Gerbils

I'm getting gerbils today! I'm not quite sure if they're male or female, but whatever gender they are I'm getting two of the same. Is there anything that I should know about carring for Gerbils?

Hi

Gerbils are super fun to have. So you're getting a same sex pair? It would be risky to get a breeding pair from the same shop coz they could be siblings. Inbreeding may occur too.

For starters, you should have a tank. It can be plastic or glass. Wire or metal cages aren't good as it will be dirtier since they dig alot and it can be dangerous for their teeth, noses and tails. The tank should be about a 15 gallon tank for a pair. If you can't afford a 15 gallon, a 10 gallon would do too but you won't have much space to place their toys.

Wood shavings. Do not get pine or cedar. Best is aspen wood shavings. You can mix the wood shavings with corn cob bedding. Mix the bedding with lots of hay. Gerbils love hay. Make sure your bedding is about 10cm high for them to enjoy digging.

A good hamster seed and pellet diet is good for them.

A water bottle should be available for your gerbils. Fresh veges three times a week.

You do not need to provide gerbils with plastic hamster toys for gerbils will gnaw and chew plastic very easily. All you need are some homemade toys. Give them cardboard boxes to chew, the inner tube of a toilet roll, glass cups and jars, fruit tree branches and old small flower pots. Gerbils also love hanging baskets and coconut huts hung up high like a swing for them.

So, I got my gerbils! I got two females and the sales person said that they won't fight because they've known each other for a while (phew ) I have a wire hamster cage because I couldn't afford anything else . I'm looking into getting a tank for them.

So, far they seem happy. I gave them some Hamster/Gerbil food and they ate a little bit of it. I also provided fresh water. I recently gave them fresh apple and carrot. I don't think that they quite know what fruit is but I think that sooner or later they'll figure out.

Thing's I have in the Cage: Aspen bedding, plastic Hamster/Gerbil house, paper towel cardboard roll and an Exercise wheel (the kind with no spaces)

If you have any suggestions about caring for gerbils PLEASE TELL ME!!!!

2 females. Well, normally when gerbils have been kept as a pair for some time, they won't fight.

Temporarily a cage is alright provided there are no sharp corners or loose ends. If your gerbils start to chew on the plastic wheel and house, take them out and place some ceramic or glass cups and bowls for them to play.

Don't worry, they will know what to eat. My gerbils love apples and leafy veges. Already got about 20 over gerbils now

So gerbils can eat lettuce? I didn't know that. Thanks

They can eat a wide variety of veges. Just leave out citrius fruits. Make sure not too much greens too or they may get diarrhea.

Whenever i give my gerbils fresh fruits they never eat it. Keep in mind that i have only had them for 2 days. Eventually will they begin to eat what i give them?

I'm guessing they have never touched fresh produce before. Anywa, just introduce slowly. It is better you go with leafy veges first.

Another reason is the water bottle. Gerbils that drink a lot of water do not eat veges. So maybe when you want to feed them fresh fruit and veges, you should let them be without water for a day or you let them drink once a day, just like how they do in nature.