Four Basic Things about Gerbils as Pets
You are in the right place if you are looking for the most important facts about gerbils as pets. Gerbils make great pets for children and adults. These busy and engaging creatures can provide hours of entertainment and they are relatively easy to manage even in smaller homes. They are not too hard to train and this makes them an easy fit into different kinds of lifestyles.
Educating yourself about some of the basic details of gerbil care will make it easier to bring home a gerbil as a pet.
Housing a gerbil
Gerbils are creatures from the desert. They do not need much by way of foliage. A wide glass fish tank is a good bet for housing one or two gerbils – two are recommended because gerbils are social creatures and do not do well if housed alone. Wooden cages are not recommended because gerbils can chew a hole through them and if a metal cage is to be used, it should be made of high-quality, thick metal. Flimsy metal cages can end up harming the gerbils if they choose to nibble on the sides of the cage.
Gerbils need bedding made of aspen and there are also commercially available small pets bedding with brands like CareFRESH. Pine and cedar can be dangerous because gerbils may chew and eat these and can have digestive or respiratory problems.
Maintain high standards of hygiene when it comes to your pets’ home. Clean it out thoroughly once every two weeks. Replace soiled bedding and leave a little bit of the old bedding mixed with the new to reassure the gerbil with its own scent. Look for cracks and hole and make sure there are no loose wires that can injure the gerbil. Gerbils produce small pellet-sized body waste and they are fairly easy to clean out as these creatures tend to deposit their pellets in a selected area.
Feeding a gerbil
Seed mixes and commercially formulated pellets are popularly used for feeding gerbils. A mixture of seeds and vegetables is considered nutritionally balanced as are the specially made pellets or lab blocks. The trick is to make sure that the gerbil has everything included in a mixture or an adequate amount of the pellets or blocks. Routine helps in monitoring gerbils’ food consumption. As a pet owner it is a good idea to leave out food needed for a 24-hour period in a ceramic dish. When replenishing the dish, you can note how much has been consumed and make any modifications necessary. It may be a good idea to hand feed your gerbil occasionally to ensure more complete food intake and to build trust with your pet.
Water is best dispensed through a drip system. While gerbils do not drink much water they need a fresh supply of water.
Make it a point to clean the water and food container on a regular basis.
Gerbil: health problems
Gerbils as pets in general do not have many health issues. But it helps to know what to look out for to be a responsible pet owner. Gerbils can get wounded easily especially if cage mates have a fight. Since they are small and fragile, it is important to handle them carefully as they can get injured from falls also. Gerbil tails break-off easily as it is a defense mechanism of these creatures. Gerbils are susceptible to heat stroke and stress among other problems. It is important to monitor your pet gerbil for signs of physical discomfort and pain and there may also be signs like trembling and cowering which can suggest a problem. A vet will be able to suggest the best way to handle any of these above issues.
Gerbils as social creatures
Gerbils are known to crave companionship and it is a good idea to keep two males or two females together. It is preferred that the two gerbils be from the same litter to avoid hostility or fighting. Gerbils get along well with humans who treat them with gentle consideration. They tend to adapt to the schedule of the human around them and unlike some other rodent pets, they do not sleep through the day and play at night.