In the wild, gerbils live in underground tunnels up to 3m long. The best way to mimic their natural habitat and keep them happy is to buy a gerbilarium or tank with cage additions You can also house them in a large tank or
old aquarium
with a secure wire lid and plenty of material for them to dig and tunnel into.
What habitat does a gerbil live in?
Gerbils, or jirds, live in clay or sandy deserts, grasslands, scrub, arid steppes, and mountain valleys They live in family groups in
small burrows
dug into soft soil. Gerbils build burrows near a plant to take advantage of the support of the plant’s roots (Agren et al. 1989).
What kind of cage does a gerbil need?
While previously 5-gallons per gerbil was considered adequate, now the rule of thumb is 10-gallons of space per gerbil. So, if you have a pair of gerbils, a 20-gallon cage—or an average base of 12 inches by 30 inches —is a good minimum, she adds.
Do gerbils need a hideout?
Gerbils love to have multiple places to hide in and move around in Placing several boxes, tubes, or other hideouts within your friend’s aquarium or home will make it happy. Offer multiple levels. Gerbils also love to both burrow underground and find hideouts on top of things.
Can you put gerbils in a fish tank?
Use either a 3ft fish tank or a glass display cabinet, laid on its back. Both need a homemade, mesh lid to ensure your gerbils receive plenty of fresh air. A fish tank lid is not suitable To make the lid, you will first need to construct a wooden frame, similar to a picture frame.
Can gerbils live in
hamster cages
?
That said, if there is a downside to keeping gerbils as pets it’s that they require somewhat specialist housing. The reason is simple; gerbils are active diggers and gnawers. This means that many cages sold for
small mammals
like hamsters are totally unsuitable for gerbils.
What kind of toys do gerbils like?
A gerbil with lots of enrichment in its cage will be happy and entertained, even if you’re not around. Examples of things you can include as enrichment are: Toilet roll tubes, boxes, and other things made of cardboard. Special gerbil toys like seesaws, wheels, rope toys, and hammocks.
Do gerbils need a wheel?
A wheel is important, enabling gerbils to get plenty of daily exercise However, it needs to be a gerbil-friendly variety. A hamster wheel is dangerous for gerbils, as they can trap their tails in its rungs, which is very painful and can lead to swelling and infection.
Are bin cages good for gerbils?
Bin cages can be a good option for gerbils, but only if they’re made securely and adequately If they’re not, gerbils can easily escape. They’re more popular for hamsters and mice, but they are suitable for gerbils as a short-term solution. Bin cages are made from clear, plastic storage bins.
Do gerbils like light or dark?
They are used to bright sunshine, so seeing a little sunshine won’t harm them at all. However, it’s best if you don’t leave your gerbil’s cage in the full sun. It’s far better to keep it somewhere shaded, not dark, but out of indirect sunlight Gerbils find it far easier to warm up than to cool down.
What’s the best bedding for gerbils?
Good bedding for gerbils is non-toxic, digestible, dust-free, and can be used for tunneling. The best gerbil bedding combines hay, aspen shavings, and paper-based bedding (such as Kaytee Clean & Cozy) A mixture of materials helps gerbils to build sturdy tunnels.
Do gerbils need a sand bath?
Most gerbils need sand baths roughly once per week But if your gerbil gets dirty more often than this, you can offer the sand bath more frequently. Black and darker-colored fur tend to get greasy more quickly. To give your gerbil a sand bath, fill the container with clean sand and place it in the gerbilarium.
Do gerbils need heat lamps?
Heating lamps can be used just make sure you use a reflective bulb type and not a full force bulb. Too much heat can make your gerbil sick. You can also use a pocket pet and pocket pet safe heating pad. These
small animal heating pads
can be placed under bedding to provide extra warmth.
Can you put a gerbil in a hamster ball?
If you want to try your gerbil in a hamster ball, choose one at least seven inches in diameter It should be well-made with a sturdy lid, so your gerbil can’t escape. Supervise your gerbil at all times.
How often should gerbils have a sand bath?
To keep your gerbil’s coat clean and prevent bacterial infections, you should give your gerbil access to a sand bath at least once a week.
How much space do 2 gerbils need?
This means that although gerbils are social animals, they need enough space to be alone occasionally. A more generous rule is 10 gallons per gerbil. This means that you should look for a 20-gallon gerbilarium for two gerbils or a 30-gallon for three.
Do gerbils need to be in pairs?
Gerbils are sociable animals, and their group sizes in the wild range from two to 15 animals of all ages and sexes. Groups are founded by a breeding pair and extended by their offspring and other relatives. For this reason, gerbils need to live with other gerbils and should never be kept on their own.
Where do you put a gerbil cage?
It’s best to put your gerbil cage in a nice, quiet space in your house – they have very good hearing! Small mammals rarely do well with fluctuations in temperature, and it’s for this reason that it’s best to find an area in the house that has as few temperature variations as possible.
Can gerbils be kept outside?
Can Gerbils Play Outside? Gerbils can play outside, although allowing them to do so can easily go wrong There are several problems with allowing them out, such as their vulnerability to other animals and their propensity to run away. As such, you can’t let your gerbil outside to do whatever it wants.
Do gerbils need deep bedding?
– Bedding material should be deep enough to allow your gerbils to dig and construct a system of burrows A bedding depth of 20-30cm is recommended.
Do gerbils need chew toys?
