All about Gerbils

Latin name: Meriones unguiculatus

Female: Sow

Male: Boar

Young: Pups

Life span: 3 - 5 years

Litter Size: 3 - 10 pups

Birth weight: 1 - 3 grams

Eyes open: 17 days

Gestation period: 24 - 26 days

Average weight: Male 60 grams Female 50 grams

Sexual maturity: Males and Females 10 - 12 weeks

Weaning age: 21 - 24 days

Diet: Omnivorous

History of gerbils

wIn the wild, Mongolian gerbils live in the desert where there is little vegetation, low rainfall and temperatures that fluctuate enormously between summer and winter, day and night.

wThe survival of gerbils is down to their burrowing instincts. Burrowing allows them to protect themselves from the extremes in temperature as, under the soil, temperatures remain constant.

wGerbil burrows in the wild are a complex network of tunnels, with nest and food storage chambers which allow the gerbil to stay underground for long periods of time.

wThe gerbil species has evolved to need only limited food and water. Their long hindlegs allow them to cover large distances in a harsh habitat in order to collect food. In addition, their bodies require little water as they do not sweat and they re-absorb their liquid intake producing highly concentrated urine and dry faeces. They possess kidneys with a great ability to concentrate urine which is required for their life in the harsh desert.

wGerbils are rare amongst rodents in that they form a pair for life and the male assists with rearing.

wThe Latin name for gerbils is 'Meriones unguiculatus' which means 'clawed warrior.'

Colours/Patterns/Markings

wGerbils have only been domesticated for the last 30 years so there has not yet been an opportunity for extensive development of coloured varieties.

wThe Golden Agouti is the most common gerbil found in pet shops and is a sandy colour with a dark stripe down the spine and tail. Other varieties include Albino, Black, Cinnamon, White Spot, Dark Tailed White, Dove and Argente.

Feeding your Gerbil

wIn their natural habitat, gerbils eat a selection of wind blown seeds, grain and grasses. Gerbils are often mistaken as herbivores, but they are omnivores and do need a small amount of protein in their diet to keep them healthy. In the wild they would satisfy this need by eating grubs and insects.

wThey are rodents and have continuously growing teeth so need to gnaw to help wear down their teeth.

wGerbils have traditionally been fed on hamster mixes. However this is not ideal as their requirements are different and hamster mixes contain too much fat for a gerbil. Gerbils do love sunflower seeds but too many of them can be bad for them as they are very high in fat. Try to find a diet specific for gerbils for this reason.

wTreats that you can give include plump raisins, crispy carrots and tasty apple in small pieces and hidden around the cage as gerbils love foraging and it will stop them from getting bored.

wGerbils need feeding everyday. A good quality, heavy earthenware food bowl is essential to keep the food dry and clean and prevent the gerbil from tipping the food onto the floor of the cage. Keep feeding bowls clean.

wEnsure there is fresh drinking water available at all times.

Keeping your Gerbil happy

wIn the wild, gerbils live in burrows and spend the majority of time foraging for food, so you need to provide plenty of room for your gerbil to eat, sleep and run around.

wGerbils should be kept in pairs or groups and you must make sure that there is room for all of them. They need to be kept indoors and careful thought must be given to where your gerbil's cage will be kept. The temperature in the room should be constant, away from direct sunlight and draughts and out of reach of any other pets.

wGerbils need good, secure, roomy housing. They can be kept in a wire cage with a plastic base or a plastic hamster home but the best option is to construct a 'gerbilarium' (an aquarium with a well ventilated cover).

w Never keep them in a wooden hutch as they will gnaw their way out.

wA good cage will be two tiered and have at least two compartments - one for the day and one to nest and hide in at night. Don't forget that if you have more than one gerbil you will need a bigger cage. They prefer to sleep separately at night, too, so need their own nesting areas.

wUse a cleaning spray that eliminates pet odours, germs and bacteria that could harm your pet.

wThe bedding you use should be made of good quality barley straw for example or a good quality treated wood-shaving.

wGerbils love to have a dust bath. Place a high quality sand into a box or bowl and let your gerbils roll around and flip over. They will thoroughly enjoy themselves and the sand will help keep their coats healthy by removing excess oils.

Exercise

wGerbils are naturally very active and do not stop moving. They are very inquisitive and spend the majority of their time running around and investigating their surroundings. It only takes a few items to create an exciting playground for your pet.

wGerbils explore around the edge and hiding places first, rather than the middle of the area or run. Place objects like tubes, tunnels, untreated wicker baskets and boxes in the run for them to play with.

wPiles of twigs (natural wood such as willow, beech, hazel or apple) make platforms for them to explore or rest under. Gerbils will chew the wood and this will keep their teeth in trim.

wBy hiding food and the occasional treat in different areas of your pet's cage, your gerbil will be forced to hunt for its food. This will keep them occupied for many hours and prevent boredom.

Handling your Gerbil

wAlways approach him calmly, and once you are sure he is awake, slowly place a closed fist in front of him and allow him to approach. If your gerbil is confident and appears interested, slowly unclench your fist and open your hand.

wHe may well crawl on to the palm of your hand or you can gently scoop him up. If he appears hesistant, you could gently hold the base of his tail, near his body and lift him up, placing his feet on the palm of your other hand (never grab hold of the end of his tail as gerbils can shed the skin to escape and will be frightened the next time you approach him).

Companionship

wGerbils in the wild live in large colonies. They are sociable animals and can be truly unhappy if kept alone. There should be no problem keeping gerbils together if the following rules are followed:

A large enough cage to accommodate more than one gerbil.
Acquire littermates in order to prevent fighting. Pairs or groups of males or females will be fine if they are from the same litter. They may accept a gerbil from a different litter, but they may fight.
Females and males will be happy together but will result in litters and expect MANY litters. Gerbils, like other rodents will be ready to mate again 24 hours after giving birth!

Common Illnesses

Dental Problems

wAs all rodents, gerbils teeth continue to grow throughour their life. Should your gerbil be injured and a tooth become misaligned, the opposite tooth will grow as it has nothing opposing it on which to grind.

wGerbils require fibre in their diet and gnawing ensures their teeth are evenly worn, preventing overgrowth. Overgrown teeth can cause a number of problems including abscesses and an inability to eat.

Diarrhoea

wOverfeeding with green food is a common cause of diarrhoea. You should stop feeding green food immediately if your gerbil has diarrhoea, allow it only to eat its gerbil mix.

wRemember not to feed gerbils on hamster food as it is too high in fat. If the diarrhoea persists, you must take your gerbil to the vet as it can dehydrate very quickly.

Colds

wGerbils can catch colds from humans so, if you have a cold, you should keep the handling of your gerbil and its food to a minimum. Your gerbil will have a runny nose and sneeze if he has a cold and should be kept in a warm room. Isolate the affected gerbil from the rest of the group as colds can spread through colonies. take him to the vet if the condition has not cleared in two to three days or if you have any concerns at all.

Tyzzers Disease

wThis is a very serious disease. Your gerbil will have diarrhoea and appear weak and lethargic with it. He will also stop eating. Take him to the vet immediately if he shows these symptoms as this disease is often fatal.

wGood hygiene in the gerbilarium and using good quality bedding and burrowing material will help prevent this disease.

wGerbils have glands around their eyes and drain via the tear duct and nose that produce a normal reddish secretion. This appears to be a 'nose bleed' to many owners but it is in fact a non-specific sign of stress or disease. The gerbil uses these secretions to control their body temperature and mixes them with saliva and grooms them over their body.