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General Information About GERBILS

Gerbils are friendly, clean and quiet little rodents who make wonderful pets. Unlike hamsters who are solitary animals, gerbils usually prefer to be housed with a same sex sibling. Mongolian gerbils are found in nature in wide open deserts of Mongolia and northern China. The first orgigins of today's strain of Mongolia gerbils can be traced to 1935, when a small number were trapped and taken to Japan for medical research. Mongolia gerbils are the most popular ones as pets, but not the only variety available. Others include the fat tailed gerbil, the shaw's jird, and the pallid gerbil. They have not been kept as domestic pets for very long, so not as much information is known about them compared to the Mongolia gerbil.

Gerbils have a life span of approximately 3-5 years, and weigh between 75-120 grams. Gerbils now come in many different colour varieties.

Choosing A Gerbil

In the wild they live in groups, and in captivity if you have only one, they often pine away, longing for a friend. Adult gerbils who do not know each other will usually act aggressively towards each other, and fighting can often end in death. It is best to introduce gerbils to each other when they are young, and not advised to separate gerbils if they are bonded, as reintroducing them is not always successful.

Handling

They are not aggressive animals, and usually will only bite if being harmed. A gerbil that is properly handled and trained will usually not bite its owner.

They can become tame quickly with careful handling as they are good natured and inquisitive animals. Never pick up a gerbil by the tip of middle of its tail as they easily loose their tails and they do not grow back! This is a mechanism to help them escape from predators in the wild.

They often stand on their back legs to observe what is happening in the world around them. They are active both during the day and at night, usually dozing off every 2 hours for a nap.

When you are choosing a particular gerbil, there are a number of things to watch out for. You want to choose a gerbil that is active and seems curious. Check to make sure the bottom is clean and dry and that the eyes and nose aren't running. Eyes should be dark and bright. Their fur should be clean and slightly shiny. If there are ill-looking gerbils in with healthy ones, be wary; the sick ones can easily transfer illnesses to healthy ones. At Rabbit Rescue, we take pride in providing medical treatment to all animals in our care. When adopting a gerbils from us, you can be assured they have received medical treatment whenever need.

Housing

Gerbils are very active, so the larger the cage, the happier your gerbils will be.

While some have found glass or plastic aquariums acceptable, they are not always the best choice. Aquariums work well in areas that are drafty, or for sick or nursing or gerbils. Aquariums keep in heat efficiently, and provide a safe environment for gerbils small enough to fit through cage bars. Never keep aquariums in direct sunlight. Aquariums can be difficult to clean and do not allow for proper air circulation. Gerbils are good jumpers, so make sure your gerbil can not get out of the aquarium.

Barred cages are looked upon as the better option for the following reasons. Cages provide constant air exchange that does not allow the ammonia to build up within. They are easier to clean in that they can be wiped down much of the time with a non-toxic, animal friendly product instead of being completely submersed in water. Attaching water bottles and toys are easy with a metal cage. When choosing a metal cage, it is better to go with powder coated as opposed to galvanized. Powder coated are much easier to clean, and do not smell as the galvanized tend to do over time. The bottom of the cage should not be metal, as their feet are sensitive.

Cleaning the cage is important to prevent disease. Scrub it weekly with a mild detergent and hot water. Vinegar can be used to remove urine stains on the plastic. Keep their cage in a spot where you will be frequently. They will get accustomed to the household and will be easier to train.

Rabbit Rescue usually has a variety of used gerbil cages for sale at great prices. Please inquire to find out what is available!!

Bedding

Pine or cedar shavings should not be used, as the phenols in them can cause severe respiratory problems. Gerbils can be bedded on aspen shavings, Care fresh bedding, and shredded paper. A thick layer of bedding is recommended, as gerbils enjoy digging, and burrowing. Pieces of unscented tissue, toilet paper or paper towels can be given as nest making materials as well.