Gerbils love to chew A cardboard tube from a toilet paper roll or paper towel roll is one of a gerbil’s favorite things. Some people have expressed concern about the types of glue used in these—and now colorful safe (and a bit more sturdy and long-lasting) cardboard tubes are made for pets to play with.
Can 2 gerbils live in a 10 gallon tank?
Choose an aquarium the right size for the number of gerbils you plan to keep. Keep one or two gerbils in a 10-gallon aquarium , three in a 15-gallon aquarium, four or five in a 20-gallon aquarium and six in a 30-gallon aquarium.
Do gerbils like tubes?
Systems with lots of tubes and tunnels are great for gerbils, so long as they have the appropriate ‘room’ in the system to allow them to burrow Gerbils also love to gnaw, so provide lots of toys and tubes to gnaw on. Gerbils are very clean animals so like to use dust baths for cleaning themselves in.
How many gerbils should I get?
In general, it’s best to keep between two and four gerbils. Also, large groups can become unstable as individuals jostle for a place in the hierarchy, and aggression can sometimes break out – especially if there is not enough space.
Can gerbils live in vivariums?
Housing. As gerbils live in underground burrows in the wild and love to dig, the housing you provide them with needs to accommodate this natural instinct. There are a few gerbil cages to choose from and the most popular is a vivarium (glass tank).
Can gerbils drink water out of a bowl?
Gerbils can drink from a water bowl, but it’s not a good choice Some owners think there’s a chance of their gerbil drowning in the bowl. This won’t happen. Provided that the bowl is a small one intended for gerbils, you can’t fill it deep enough for your pet to drown in.
Can you give gerbils sticks?
Branches and Sticks for Gerbils to Chew If you want safe wood for gerbils to chew on, branches and sticks are usually fine In the wild, they would certainly chew on any wood that they might find in their habitat.
How expensive is a gerbil?
A gerbil costs $5-10 Its cage costs $50-60, plus $50 for a water bottle, chew toy, and exercise wheel. Each gerbil eats $50-60 of food per year, and the tank needs $50-100 of bedding. Vets bills cost $40 for a checkup, $10 for medication, and $200 for surgery.
How do you spoil gerbils?
- Buddies. Wild gerbils live in large families, which are known as clans, and are rarely, if ever, alone
- Comfy Cage. Make sure your adorable pet has a comfortable cage
- Tunnels
- Toys
- Treats.
Is a wooden cage good for gerbils?
Gerbils, like most rodents, are chewers. You don’t want to house your gerbils in a cage made of wood Wire cages don’t work well either, because gerbils tend to dig, and the metal could cause an injury.
Do gerbils recognize their owners?
Gerbils can remember their owners and things they deem important, but precisely what they can recall is unclear Gerbils remember their owners based on scent and appearance. They can recall gerbil cage mates, learn tricks, and know their names. Gerbils won’t forget if you’re unkind to them, e.g., you hit them.
Are gerbils nicer than hamsters?
Gerbils are ideal pets for children who have little or no experience caring for a small animal This is due to the fact that gerbils are active throughout the day and rarely bite. Hamsters, however, do not like to be petted or held. Hamsters will bite when they are held or if they become irritated.
What is a gerbils favorite treat?
Gerbils will enjoy small amounts of dried banana, pumpkin seeds, nuts, millet (the kind sold for budgies and other birds), crispy vegetables such as raw broccoli and carrot, small amounts of fruit, such as apples and grapes (but break the skin so the gerbil can easily see the moist interior), alfalfa, and hay.
What music do gerbils like?
Gerbils can hear frequencies of between 100 and 60,000 Hz. They can hear most music, except lower-pitched sounds, such as bass. Most gerbils enjoy classical music played quietly because it relaxes them. Loud or fast music, such as rock and metal, can be stressful for gerbils.
How do I make my gerbil fun?
- Get a Friend. Unlike specific species of hamster that prefer a solitary life, gerbils are social by nature
- Exercise Wheel. Gerbils are similar to hamsters in that they love to run on exercise wheels designed for domestic rodents
- Shredded Bedding
- Chew Toys.
Can you use toilet paper for gerbil bedding?
Yes, I use toilet paper for nesting material I don’t use tissue paper as in the stuff you put in gift bags, but tissues for your nose are fine as long as they don’t have lotion or vick’s in them. I rip them into chunks or strips so they can carry them to their nest without tripping or stepping on it.
Is it safe for gerbils to chew plastic?
If you are thinking about getting gerbils or already have them, you should know that they chew on everything. Not everything that they decide to chew on will be safe for them though. Plastic being one of them. So if you’re asking can gerbils chew on plastic, then the answer is yes, they will chew anything they can.
Can gerbils use flying saucer?
flying saucers simply aren’t good wheels for gerbils.
Do gerbils need lids?
It’s important to use a screen lid so that your gerbils can breathe in the aquarium.
Can gerbils chew through mesh?
Also some of the plastic lids occasionally have a fine aluminum mesh that is weaved. This can be chewed through eventually Basically you should always avoid any lid that is made from or with plastic. What you need is a wire or metal screen lid.
Can gerbils chew through plexiglass?
Well, plexiglass IS plastic. So if they chew it, it has the potential to perforate their intestines.
Citations
https://www.gerbilwelfare.com/best-gerbil-cages/
https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/gerbil/caring-for-your-gerbil
https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Meriones_unguiculatus/
https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/category/small-animal/hamster-supplies/hamster-cages