How many gerbils should I get?

Question

My daughter wants some gerbils. I told her I would get her some for Christmas. How many?

Answer 1

I would say get two or three gerbils. They are very social animals and will get depressed if they are alone! But make sure they are the same gender. If they are not, you will have a million little gerbil babies running around. Two gerbils can have more than 35 babies in a year. Get males because females fight. Also, don't get a small aquarium tank. Get the largest one possible so they will have room to run around. This way they can dig their little burrows and still have room to run on thier wheel and hide in an igloo or something. I strongly advise against getting a wire cage. They will try to chew throught the wire and either rub their little noses bald (then you have to take them to the vet) or they will actually succeed in breaking through and cut their mouths (then you DEFINITLY need to take them to a vet!). And get them from a shelter, not a breeder.

Answer 2

Gerbils are very social little rodents and they love to live together. I'd suggest getting two males. Female gerbils are very territorial and even if they've lived together for a long time, it's possible that they'll begin fighting over time. If you get two males, make sure they've already lived together for a while. Getting two gerbils and trying to make them get along is never a good idea.

And someone suggested getting an aquarium. I'd suggest AGAINST that. I agree that the plastic cages are bad, but I think aquariums are even worse! Although gerbils are nocturnal, they adapt very easily and are often active during the daytime. They LOVE to play and love to climb up the sides of wire cages! In an aquarium, they'll go to the sides and scratch while they're trying to climb. A good, sturdy wire cage is perfect for them.

As for bedding? Cedar chips and such are no good. Newspaper is perfect! lol. Gerbils' teeth are constantly growing, so they always need something to chew on to keep their teeth short. If you lay a couple pages of newspaper in the cage, they'll chew it into pieces and use it as bedding. Then things like empty cardboard popcorn boxes or cardboard toilet paper rolls can be put in their cage so they can chew on them and play in it. I used to put tissue boxes in the cage, they LOVE it, lol.

Anyway, I know this was a whole lot more information than you asked, but I noticed other people were responding with answers that weren't right about gerbils, so I just thought I'd clear things up. :)

Have fun! Gerbils are great pets.

Answer 3

I would get 2 or 3, but do NOT get 3 females. There is a 99.9 percent chance they will fight, and that will not be fun for you daughter. I suggest getting 2 females, 2 males, or MAYBE even 3 males if you have a big enough cage. Also it is better to get them an aquarium because they will chew through the plastic on those cute cages every kid wants and they will get depressed and hurt in wire cages. Make sure you get a 10 gallon aquarium with a lid for 2 gerbils and a 15 gallon for 3 gerbils (the general rule is 5 gallons per gerbil). Please do not use pine or cedar for bedding. they have bad oils and can cause respiratory problems. The best beddings are Aspen, CareFresh, or Corncob. I hope your child has fun with the gerbils.
Happy Holidays! :0)

Answer 4

Get 2 or more Because gerbils are social animals. I have had kept a mixed group of gerbils before and they were very social and active. But they started to breed so I separted them into to differnent cages 1 female cage and 1male cage. The female cage was fine because there was lots of them so they were social and happy. But in the male cage there was only 1, he became very sad and slow. So I brought a new Male gerbil to keep him company but when he got in the cage he didn't like him so they fighted leading to my old gerbils death! My advise is get a mix of brothers and sisters or a group of females not males they are competative and fight leadin to tradgeds! Gerbils are easy and cheap to keep they eat the standard pelets and mixes- They also like for a treat hay. Gerbils make little nests to sleep in for them selves, so shreeded paper does the trick. A metal bared cage is the best for them with different leveled floors (they like climing and other activities).

Answer 5

I would get two cause the gerbils vould be friends!

Answer 6

I think they are happier when there are just two of them. Mine play together and sleep together-I think two is perfect.

Answer 7

2, a girl, a boy then they can have babies, if u dont want babies then still get 2 just 2 boys