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Handling

Be sure to handle your gerbil every night. Wash your hands before handling him, as they might nip if they smell food on your hands. Do not wake him up, but rather, wait until he has woken on his own and is fully alert before attempting to handle him. They startle very easily, and by nature, will bite if they feel threatened.

Be sure to stay close to the ground while handling your gerbil. They have a tendency to jump and have poor depth perception, and might injure himself by jumping from your hands.

Cage Accessories/Toys

Hidey-houses are great for gerbils; they will retreat there to sleep, or if they are feeling threatened. A small to medium sized exercise wheel is essential for a gerbil, making sure that it is a solid metal or plastic wheel as their tails or feet can get caught in the openings if it is not solid, and gerbil tails break easily and do not grow back. It should be large enough so that the gerbil isn’t arching is back when he’s running.

Gerbils like to clean themselves in sand/chinchilla dust, and you can put some in a separate container in their cage and let them have a weekly bath.

Empty toilet paper rolls are a favourite among gerbils, as they enjoy chewing them down in minutes! Small cardboard boxes, unpainted wooden baby blocks, etc. make fantastic toys. A gerbils teeth grow throughout their lives, so it is important for them to have some organic apple or willow branches for them to chew; they are available through Rabbit Rescue Store.

Nutrition

Gerbils only need about 10-15g of food per day (aprox 1 table spoon). Their digestive system is not able to handle a rich diet of sunflower seeds/peanuts as it is adapted to very small amounts of food and water. Their diet should be based largely on cereals rather than oil seeds. Wheat, barley and oats are good choices. Too many sunflower seeds/peanuts can also cause skin problems and respiratory and circulatory problems. Fiber is important for digestion, so it is recommended that you can put hay in your gerbils cage. It is also important to offer fresh foods daily; dandelion leaves, veggies such as carrots, broccoli are appreciated making sure to wash them well. Do not overfeed veggies! Fruit such as apple, banana, strawberry, pear etc. Use separate bowls for dry and fresh food. You can also offer a small piece of dog biscuit to keep their teeth trim, or a mealworm as a treat.

While they do not drink much in the wild, a water bottle is essential so they can drink as required. They usually drink no more than 10ml/day.

In the wild, hamsters are omnivorous, feeding on plants, seeds, fruits and insects. Any good quality pre-mixed hamster food should be your hamster’s staple diet, as well as fresh fruits and vegetable. Store bought treats should be kept to a minimum, and hamsters will prefer fresh foods to them. Dog biscuits are a tasty treat as well; not only does it give the hamster some extra protein, but also gives them something to chew on to wear down their ever-growing teeth.

Illnesses

In general, gerbils are robust creatures that are not generally affected by many illnesses. However, on occasion, a gerbil can get ill, and because of their small size, slight illnesses can progress to life-threatening in a very short period of time if not treated. You should examine your gerbil frequently for any signs of illness. Look for lumps, bumps or growths, make sure their front incisors are not overgrowing, that their weight is being maintained and that they have a healthy coat of fur. Excess scratching, lack of appetite, diarrhea, failure to groom regularly, all indicate that a trip to the vet is necessary.

If their diet is changed suddenly, they can suffer from diarrhea. Tyzzer's disease can also be the cause of diarrhea.

Mongolian gerbils are susceptible to epilepsy. Repeated, prolonged handling can trigger an epileptic fit, as it has been suggested that this may be a means of deterring predators. The gerbil will normally recover if left quietly.

Female gerbils have a high incidence of reproductive tumors.

Other illnesses they can face as they get older are diabetes mellitus, which obese gerbils are at higher risk for, and kidney failure. The signs of both include increased drinking and weight loss.

Gerbils can also pick up respiratory infections such as common colds from humans. However, rather than the virus itself, it is an associated streptococcal bacterium that is the danger to them. The cold can spread from one infected gerbil to another. In most cases, they will recover in a few days, if this is not the case, a vet visit is in order.

Choosing A Gerbil

Further Reading www.agsgerbils.org/Gerbil_Care_Handbook/index.php