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Gerbil Care Sheet
General
Although gerbils are familiar to most people, they are probably less well known than Syrian hamsters. It is important to know that there are some differences between them. Unlike Syrian hamsters, gerbils tend to be active during both the daytime and nighttime.
Gerbils as Pets
Gerbils are less timid than hamsters and much more curious which makes them entertaining family pets. It is best to pick two gerbils of the same sex, preferably from the same litter, as they are very social animals and do not like living on their own. With proper care gerbils will be lively companions for up to 4 years.
By allowing your gerbils to eat from your hand and avoiding sudden movements you will soon win their trust. When they are comfortable sitting on your hand, begin to lift them up to sit on your arm or shoulder. Children should always be supervised and taught never to pick up a gerbil by the tail and to protect their pet from falls by sitting on a sofa or bed when holding it. Caution: always wash your hands before handling your gerbil as it can easily pick up an infection from dirty hands.
Gerbil Cages
A 10 gallon aquarium (about 450x300x300 mm) with a ventilated lid makes a suitable home for two gerbils. There are some very good multi-level glass cages on the market, designed specifically for gerbils (e.g. Perfecto Small Animal Habitat range by Underworld Products). Gerbils can easily damage plastic cages by digging and chewing, so these are not recommended. Cages with metal bars may be used, but bedding tends to get kicked out easily! Gerbils enjoy multi-level cages with ramps, tunnels, solid wheels and a variety of chew toys. Cover the floor with safe bedding such as Aspen shavings or Carefresh and place shredded paper in a nesting box, so your gerbils can burrow and make a nest. As an alternative, you can use coarse peat or coconut fibre mixed with clean straw, as this makes a good tunneling medium. However, never use gardening compost containing fertilizer – this could be harmful! Also, never be tempted to try to save money by using your own sawdust – it could be lethal.
Gerbil teeth grow constantly and should not be allowed to become overgrown. Offer gnawing materials such as mineral or rodent blocks, untreated bits of wood, or balsa wood.
Feeding your Gerbil
Gerbils should be fed a commercial gerbil, hamster or rodent diet. However, although branded gerbil mixes (e.g. Gerri Gerbil) will provide your gerbil with a good basic diet, gerbils also enjoy fruit and vegetables. However, it is important that fruit and vegetables should be introduced to a gerbil's diet gradually as a sudden large amount of fruit or vegetables can cause diarrhea. Gerbils readily accept and prefer sunflower seeds to a pelleted diet, but feeding too many sunflower seeds (low in calcium) in preference can lead to a nutritional imbalance. The fatty seeds in the diet should be limited to 2 or 3 per day to avoid obesity in your pet. The three types of fatty seeds that need to be limited are peanuts, sunflower seeds and safflower seeds. Fresh water should always be available in a sipper bottle.
Loose alfalfa hay is an excellent source of roughage for your gerbil and should be available on a daily basis.
A range of feeding dishes is available in a variety of materials (ceramic, stainless steel or melamine, but not plastic, as a gerbil will soon eat them), according to your preference and price range.
Fresh water should always be available in a sipper bottle. Water bottles come from a number of manufacturers, including the popular Classic ‘Universal’ range.
Cleaning your Gerbil’s Cage
Replace soiled bedding weekly, or when it appears dirty. Gerbils need less frequent cleaning than some rodents, due to their desert origins. Wash food dishes and water bottles weekly, and the cage bottom monthly. It is preferable to use a disinfectant cage spray, such as Supreme ‘Keep It Clean’ Spray which also kills mites. Always dry the cage well before adding fresh bedding.
Breeding
It is easy to sex Gerbils from the age of about 7 weeks, by which time a male's attributes are quite obvious! Gerbils are sexually mature at around 10 weeks old. The average litter size is 4 to 6. The average gestation period is 25 days. Newborn male gerbils can be distinguished from newborn female gerbils by noting the greater anogenital distance in the males. This is best accomplished by lifting the tails of littermates and comparing perineums.
Health
Gerbils are hardy pets, but they may suffer from various respiratory ailments. Loss of weight, poor appetite, diarrhea, nasal discharge, and discharge from the eyes are symptoms to look out for. Contact your Vet if any of these occur. Gerbils sometimes suffer from spontaneous convulsions which are genetic in nature (from inbreeding). This condition is thought to affect up to 50% of the pet gerbil population. It can be fatal and there is little that can be done about it. This is a good reason for strongly discouraging breeding between pet gerbils as there is a high probability that two gerbils bought together will be related, possibly siblings.
Daily handling of your gerbil will help you to tell whether or not your pet is healthy.
'Fluffy' nesting materials can cause fatal injuries and should not be used. Pine and cedar shavings contain harmful oils and are best avoided.
Mites can be eliminated and prevented by using an insecticidal spray or powder such as manufactured by Johnsons (see our online catalogue).
You can help your gerbil maintain a generally healthy condition by giving it a regular vitamin supplement such as Johnsons Hamster and Gerbil Vitamin Drops (see our online catalogue).
© 2008, Pets Mate Limited
Disclaimer: We have tried to provide the best advice possible in this Care Sheet based on our own experience of keeping and selling pet gerbils. However, Pets Mate Limited cannot be held responsible for any problems you may experience with your gerbil from any cause whatsoever.
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