Gerbils are wonderfully entertaining pets, with all their burrowing antics and social behaviour. Did you know there are over 90 species of Gerbil? Only 2 are kept as pets. The Mongolian gerbil is the most common, but many people also keep Fat-tailed gerbils.
For this care guide, we are going to focus on Mongolian gerbils as this is the most common pet species, however, most of their care is the same for Fat-tailed gerbils.
Housing
Gerbils are tunneling rodents, found in the grasslands of the Gobi Desert. The environment here is dry and sandy, so we need to replicate this for our pet gerbils. There are several options for gerbil cages, but the most popular are:
- Glass tank/aquarium with a wire mesh lid
- Gerbilarium (glass chamber on the bottom and wire cage on top)
- DIY cages
A gerbil cage should be a minimum of 10 gallons/litres per gerbil to ensure there is space for nest boxes, a wheel, and open spaces to move about. To provide enough space for your gerbils to dig, their substrate should be at least 5inches deep. The deeper the substrate, the more intricate tunnels they can create and the happier they will be.
The substrate should be dust free. You can get gerbil bedding from any pet store. Timothy or meadow hay, organic soil or wood shavings are all good choices. Include some shredded paper for nesting too. Never use materials that are fluffy as the fibres can get caught around your gerbil’s legs.
Gerbils love a nest box where they can rest above the substrate, but do not use wood or plastic for nest boxes as your gerbils will chew! Clay flowerpots or ceramic houses are great options. You can even get hanging houses from most pet stores which you can suspend from the cage lid. Include ramps, bridges, and shelves at different heights throughout the enclosure. A wheel is a must as gerbils have very high energy levels. They will also enjoy enrichment items such as egg boxes, toilet roll tubes, and applewood sticks to chew on.
A sand bath is a must so your gerbils can keep their coats clean. Simply add a 2-inch layer of chinchilla sand to a shallow dish. Some gerbils will use it as a toilet, so be sure to keep an eye on it and change out for fresh sand to keep it clean.
Cleaning
Being desert animals, gerbils do not drink much water so they do not toilet as often as other rodents. You will need to spot-clean the surfaces daily to remove any uneaten food or dirty substrate.
Full cage cleans are needed every 3 weeks. To do this you will first need to place your gerbils in a secure pet carer. Remove all items and substrate from the tank. Your substrate can be placed in your compost or recycled in your green waste bin.
Spray the cage with pet-safe disinfectant and thoroughly wipe over the surface with dry paper towels. Ensure there is no residue before adding fresh bedding. Replace your nesting box, wheel, and enrichment items, and scatter fresh food before returning your gerbils to their cage.
Diet
The base of a gerbil diet is usually a commercial dry mix which you can purchase from any pet store. Your gerbil’s diet should also be supplemented with fresh fruits and veggies such as:
- Apples
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Broccoli
- Sprouts
Fruits and veggies should be diced into small pieces. You can place the food in stainless steel or ceramic food bowls, but it is better to scatter feed your gerbils as this encourages natural foraging behaviour. Always provide fresh water via a water bottle attached to the side of the cage.
Social Groups
Gerbils are social animals. In the wild they live in small groups called a ‘clan’ which include one dominant breeding pair and their offspring. With gerbils breeding from around 3 months old and having pregnancies of just 24 days, there are always new babies arriving and older generations moving out to form their own clans.
You should never keep a gerbil alone. If a pet shop or breeder tries to sell you a single gerbil, walk away. Ideally, gerbils should be kept as a same-sex pair or small group. The best option is to choose gerbils from the same litter as they will already be bonded. Gerbils over 10 weeks old will be aggressive to newcomers.
You can introduce older gerbils by dividing the cage with a wire mesh, so they can see and smell each other. Swap sides as well so their scents are throughout the enclosure. Keep the mesh in place for at least 4 days before allowing them to come together and keep an eye on them for any aggression.
A male and female pair will breed quickly and a female will give birth to up to 8 pups with each pregnancy. Breeding gerbils is not advised unless you have extensive knowledge of gerbil behaviour and plenty of space to keep a constantly growing group.
Handling
Most gerbils will be used to a small amount of human contact but you should continue this once you get them home. The best way to start is to simply place your hand in the cage and allow your gerbils to sniff you and get used to your scent.
You can slowly start to stroke them, but do not follow them all over the cage as they may start to see you as a threat. To pick up a gerbil, place one hand under the body near the forelegs and use your other hand to support the hind legs.
You can let your gerbil get used to you by allowing them to walk on your lap while seated on the floor in a secure area. Another way to earn your gerbil’s trust is to hand-feed them their favourite fruits or veggies. Children should always be supervised when handling gerbils and sudden movements can cause a gerbil to bite out of fear.