Pet Care
Caring for your Gerbil
Gerbils make lovely pets for young children. They are entertaining to watch and easy to handle. They are highly social creatures and should not be kept separately or will become lonely. They can live up to 3 years.
Housing
It is not advisable to house gerbils in open wire cages as they will dig and bedding will escape through the gaps. Gerbils do make a mess, so it is advisable to keep them in a glass or plastic aquarium. Two females can be kept together as can two males. However, they do need to be introduced before 8 weeks. Adult gerbils placed together will fight. Diet Gerbils are not fussy eaters. Hamster food is ideal for gerbils. Small amounts of fruit and vegetable can be offered. Be careful, as too much greenery can make them ill. Sunflower seeds are an ideal treat.Gerbils originate from semi-desert environments and drink very little. Fresh water should still be available at all times though.
Cleaning
Gerbils do not smell. Cleaning of housing is necessary only once a week.
Chewing
As with all rodents, gerbils need to chew to keep their teeth worn down. Chew sticks are ideal for this. Branches and bark from fruit trees can also be offered. Pine cones are good too.
Community
It is not a good idea to mix gerbils with other small animals. They can be aggressive towards hamsters, rats and mice.