Gerbil Information
Gerbils are small pets which are fun and quite easy to look after. They are highly inquisitive looking for mischief and exploring their area. They are easy to handle as long as sufficient care is taken. Gerbils are a popular pet for children and they can be a great learning experience. Gerbils are group animals and in the wild they live in colonies. They are best kept in groups of two or more and to avoid any unwanted pregnancies its best to keep males and females apart. If kept together from a young age gerbils will play and live happily together but introducing unknown adults to a group will cause them to fight. They are highly active animals which like to burrow, dig and scratch so their housing should be appropriate to cater for their needs. They are active both day and night and only require about 3 hours between play and rest. Gerbils live for approximately 3 years if cared for properly so its best to be aware of any decrease in activity or eating and take them to a vet immediately. To keep your gerbil healthy you should follow some important points. These are:
● Feed gerbils daily with a mixed diet of grain and various fruits and vegetables. Gerbils also like sunflowers seeds and peanuts but offer these occasionally.
● Provide a constant supply of fresh clean water in a drip feed bottle with a metal spout.
● Provide a large metal wired cage to be kept in a warm place away from direct sunlight. The cage should contain burrowing material such as chopped straw/hay or woodchips or potting compost with some soft hay or clean kitchen roll in a bedding area. Tidy the cage every day and have a thorough clean out every couple of weeks.
● Toys should be provided such as cardboard tubes and wooden balls or reels. A softwood block is essential to keep the gerbils teeth from getting too long.
● To be handled regularly and properly but also allowed their own time for rest each day.
More information...
To handle a gerbil you should encourage them to walk onto an outstretched hand and then support their back so they cannot jump off. Never pick up a gerbil by its tail as this will hurt the animal and their tails can easily be damaged. Gerbils are relatively easy to breed and females can have around 5 to 7 litters in their lifetime with up to 8 young in each litter. If you decide to breed your gerbils it is recommended that you have sufficient suitable homes for all the litter and that more information is sought from a vet beforehand.
Gerbil products...
There are many suppliers of a variety of products for gerbils. We have analysed several online retailers and have located some usual and unique products available for you pet gerbil. If any of these interest you, follow this link and see what else these sites can offer!