gerbille are popular and entertaining small favorite . While they ’re not the cuddliest favorite out there , they can make an excellent companion for the correct owner . If you ’re considering total one of these critters to your family , it ’s crucial to first understand how to worry for a gerbille . From learning about the correct case of John Milton Cage Jr. to the best dieting and even the right way to defend these little favorite , we ’ll leave you with the essential of gerbil care so you may feel sure-footed bringing your new friend home .
Gerbil Care Basics
If you ’re deciding whether to get a gerbil , you should do it what to gestate from thesesmall rodents . The Mongol gerbil is the most common specie found in stores and kept as positron emission tomography .
Lifespan
Your gerbille will last to be around3 to 5 twelvemonth old , base on the care you provide . With a high - character diet , appropriate enrichment , and veterinary care when job arise , your gerbil can subsist a long , goodly living . The oldest known gerbil lived to be over 8 year old .
Size and Appearance
Pet gerbils generally reach about 4 to 5 inches long , plus the length of their tooshie , which is an additional 3 to 4 in . Their adult weightiness is 2 to 4 ounces ; Male are typically big than females .
Gerbils resemble a mouse , though they have thicker bottom with fur on them . Their tails are roughly the same distance as their bodies . ear are only slimly big than their eyes , and they have long , athletic hind leg . Gerbils get along in over 20 colors , but golden , grey , black , and nutmeg are the most commonshades .
Personality
Despite their modest body , these pets have big personalities . gerbille are active , friendly , rum , and self - assured . These busybodies rarely stop moving , so they ’re not particularlycuddly pets . However , soft casual treatment is important to strengthen the Julian Bond you have with your gerbille . They ’re not more often than not nipping but will repair to biting if they feel threatened .
Gerbils thrive with companionship , so they must be kept with at least one other gerbille . Lone gerbils canbecome unfrequented and depressed . Therefore , most favourite parentskeep a pair of gerbils , either two females or two males . Keep in mind , if you have one of each sexuality , they will belike reproduce , and you will end up with an entire clan !
Activity Level
Unlike many other small ducky who are more active during the night , dawn , or gloam , gerbils are diurnal . That means they are more active during the daytime , just like humanity . Your gerbil will be rattling and ready to play when you ’re alert , then will log Z’s through the dark . Many owners apprise this quality because they are n’t awaken by the sound of a wheel in the night .
gerbille are very dynamic tool that can benefit from playtime out of their cages . However , they ’re also very little , fast , and peculiar , so it ’s easy for a loose gerbille to get lost in the planetary house . check that you have a secure pen in which they can run around andalways supervise them . Many owners permit their gerbils out for 30 to 45 minutes a few times each hebdomad .
What to Feed Your Pet Gerbil
right nutrition is substantive to keeping your gerbil healthy . These small pets are omnivores , meaning they call for both plant and protein . In the natural state , they get this protein from insects , but in captivity , they can obtain it and other want nutrients from commercial gerbil diet . add on this with a variety of refreshing vegetable and fruits .
you’re able to eat them once each twenty-four hours or split up their daily serve into two meal . Your gerbil will probably hide solid food away to discover later when they ’re thirsty . Keep in brain , these pets have like nutritional needs tohamsters , so do n’t be alarmed if the dish says it ’s formulated for both gerbils and hamster .
Foods to Avoid
Some fruit and veggie are toxic to gerbil . Never give your small pet the following food :
Methods for Feeding
gerbille are natural forager , so many expert recommend sprinkling their food for thought directly on the bedding , sometimes refer to as scatter eating . Some owner even take this a step further and enshroud their pet ’s food within the enclosure . This will let them to find their food for thought and enjoy it as they would in the wild . However , you may also identify their food in a shallow ceramic bowl for feeding .
Part of being a forager is the wont of hoarding solid food . Your gerbil mayhide solid food for after , then leave about it , so make certain you do a complete sweep oar of the cage day by day . Any food that has gone bad should be remove and thrown away .
Water
You must always provide your gerbille with access to refreshing , clean water . Most experts recommend a chew - proof water bottleful for gerbil over a arena or saucer . However , do n’t be alarmed if you do n’t see them imbibe as much as you ’d expect . Gerbils are aboriginal to the highlands of Mongolia , which is a semi - desert mood . Thespecies has adaptedto these coarse condition and does n’t pledge as much water as other belittled pets . They also find wet from fresh veggie and fruits .
