Everything about gerbils

OK.

Gerbils are desert rats, which means they come from the desert. Other names for them are jirds or kangaroo rats.

They are normally around 2 for £15.

They need a gerbilarium or a large fish tank with wire mesh on top to live in.

They should have 6-10cm of wood shavings for bedding and all toys should be wooden as plastic is dangerous for them because they chew so much.

They should eat gerbil or hamster muesli and bottled water is the best thing for them to drink, although you can give them tap water.

Clean out their cage at least once every other week as they are not smelly like other rodents.

Gerbils have a life span of about 2-4 years. 5 if you really take care of your gerbil properly and you are lucky.

Gerbils should ideally be kept in pairs of the same gender and from the same family unless you are going to breed.

If you already have a gerbil and buy another one then I would recommend keeping them on different cages, but if you want them together then put a Fencing in the middle of the cage and put each gerbil in one side. After a few hours switch them around so they can have each others scent. Keep switching them every few hours. After a week take out the fencing and see how they get on. If they fight, repeat the process again and so on.

DO NOT pick up a gerbil by the tail as it is attached to their spine and can give them a horrible disease that is very painful.

If you want to treat your gerbil, give it a couple of sunflower or pumpkin seeds.

If you want to give it some fruit or vegetable, then a little bit of Apple, carrot or grape will not do it any harm. But don't do this often.

Gerbils also like small bits of bread and and little bits of rich tea biscuits, but these are special treats, not to given to them regularly.

A gerbil with more than one colour is pied.

Gerbils only ever have one mate and if it dies it is very unlikely you will be able to breed with the gerbil that is still alive ever again.

Gerbils come on heat, around every 3 days.

Gerbils normally come from Mongolia but come from different places as well. Hope this has been helpful.