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Home Get To Know Your Gerbil: A Care Guide

Get To Know Your Gerbil: A Care Guide

Gerbil Gerbil Care Guide

Questions

  • What do I need?
  • Feeding your gerbil
  • Your gerbil's health
  • Your gerbil's behaviour
  • Shopping list
Being a parent to a pet gerbil is a wonderful experience, but as with all pets it’s important to know what is involved in caring for them to help them lead a happy, healthy life.

What do I need?

·       I need daily care and attention. You’ll need to provide me with fresh food and water, clean my living area regularly and spend quality time with me.
·       I’ll need regular visits to the vet to ensure I stay in good health.
·       I’m sociable so I thrive with other gerbil friends.
·       With the right care and depending on my breed, I can live anywhere between 3 to 4 years. As a Duprasi gerbil, I can live up to 7 years. Can you care for me for that long?
·       My diet should consist mainly of commercial gerbil mix with some fresh green vegetables and fruit.
·       I need a safe and comfortable home with nesting areas so that I can burrow and display my natural behaviours.

Introduction To Gerbils

Gerbils are charming pet companions that have lovable personalities and fascinating habits. They are naturally adapted to desert environments in Africa, India and Asia and keep themselves busy by digging and gnawing. They may be small, but they have a range of needs which must be met in order to ensure they have a long and fulfilling life.

Choosing A Gerbil

There are many species of gerbil, though the Mongolian gerbil is the one most commonly kept as a pet.
Duprasi gerbils, or fat-tailed gerbils, are known for their distinctive fat tails used for water and fat reserves. Their docile temperament makes them excellent pets. While Duprasi gerbils have similar dietary needs to other species, their diet should be designed to prevent obesity due to their less active nature.
It’s vital to choose gerbils that are at least six weeks old to ensure they’ve received a proper start to life.
Gerbils are social animals that are happiest in groups. In the wild, there are often many generations of gerbil living together in colonies! Duprasi gerbils are generally more solitary but can live happily with a companion if introduced carefully.
Typically, gerbils live between 3 and 4 years, although some breeds, like Duprasis may live for longer, up to 7 years.
Talk to our team about choosing the right type of gerbil to help you discover your perfect gerbil friend!

Handling Your Gerbil

Approach your gerbil calmly and gently - sudden movements or loud noises can startle them. Start talking quietly to your gerbil so that it gets used to your voice. Offer treats from your hand to gain its trust. Once it’s at ease, gently lift it with both hands or encourage it to walk onto your hand.
Once you have your gerbil in your hands, hold it securely but not too tightly. You can keep your gerbil close to your body to make it feel more secure and cradle it against your chest. Consistent, gentle handling of your gerbil will help you to spot any signs of ill-health and strengthens your bond.
If children are handling your gerbil, closely supervise the interaction to ensure your gerbil’s safety and well-being. 
Also, don’t forget to wash your hands after touching your fur baby!

Housing

All gerbils need a secure and clean environment with protection from hazards, with a deep plastic base to prevent escapes and enough space for them to exercise and burrow. They also need a safe, comfortable place to rest undisturbed and where they can hide from things that may scare them.
The room temperature should be between 19°C and 23°C, away from direct sunlight and draughts, to prevent stress and health problems.
Regular exercise is essential for gerbils, so a spacious cage and tunnels, large gerbil balls and wheels are great for gerbil enrichment. Gerbils also like to scent-mark to identify each other, so keep a smooth stone in their home for this purpose. This will also help to keep their claws trim too!

Bedding

Your gerbil’s home needs a significant layer of dust-free wood shavings, woodchips or hay to provide structure to their burrows and give them something to gnaw.
Keeping your gerbil and its environment clean is crucial, and it's essential to thoroughly clean the cage at least once a week with pet-safe disinfectants, to maintain hygiene. When you do this, keep a small amount of clean bedding to re-use so that it smells familiar to your gerbil. You should remove soiled bedding every day.

Feeding your gerbil

A well-balanced diet is critical for your gerbil's health. Provide a commercial gerbil food, complemented by small quantities of fresh fruit and vegetables.

  1. Basic Diet: A balanced commercial mix should be the foundation of a gerbil’s diet, offering essential grains, seeds, and nuts. Serve fresh fruit and vegetables in moderation to prevent spoilage and weight gain.

  2. Fresh Foods: Gradually introduce vegetables and fruits in tiny amounts. Steer clear of toxic foods such as onions, garlic, and chocolate.

Your gerbil needs constant access to fresh water in a clean, easily accessible bottle. Put their food in flat dishes or scatter it directly on the cage floor to encourage foraging. Gerbils like to sit up and hold pieces of food to gnaw on! Remove any stale food from their cage each day as gerbils like to hoard it!

Your gerbil's health

A healthy gerbil is alert, with a shiny coat and they eat and drink normally.
1.      Veterinary care: You should also register your gerbil with a veterinary surgeon in case they become poorly.
2.      Daily health checks: To help your gerbil stay healthy, regularly check your gerbil for signs of illness.
3.      Dental care: A gerbil’s teeth grow all the time. You'll need to give your gerbil suitable gnawing material to maintain their sharp teeth and stop them getting too long, which causes health problems and pain. Dental problems are not uncommon in gerbils, and you should check with your veterinary surgeon if you have any concerns about their teeth.

Your gerbil's behaviour

Gerbils are sociable animals so they’re happiest in same-sex pairs or small groups, with gerbils they're familiar with. Dedicate time to your gerbil! They genuinely enjoy human interaction and offering them a small treat can be a delightful way to bond and build trust.
Gentle handling and consistent interaction strengthens your bond with them and enhances their quality of life.

Shopping list

  1. Spacious Cage: Large and escape proof, with adequate ventilation.

  2. Bedding: Dust-free wood shavings, woodchips or hay. Avoid cedar and pine.

  3. Hiding House: A safe space for your gerbil to retreat and rest.

  4. Nesting Material: Soft, safe material for your gerbil to burrow and sleep in.

  5. Chew Toys: Tubes or tunnels, made of wood or hay, to keep their teeth in good health and provide mental stimulation.

  6. Exercise Wheel: Solid surface to prevent injuries, allowing your gerbil to stay active.

  7. Sand Bath: A shallow dish filled with chinchilla sand (not dust) for coat care.

  8. Food Dish: A sturdy, tip-resistant dish for daily feeding.

  9. Water Bottle: With a metal sipper to keep water clean and fresh.

  10. Temperature Gauge: To monitor the enclosure’s temperature, ensuring it remains between 19°C and 23°C.

  11. Cleaning Supplies: Pet-friendly disinfectant to keep your gerbil’s home clean.

 
This blog is produced by Jollyes – The Pet People in collaboration with the Pet Industry Federation.
 
Disclaimer: This blog provides general guidance for your new gerbil, but is not a comprehensive guide. The information contained is not a substitute for veterinary advice and any concerns about your individual pet’s health should be raised with your veterinary surgeon.
 
 
 
 
 
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