Proper Housing for Gerbils
Your gerbille will expend a significant amount of time in their natural enclosure , so you ’ll need to typeset up a safe and comfortable quad .
Cage Material and Safety
Many owner practice large fish tank or terrariums to house their gerbil . charge plate or trash is easy to clean and preclude these busy darling from chewing through the cage and escaping . Because they ’re such escape creative person , it ’s vital to have a strong meshing eyelid over the top of the fish tank . Mesh will ensure there ’s enough airflow into the insert home ground . Entirely wire John Milton Cage Jr. are also an option , but the bars must be close enough that your gerbil ca n’t slip through . Avoid cages that have telegram on the bottom , as paw and tails can get stuck and run to harm .
Cage Size
gerbille are activesmall petsand necessitate spacious cages in relation to their size to burn off vitality . A dyad of gerbils require a minimum of a20 - gallon aquarium or terrarium , though larger is better . If you have more than two gerbils , add an excess 10 gallon for each extra pet . Any other cage must be at least 12 by 30 inch in size for a pair and increase for more someone .
Ideal Temperature
Gerbils must be maintain at a temperature between68 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit , so make certain you place their natural enclosure in a draft - free room that can maintain this temperature . If your plate is nerveless than 68 degrees in the winter , you may require to usesafe warming techniquesto keep them from getting chilled .
Bedding for Gerbils
Bedding is the name used for the textile or substrate you ’ll use to describe the bottom of your gerbil cage . Beddingis important because it gives your gerbil a flabby surface to stand on , allows them to tunnel and burrow within , and absorb their waste .
Paper - ground products are the safest for gerbils . Shredded paper or small pet - specific products likeCarefreshorKaytee Clean & Cozyare slap-up options . describe the John Milton Cage Jr. with about 6 inches of do it to provide enough space for your critter to burrow . Avoid using Sir Henry Wood shavings ( in particular pine tree or cedarwood , which release oils that are toxic to pets ) , sand , or pussycat bedding material .
Gerbil Accessories
Décor will look smashing in your gerbilarium , but it ’s also important to enrich your pet . Give your gerbille at least one dark hide that is gravid enough for them to suffer up in and store food . you may buy particular hideouts at the pet store , though small cardboard boxes can exploit in a exigency . However , make out that they ’ll most in all likelihood jaw it to shreds .
Gerbils are undeniably big chewer . chew restrain them busy and tranquil , and keep their teeth healthy . You ’ll need to provide them withmaterials designed for chewing , otherwise they ’ll resort to gnawing on their cage . you’re able to give them instinctive , untreated wood like apple or willow . However , never give a gerbil pine tree or cedar Mrs. Henry Wood or anything plastic .
gumptious gerbils can also do good from anexercise steering wheel . Asolid wheel spinneris the safest choice , so your deary wo n’t get their feet caught between conducting wire while they run . Because gerbil need such rich bedclothes , it ’s just to hang up the rack from the screen top of the aquarium , so it ’s just an inch or two above the bedclothes .
Gerbil Grooming
Gerbils should never have a water bath . alternatively , you ’ll need to treat your gerbil to asand bathevery week . This is the type of bathtub they enjoy in the wild and the best way for a gerbil to keep their cutis and fur healthy . A backbone bathing tub is similar to the method for achinchilla dust bath , though you ’ll need to usegerbil - safe sand .
Cage Cleaning Requirements
Gerbils are notoriously less messy than many other small darling , though they do require frequent cleaning .
Signs of Illness in Gerbils
With a alimental diet and healthy home ground , your gerbille should thrive . However , unexpected illnessescan come . The adopt symptoms designate your gerbil is sick and needsveterinary precaution :
Gerbil Tail Safety
While it might be tempting to grasp your gerbil by the tail if you have difficulty catching them , keep off the urge . you could be left with the tail in your hand and a loose and seriously injured favorite . gerbil can experience a term calledtail slipor hindquarters degloving , where the hide of the shadower slip off , exposing the finespun tissue paper underneath .
discourse for can slip call for veterinary surgical operation to cut off the exposed piece of tail . forbid this condition is the best course of action . Always handle your gerbille mildly and never comprehend , clout , or pick them up by the tail .
How to Care for a Gerbil
When you bringyour new gerbilhome , give them three or four day to get used to their surroundings . furnish them with rich solid food , weewee , and places to hide . After this initial period has passed and your pet seems prosperous in their new environs , you could begin interacting with them . Offer a small piece of their favourite food each clip , and you ’ll be on your way to build a bond with your belittled pet that will last for eld to come .
