Gerbils
Gerbils are active little pets who don’t require a lot of
care. Because they are desert animals, they don’t produce a lot of waste, so
their cage only needs to be cleaned about every other month!
Gerbils are nocturnal animals, but they are sometimes awake
during the day too. When awake, they are always on the move and it’s fun to
watch them dig and burrow, play together and run on their exercise wheel.
Because gerbils are so active, it is difficult for young
children to hold them, but they can be fun to watch for people of all ages.
One Gerbil or More?
Gerbils are very social animals and should be kept in
same-sex pairs or groups.
Feeding
The basic gerbil diet should be a fortified grain mix. You
can also give gerbils small amounts of fruit and veggies and other healthy
foods. Don’t give too much fresh food at one time because gerbils will store
the excess, which might spoil. Treats are great for training and strengthening
the bond between you and your gerbils and can comprise 10% of their diet.
Housing
A gerbil cage should be at least 18” X 10” X 10” high,
filled with 6-8” of bedding to allow the gerbils to burrow. You can use an
aquarium, a large hamster cage with plastic tubes, or a wire cage with a very
deep pan. Because gerbils are desert animals, too much humidity is bad for
them, which is the only drawback of aquariums and plastic habitats. There sot
be moisture build-up on the inside of the cage. Try to keep the humidity in the
room below 50%. For bedding you can choose from aspen shavings, hay, moss,
peat, or shredded paper. A mix of two or more beddings tends to work well. Do
not use pine or cedar shavings.
Accessories
Gerbils need a water bottle and a dry food dispenser. You
can place 4” plastic tubes underneath their bedding and the gerbils will dig
down to them to use them for sleeping. They need an exercise wheel, and enjoy
chew toys and climbing toys such as ladders, ropes, and branches.
Sanitation
Clean the water bottle weekly, scrubbing all parts, Remove
all moist food that isn’t immediately eaten. The cage and bedding needs to be
cleaned and changed only about every 1-2 months.
Maintenance
Gerbils enjoy a dust bath inside a fish bowl outside their
cage once or twice a week. If you watch this amusing show you should wear a
painter’s mask to avoid breathing the dust.
Health Care
With proper care and diet, gerbils tend to be healthy
animals. Veterinary Pet Insurance (www.petinsurance.com)
now offers health insurance policies for gerbils.
Special Needs
The gerbil’s tail is very delicate. Never grab the tip of a
gerbil’s tail because the skin will come off.
Life Cycle
Gerbils live an average of 3-4 years, although it’s possible
for them to live 6 years. The gestation period is 24 days and the average
litter size is 4-5. Baby gerbils open their eyes at 16 days and can be weaned
at 5 weeks.
Expert Help
If you have questions about your gerbils, do not hesitate to
contact us. We will be happy to help you choose a gerbil care book for more
compete information. You, your veterinarian, and the staff here at the store
will form the team which will be responsible for your gerbils’ well-being.
Supplies Checklist
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Cage
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Bath dust
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Bedding
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Exercise wheel
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Water bottle
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Climbing toys
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Dry food dispenser
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Chew toys
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Gerbil food
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Sleeping tubes
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Treats
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Fish bowl for dust baths
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