These desert rodents are very inquisitive animals, and they require an interesting and varied environment to keep them happy. Gerbils like toys – lots of them! Exercise wheels can keep them amused for hours. Give them something new every few weeks, and they will have a great time investigating.
The best time to acquire a gerbil is when he is about six weeks old. The one you choose should have a plump body, bright eyes, thick fur and lots of energy.
These affectionate animals are most active during the day. They are notorious escape artists and adept jumpers. Gerbils require good solid cages (about 2’x2’x1’) with wire mesh covers. A dry aquarium with a hardware cloth cover is ideal. Gerbils are naturally burrowing animals, so give them a nice thick bedding if cedar shavings. Avoid newspaper – the ink can be toxic for these little creatures. You only need to wash the cage our completely every two or three weeks, since gerbils excrete very little urine, but change the bedding weekly. These animals are very good at keeping themselves clean; you need never give your gerbil a bath.
Gerbils prefer a dry environment. While they can tolerate a wide range of temperatures, they are uncomfortable at temperatures less than 7ºC or greater than 30ºC.
Gerbils’ favorite food is unsalted sunflower seeds, but alone, they do not constitute a complete diet. Feet these seeds in combination with kibbled dog food or commercial gerbil food and you will have a healthy gerbil. These animals are not particularly prone to obesity, so feed them as much as they want. Fresh seeding grasses are a good addition to their diet. Fresh fruits and vegetables are not only unnecessary, but they can be detrimental. Peanuts or potato chips are nice occasional treats. Gerbils do well to have wood and/or cardboard on which to chew (paper towel tubes double as fun toys!). Although they do not drink very much, fresh water should always be available. Automatic cage-hung water tubes are best.
Generally speaking, gerbils enjoy being handled. Do not pick up your gerbil by the end of his tail – you might skin it. Grasp him by the base of the tail and slide your other hand under him, then release his tail and cup your hands together. It helps if you talk to your gerbil while you are cuddling him.
If you take good care of your gerbil, you should have a healthy pet for three or four years. In the wild, gerbils are not known to suffer from any diseases, but they can become ill in captivity. If your gerbil is lethargic, huddles in a corner or has a rough-looking coat or sores, take him to the veterinarian.
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