Gerbils are fun, low-maintenance pets, especially great
for beginners. Here’s a simple guide to help you get started with gerbil care:
1.
Housing
· Cage: A glass tank with a
secure mesh lid is ideal (minimum 10 gallons per gerbil).
· Bedding: Use paper-based bedding
or aspen shavings (avoid cedar or pine).
· Hideouts: Provide tunnels,
hidey-holes, and nesting materials like shredded paper.
· Wheel: Solid-surface exercise
wheel (6.5–8 inches) for activity.
· Chew toys: Safe wood or cardboard
to keep their teeth healthy.
2.
Companionship
· Gerbils are social and should be kept in same-sex pairs or
small groups.
· Introduce them young or use a split cage method for adult
introductions.
3.
Feeding
· Pellets or gerbil-specific mix: Avoid hamster or rodent mixes with too many seeds.
· Fresh foods: Small amounts of
veggies like carrots or broccoli (avoid citrus).
· Water: Always provide fresh
water in a bottle with a metal spout.
4.
Cleaning
· Spot clean weekly; full clean every 2–3 weeks.
· Keep some old bedding during a full clean to retain familiar
smells.
5.
Health & Behavior
· Healthy gerbils are alert, active, and have smooth, clean fur.
· Watch for signs of illness: lethargy, weight loss, diarrhea, or
labored breathing.
· Gerbils love to dig, burrow, and chew—encourage natural behavior
with deep bedding.
6.
Handling
· Be gentle and patient. Scoop them up with both hands or use a
cup at first.
· Never pick up a gerbil by the tail—it can cause injury.
Gerbil Care for Beginners
CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE BOOK ON AMAZON
The scientific name of the gerbils we will deal with in this book is "Meriones unguiculatus" and goes back to the French animal and naturalist Alphonse Milne-Edwards (1835-1900). Gerbils belong to the family of long-tailed mice (Muridae) and within this family to the subfamily Gerbillinae. The scientific term "Gerbillinae" already indicates the origin of the English name "Gerbil".
Gerbils have their home mainly in Mongolia - that's where the frequent name Mongolian gerbil comes from. From this it can already be seen that this animal lives in deserts, but it also inhabits steppes, dry grasslands and semi-deserts.
The gerbil's activities are not bound to a specific time, and they do not hibernate - this makes them perfect pets for adults and children, as long as it is ensured that these social animals are allowed to live with friends of the same species.
What else is there to consider? What living conditions need to be created for gerbils to do well? What are the requirements for the enclosure? What kind of food do gerbils need? What diseases can they get? All open questions are answered in this book!
1. Systematics and Classification
2. Anatomy and Physiology
3. Getting the Gerbils
4. The Enclosure
5. Diet and Nutrition
6. Typical Behavior
7. Dangers and Diseases
8. Frequently Asked Questions
Post a Comment