Gerbil Petcare Advice Sheet

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General

Gerbils make good companions!

Gerbils are animated, bright, inquisitive, rewarding to observe, clean and cheap to feed. However they do require commitment and regular attention

A gerbil needs:

• Companionship - to be with other gerbils (same sex)
• Daily feeding on a diet of mixed grain and small amounts of washed fruit and veg. (carrot, apple, dandelion, broccoli, if wished the odd meal worm also)
• To have a constant supply of fresh water from a drip-feed bottle with metal spout
• A gerbil cage/habitrail or gerbilarium to live and burrow in (a large aquarium tank with a wire mesh cover) also an exercise wheel ..One with no gaps in it
• The gerbilarium to be kept indoors at an even room temperature, out of direct sunlight or cage to be kept out of draughts and out of reach if there are curious dogs or cats in the house
• Plenty of material for burrowing -eg peat moss mixed with hay, plain white kitchen roll etc
• Clean white kitchen paper for nesting material
• The gerbilarium to be tidied every day, with all old food removed, and cleaned out thoroughly month or two, depending on how many gerbils there are and how large the aquarium is
• To be taken to a veterinary surgeon straight away when it is unwell
• Untreated apple branches or a gnawing block of soft wood to wear down long teeth
• Toys, like cardboard tubes (ask friends to keep there’s for you as gerbils will fly through them)
• Not to be upset by too much handling
• To be looked after at holiday times
• Your time and interest for the rest of its life

Factsheet

Lifespan

2-3 years

Breeding

T.S.P.R.C. does not advise you breed gerbils unless you can find good homes for them and you know their genetic background. We will not re-homed to a home where the intention is to breed them

Litter Size

4 - 6 in each litter on average

Handling

Put one hand firmly over the back, or use both hands cupped or encourage the gerbil to walk onto one outstretched hand and limit movement with the other hand over the back. Never pick up a gerbil by the tail

Companionship

Where they live in the wild, gerbils live in groups called colonies. They enjoy being with other gerbils. Adult gerbils are likely to fight if they are of from the same litter; so it is best to keep to female littermates. If gerbils do fight when together, they must be kept apart at all times as fighting can result in death. A very young male gerbil can be gradually introduced to an adult male with careful supervision

Ailments

Heat Exhaustion

Usually caused when the tank is left in direct sunlight. Gerbils should recover if the tank is placed in a cool dark room and they are left alone

Sore nose/eyes

Caused by gnawing and burrowing habits if conditions are incorrect, if they gnaw wire or burrow in dusty environments, some gerbils can have allergic reactions to woodchips or dusty bedding

Tail injuries

Caused by bad handling or minor accidents.

Overgrown front teeth

Caused by lack of material to chew on. Your veterinary surgeon may have to cut the teeth back

Tyzzers Disease

This is very serious and usually causes death. Symptoms include lack of interest in food, tiredness and diarrhoea. Go to your veterinary surgeon right away.