I'm getting a gerbil any tips?

Question

I'm getting a gerbil today. Is there any tips, info, something you can give me about gerbils. I am getting one at PetCo, yesterday I looked and there were tons. I just want to know how to pick out a good one, how long they live, stuff like that. Thanks!

Answer 1

Consider a rat. They are slightly bigger, more friendly and more intelligent.

Answer 2

Make sure to get two gerbils, and make sure they are both the same sex. It's better to get two females, I think, because they don't smell as much as the males.

Basic gerbil care:
Gerbils don't drink much water, but you should change their water anyway so they have something fresh. Get them a water bottle with a metal bottom part - not a water bowl.

Make sure you don't put anything plastic in their cage. They chew through plastic immediately.

Someone already suggested toilet paper rolls - I second this! They're a great free toy.

Definitely get two because they are social. I've had gerbil pairs live as long as four years, but single gerbils seem to only live one or two years.

Make sure to handle them a lot as soon as you get them home. Otherwise they never become tame, and they may bite.

Don't use cedar bedding; it's bad for their respiratory system. Aspen is best, but it's hard to find. I generally use pine, and just make sure to keep an eye on them in case one is allergic to the dust. (If you have a gerbil that's allergic to pine you'll want to seek out aspen or the recycled paper bedding).

If you use pine bedding and get female gerbils, you won't need to change the cage very often (maybe once every two or three weeks). If you use the paper bedding, you'll need to change the cage every week, because it doesn't cover up the smell.

Feed them gerbil food as opposed to hamster food; hamster food has more fat, so it's not good for them. If you can't find gerbil food, feed the mouse or rat food.

Keep them in a tank rather than a traditional cage; (but make sure to get a lid with lots of holes so they can breathe). Bedding will fall out through the cracks of a regular cage, and if it's a plastic cage the gerbils will chew their way out in no time. Put a small rock or something else heavy on top of the lid - gerbils are escape artists!!

I find that the traditional colored (brown) gerbils tend to be a little more healthy than the others - I think this is because the white gerbils and so on tend to have more recessive genes. So I would look for gerbils with at least some brown on them.

Have fun!

Answer 3

I have had four gerbils, all of them males. I would suggest that you get a pair because they are social. If they are all in the same cage, they should already be bonded to each other. I have had males, and I have had no problems with scent or temperment. Flip both of them over before you take them home. The testicles should be quite prominent, even in little ones. If you have any doubt, you have probably picked up a female. They should have bright, clear eyes, no missing patches of fur, and a fluffy tail.

Gerbils should be kept on bedding that will not irritate them. I have always kept mine on aspen. You can also use Carefresh. I used the Carefresh Ultra because it has less of an odor.

Also, get an aquarium with a lid. They will chew through anything plastic, and the little guys can jump!

Gerbils need a lot to chew on. Save any piece of cardboard that comes through your house: toilet paper tubes, paper towel rolls, Kleenex boxes, etc. You may need to enlist friends. My little guys also liked bark bites. They like the Timber Hideaway houses. Watch for nails because they will chew through the wood until the nails are exposed. They also have a ball shredding toilet paper.

Do not feed them too many sunflower seeds, peanuts, fattening treats, etc. Treats are good to get them to trust your hand, but you should limit the amount. All my boys thought Yogies were the best treat in the world, but I fed them the Kaytee Exact mix (no seeds or fruit) to keep them from getting too fat. Sunflower seeds are also a favorite treat.

If you get a metal wheel, cover it with masking tape so their tails can't get stuck. You can rub some bedding over the tape so it isn't too sticky. I have wired the wheel to the lid of the cage using bread ties to prevent it from being knocked over.

I have had four, and they have all lived an average of 2 years. The longest was 2 and a half. However, my friend has one who is well over 3 years.

If you get the plastic balls for them to run around in, make sure you put a piece of tape on the top so the lid doesn't move and fall off.

Also, you should not expect your gerbils to be very happy about being picked up. They have a pretty short attention span (although it can be increased with a treat), and they will let you know when they want to be put down.

One, last warning, never grab them by the tail. The skin can come off. Always pick them up by the body.

Enjoy your little guys! They are adorable to watch and an endless source of amusement.

Answer 4

You always want to get 2 gerbils, since they are very social, unlike hamsters. Don't get a male and female, unless you want half a gazillion gerbils. Like hamsters, they need something to chew, so toilet paper rolls are always fun for them. They love to run, so a wheel with no openings is a good thing. They also love to dig, so lots of bedding is great. for more of this gerbil stuff, go here http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pets_gerbilcare . its an exellent pet help place, that has everything. I hope this helps!

Answer 5

Get a metal cage & a metal running wheel. Buy lots of chew sticks treats. Change the pine bedding often. If you take good care of it, it should live about a year or two. Get the one doing the running!

Answer 6

Consider getting a guinea pig (they don't hop like gerbils do). Get a high up closed cage that is latches securely. That they don't know how to unlatch it. They like to jump high up into the air.

If you get one; get two so the one won't get lonely.

Answer 7

Yes, look in their cage, choose the one playing a lot!!