worn down.

Activity Needs:

-Gerbils are VERY active rodents.

   -Gerbils are nocturnal, meaning they are asleep during the day and up at night. They may be more active during the day than say a hamster will be. Once evening hits, the activity starts.
   -You can give them things to chew on like toilet paper rolls, egg cartons, and paper towels (they use this for bedding). My gerbils like tissue boxes (with the plastic taken out), or empty oatmeal tubes. Be prepared for a lot of noise! Stick with things with little ink or glue.
   -You should provide your gerbils with a wheel. There are lots of opinions on what wheels are best and what wheels are most harmful. I have used the regular open steel wheels and the mesh wheels and have not had a problem.
   -I clip some wire mesh like the shape of a ladder and tape it to either side of the aquarium. My gerbils love to site there. They seem to like high perches.
   -PVC tubing is great for tunnels. Be sure to clean them weekly or bi weekly with warm water and soap.
   -Use your imagination and have fun creating a personalized gerbil-friendly home.

Facts:

   -Gerbils can live 3-4 years on average.
   -Gerbils are one of the easiest to care for rodents in my opinion. They don't have strong urine smell like hamsters.
   -Never lift a gerbil or pull it by its tail.
   -Your gerbil may go through stages at it mature into an adult where it becomes very active and prefers not to be handled. Every gerbil is different in personality. Some seem to enjoy being held and having human interaction while others prefer to be left alone in their cages.
   -Be patient with hand-taming and don’t let a nip or two scare you off. Gerbils are not normally human-aggressive. They are very curious and may just be “seeing” what you are with a nip or nibble.
   -Gerbils are too active for a child under around 10 to handle. A slower pet like a Syrian hamster or Guinea pig would be a better first pet.
   -Gerbils make wonderful first pets for children with the manual dexterity to hold them.
   -Gerbils are curious about their surroundings, and soft to the touch. A healthy gerbil should have clear bright eyes, non-greasy full coat not rumples looking, no discharge from their backside, and no external injuries or limps.

    For online help with your gerbils or just to chat, visit some of the links to groups I have posted on this website. Good luck with your new friends)!  Feel free to email me if you have questions.

    If you are looking for a gerbil some places to visit are www.petfinder.com to adopt, http://www.agsgerbils.org/Breeders.html for American Gerbil Socity breeders, and the forums I have on the main page have people who breed.