Tell me stuff about gerbils!!!!!?

Question

I might get gerbils soon and I have 3 questions about them. Here it goes.
1. Do they live better in pairs? If so, which pairs are better, males or females?
2. Would a cage like this one http://www.petco.com/product/8304/Coast-Cages-Condos-for-Hamsters-or-Mice.aspx be good for two of them?
3. Do gerbils chew everything up?

If you can help me, I will be glad. I will read each answer carefully befor choosing a best answer.

How do I ask my parents for gerbils?

Answer 1

I had gerbils twice (so that would amount to about 15 years of experience).

1. They do live better with more than one. Two females live together better than two males and don't yield a bunch of babies either. I found that males tended to beat up on females or smaller gerbils.

2. I can't see the cage. Sorry, link won't come up. We had a Habitrail the first time, and I used an aquarium cage the second time. Having a running wheel in both was great for all. There were advantages to both, but the Habitrail was more fun for me to see (harder to clean).

3. Gerbils love to chew. I often gave them the sunday newspaper and they adored the inner cardboard core from toilet paper and paper towels. They would run through a bunch of times and then chew it up. Plastic toys were damaged quickly, so I just had a metal running wheel and water thing with a glass feeder. Ceramic feed bowls. Today's newspaper is actually safer as the print is made from soy.

Gerbils are sensitive to odors, so be sure to wash your hands particuarly if you've handled something with a perfume. My cousins' had hamsters, but they tended to live in their sock. You will see plenty of your gerbils towards the evening hours and mine were always noisy around 11 p.m. running and knocking over their wheel.

My second set of gerbils were given to me by a classroom teacher. The kids apparently were too rough and the male gerbil bit. I had him for 7 or 8 years and never completely trained him out of this. Only gerbil that I ever had that did bite.

Answer 2

1)They live fine in pairs, however they will also be fine on their own. Males are less aggressive. Just don't put two together that haven't lived together before.

2) Funny, that was the exact cage I had my gerbil in. I would try to get something a bit bigger if you go with two, however that cage would work if you can't get anything bigger.

3) Yes, gerbils will chew a lot of things up. The pictured cage got gnawed on all the time my by my gerbil, to where some of the color came off. You should provide plenty of wood bars and other chewing treats to help them gnaw their teeth down.

Answer 3

I have 2 female gerbils, a black one w/a white chest named pepper and a all white one named salt.
1. They live better in pairs if the have known each other scince they were just babies. I have never had males so I dont know, but I have a friend who does and they are just fine cagemates.. but get what ever sex has 2 in the cage at the pet store, that look healthy.
2. Yes it looks fine for 2 gerbils but not anymore.
3. Yes they do so have plenty of chew sticks and they love to chew toilet paper rolls up.
have fun.

Answer 4

They do live better in pairs and i don't think it matters if it was male and male or female and female! I think a bigger one would be better! I have a 2 story cage for my hamster and i only have 1! Yes gerbils lie to chew a lot! They also bite really hard ( in my experience one bit me and i bled a lot) but it really depends on the gerbil! They can be very sweet and loving but like all animals they can be mean! Good luck with your gerbil!

Answer 5

Yes get a pair of even 3. Neither sex is better just get them from the same litter to avoid rejection. That cage would be fine but i keep mine in a glass aquarium because they cannot chew threw that. Mine chewed through their plastic cage and yes they destroy alot of thing but if you keep toilet tubes and other chew toys in the cage for them they should just chew that not want you dont want them too! You just have to prove to them you are responible enough and that it is something you really want. Try telling them lots of gerbil facts you have found on the web? Hope i helped :)

Answer 6

1. they live fine in pairs as long as they have been together for long enough so that you know that they will not fight.
2. yes that cage would be good for 2 of them but no more than 2
3. do not get a plastic cage they will chew it. they will chew on quite a bit of things but i wouldn't worry.

i have had many gerbils before and currently have 3.

Answer 7

1. I believe females are better pairs because they are more active and will be willing to take in all the attention
2. It's good for one but you might want to go a little bigger for two. There are really nice ones at Petsmart if you want to try there.
3. My gerbil will shred up anything plastic so I got her a wooden house and toys ect.(Also they love all the stringy bird toys too)

Answer 8

1)males/females... not much difference when placed in pairs of the same gender
2)get 2.5/more ft tanks with covers. they are excellent escape artists
3)not exactly EVERYTHING...but do give them stuff to chew e.g inkless/totally plain paper, tissue,hay

Answer 9

1. females are better together, males are more aggressive.
2. go for something bigger.
3. they are rodents, so yea. give it wooden toys to gnaw on.

Answer 10

different than the glaring stuff occurring with the female, the male gets very excited as he anticipates the beginning coming. you will additionally be conscious the female nesting greater, and now and lower back getting annoyed with the male.