Rabbits N'Rodents

Yes, gerbils need friends, they are social animals so you should get 2 males or 2 females, having two is really no more expensive than owning one. Gerbils naturally live with other gerbils in the wild and feel safer and happier when with another gerbil they can groom and communicate with. Lone gerbils have been known to become depressed. If you only want one pet, maybe think about getting a syrian hamster or male mouse.

Male or Female?

Male or Female?

If you want a pair, either gender will do, if you'd like 3 or 4, consider males as they tend to get along better, but be prepared to spilt them up if any fighting occurs. The only real difference between the genders is that females are more sleek, whereas males tend to be slightly more heavy in structure. In personaility there isn't really much of a difference between the genders, as every individual gerbil is different.

Do gerbils bite?

I've heard gerbils bite lots, do gerbils bite?

Yes, they can bite if not yet tamed or if they are scared. It usually is only a nip and they soon learn we are not edible, bedsides if someone has had experience with an untamed gerbil that does bite a lot out of fear, they often assume all gerbils are 'evil', same with hamsters!

Cages

What cage is best?

There are many cages to choose from, but which one is best for your gerbils? Read the Caging section.

Bar chewing

I have a wire cage, but all they do is chew the bars, why?

Gerbils chew the bars simply because they can. Crittertrails/habitrails etc also tend to be small and offer no opportunities for digging, so gerbils often become bored. Investing in a nice, larger aqaurium is the best idea. However if you don't want to throw the old cage out, they can be kept as a spare for cage cleaning times and vet trips. If your gerbils are chewing the tank topper or you can't get a new cage just now, you can try adding more chewing material into the cage and buy 'Bitter Apple Spray' from your petstore (in the puppy section) and rub a bit on the bars, do not use spices or other substances.

Cedar and Pine

Cedar and pine are cheap, and I've had no problems so can I continue to use it?

No, because as you will see in the bedding section it can cause damage gradually to interal organs. Just because you've had no problems yet, does't mean there are no problems occuring.

Compost and straw?

Can I use Compost and straw instead of shavings?

The answer is no. Straw has sharp edges and can hurt eyes and has no nutritional value, unlike hay. As for compost, it will only make your gerbils dirty, prehaps even ill as it has a lot of bacteria in it.

Toys

My gerbils' cage looks bare, what toys are best?

Read this section on toys

Other Foods

Safe and Unsafe Food List

Safe

Apple (seedless)
Basil
Bok Choi
Broccoli
Carrot
Cauliflower Leaves
Chickweed
Clover(white NOT red)
Coriander/cilantro
Dandelion Leaves
Grass(young)
Pak Choi
Pear
Strawberry (and young leaves)
Watercress
Wheatgrass

Do NOT feed the following:

Blubous plants
Buttercup
Clematis
Crocus
Cucumber-Too watery
Daffodil
Deadly Nightshade
Garlic
Holly
Ivy
Kidney beans (raw)
Lemons
Limes
Onion
Pineapple
Poppy
Potato (raw, cooked and leaves are no-no's)
Rhubarb
Sage- thought to encourage fits in some species
Tomato leaves
Yew

Treats

Treats are just that, treats and should be fed sparingly, the ones listed below have been listed because they have health benefits as well as being greatly enjoyed. Feed no more than 2-3 times a week in small amounts:

Brazil nuts
Bread (wholemeal and stale)
Buckwheat
Cereal (plain, low sugar, no corn ie: Plain kashi)
Egg (hard boiled)
Flaxseeds
Lentils
Mealworms
Millet
Peanuts(unsalted)
Pecans
Pumpkin seeds
Rice (wholemeal cooked)
Rolled Oats (too many unsoaked causes constipation)
Walnuts

Do NOT feed

Almonds
Butter
Cakes
Chips/crisps
Chocolate
Fizzy Drinks
Jams
Jellies
Junk Foods
Peanutbutter
Salty foods
Sweets
Toffee

Chocolate

My gerbils love chocolate, is it really that bad for them?

Yes, chocolate should never be fed, it is full of sugar and cow's milk, and can cause problems, even if fed in small amounts. Instead, feed a healthy treat like a sunflower seed or a bit of brazil nut.

Neutering

Can I Neuter my gerbil?

Like hamsters and other smaller rodents, neutering gerbils is not necessary, and not many vets will have much experience in neutering animals as small as gerbils, making the operation very risky. It is invasive surgery and can cause a lot of unnecessary stress, just keep them away from the opposite sex if you don't want babies.

Bathing

Can I bath my gerbils?

No, as they come from a dry climate and by bathing them you risk them drowning, suffering from unnecessary stress and they can catch a chill from it, plus it removes oils from their coats, never bath a gerbil, they can groom themselves. If they get very dirty, you can use a babywipe instead. If their coat looks a bit dirty, you can provide them with a chinchilla sand bath (not chinchilla dust or beach sand!).

If their coat looks dull or ruffled, they could be ill and you may need to consult your vet.

Breeding

I want to breed my gerbils, I think it would be fun, what advice do you have?

I say stop and listen! Breeding any animal is a big responsibility and should never be attempted for 'fun'. It is not fun when mum dies, it is not fun if mum abandons or eats the babies, nor is it fun if you breed without considering genetics or whether or not the parents are related and you produce mutated babies! The one and only reason to breed is to improve the species, and to do this you need to research thoroughly, buy unrelated gerbils from a reputable breeder so as you know the genetics and family relations. Breeding takes a lot of time, money and sometimes heartache. Besides there are more than enough gerbils stuck in rescue shelters, if you want more, look to a rescue rather than breeding. I would never recommend breeding to the novice owner, you need a vast knowledge in every aspect of gerbil care.

Got Rabbits, Hamsters, Guinea pigs, gerbils?

Gerbil FAQ

Do gerbils need a friend?