The wild-type coloration is referred to as "agouti" color; each hair is banded with gray, yellowish, and black, with off-white hair on the belly. Make sure the feed’s fat content is still under 4%, or else the life expectancy of your gerbil could drop if it gets too overweight. Check water daily for freshness and ensure that the bottle’s full. By: madcornishprojectionist Now that you have your gerbil’s habitat ready, it’s time to talk about gerbil care. Research your state and county to make sure gerbils are allowed. After the first few days, offer your gerbil a treat from your hand. Before bringing your gerbil home, ask questions about their current habits, from eating and sleeping to playtime preferences and more. However, unlike GI Joe, GI Gerbil will battle back under duress. You can also use paper towels and/or grass hay for this purpose. Being social creatures, gerbils can become quite tame with regular handling. It also needs to be deep for dig-happy gerbils, so the American Gerbil Society recommends that you fill the enclosure one-third full with bedding material. When did organ music become associated with baseball? Avoid cedar or pine shavings. Gerbils can’t go more than a few days without water. There should be no place in an exercise wheel where your gerbil can get their feet and especially their tail stuck. Adults may also mishandle your gerbil, so take precautions to ensure this doesn’t happen.

A fully grown gerbil can be up to 8 inches long, including the Why don't libraries smell like bookstores? Your gerbil needs a good-sized space to feel comfortable, and the size of the enclosure should increase if you bring home more gerbils. Your gerbil will love toilet paper tubes — they’ll spend hours running through it and gnawing it to pieces. The material on this site can not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with prior written permission of Multiply. Top Answer. “If the tip comes in contact with the bedding or other material it will drain out in a matter of hours. Gerbils are popular pets and, like hamsters, are small, inexpensive, and easy to care for. Since they come from a dry environment, living in a damp area like a basement is out. Some owners modify the typical hamster style wheel by applying non-slippery tape over the wheel to provide a solid surface. For a pair of gerbils, a cage of about 12 inches by 24 inches by 12 inches tall is the minimum size, but since gerbils are active, a larger cage is always better.

After all, it’s a new environment filled with unfamiliar sights, sounds and smells. Read this pet gerbil care guide from Petful.

One Mongolian species (Meriones unguiculatus) is a gentle and hardy animal that has become a popular pet. Even though gerbils are a desert animal they require clean, fresh water at all times,” advises the, Sunflower and pumpkin seeds (not too many, though — these are high in fat), Apple pieces (no seeds, please — they contain cyanide). Every gerbil is different, so progress will vary. Declanning could occur at any time, regardless of how well your gerbils usually get on. As pets, they are very curious and will explore anything so they can be quite entertaining to watch. A 10 gallon tank would measure 24 x 9 x 13 inches. Gerbils also need a nest box to feel secure. Read our, The Spruce Pets uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Your gerbils will gnaw on the wood, so expect it to look “well loved” relatively quickly.

Plastic cages should not be used as they do not hold up to the chewing habits of gerbils, nor do they provide adequate ventilation. If you’ve been thinking about adding gerbils to your household and can safely do so, head down to your local shelter and give a gerbil a loving home. So next time you’re making dinner and have some “offcuts” of your vegetables, try giving a little to your gerbil.

Nesting material that the gerbils can shred and use to line their nests is also a good idea. What does mbs adj on a bank statement mean? Toilet paper tubes, though quickly destroyed, will likely be a favorite toy. You can consider getting an exercise wheel but get one with a solid surface to prevent injuries.

If using one in a pinch, the bar spacing should be no more than a 1/2 inch but also beware that any wire cages may cause kicking legs to get stuck.

If you choose a cage or plastic habitat, simply get the equivalent size. How long will the footprints on the moon last? Make sure your gerbil can reach the sipper. A secure mesh lid is necessary to prevent escapes and to allow for good ventilation. Whatever you do, don’t use cedar or pine bedding — it can cause respiratory issues in gerbils. Glass is great to keep your pets from chewing up the bottle, but plastic can work well too and is more commonly sold in pet supply stores. Glass aquariums can be used and are favored over wire cages by many owners.

Next in our pet gerbil care guide, we discuss feeding, handling and playing with new pet gerbils. Progress slowly to giving them little pats, then to picking them up. “If you plan on vacationing in either one of these sunny spots…leave your gerbils at home,” says Anastasi. A fresh supply of clean, non-chlorinated water should always be available.. This can include carrots, cabbage and apple. Heavy ceramic food dishes are the best choice since they are harder to tip over than a plate or lightweight bowl. This helps you keep things familiar for your gerbil as they make the transition to their forever home.

That’s perfectly normal — there’s a lot to think about. Gerbils make great pets. All of these personality traits need to be addressed when choosing your gerbil’s habitat. If you’re interested in pet gerbils, check out: Otherwise, check out these other small pets! You can also get a high-fat gerbil feed from your local pet store or online. Most water bottles will require a special clip to allow you to hang it safely from the gerbil’s enclosure. The HSUS recommends covering the habitat with a light cloth for the first few days to allow the gerbil to adjust gradually.

By using The Spruce Pets, you accept our, The 8 Best Advent Calendars for Pets in 2020, Steps for Introducing Gerbils to Each Other, The 15 Best Gifts for Animal Lovers in 2020. Gerbils have long furry tails that have a little tuft of fur at the end, but you should never pick up a gerbil by their tail; this will cause permanent injury. tail, which makes their actual main body about half that Place treats on your arms so that the gerbil must climb up to fetch them. Some of the more common issues to be aware of include: Gerbils are available at pet stores and through reputable breeders.

They generally have an agreeable temperament and are only inclined to bite if they feel threatened. Hand-taming a gerbil is usually quite easy, and treats and positive reward systems like operant conditioning definitely help to speed up the process. Now that the habitat’s set up, you’re well on your way to creating a comfortable and safe environment for your new furry friend. Provide lots of materials for climbing and enrichment, such as thick pieces of wood, stable large rocks, ladders, ramps, and platforms. “Do not overfeed your gerbils,” warns Anastasi. 5 6 7. Gerbil diets should consist of formulated gerbil food. A fairly thick layer of bedding (two to three inches) in the cage provides a good base and allows the gerbils to dig. What Is All The Braille Pokemon emerald And Ruby? Remember to check the habitat daily and remove any uneaten portions of fruit or vegetables so they don’t rot. Just remember to discard the food if it gets old or when you clean their habitat. Are you ready to commit to caring for this lovable, curious animals? They’ll also do better with other gerbils as playmates. Copyright © 2020 Multiply Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

While gerbils do not get wet tail, diarrhea can occur, usually caused by a virulent strain of E. coli or Salmonella, which is most common among weaning gerbils (3-6 weeks). Answer. Once they acclimate to you, your gerbil will like being near you. Check out this awesome maze built for a curious little gerbil: Gerbils are actually still considered an exotic pet and currently illegal to have in Hawaii and California due to concerns about agriculture and the ecosystem should they escape. Look for a packaged diet that contains 10.5 to 12 percent protein and 4 to 7 percent fat. In Gerbils: The Complete Guide to Gerbil Care, Donna Anastasi offers a few more tips: “Gerbils need to live indoors in a moderate temperature range (68–78 degrees.)

Asked by Wiki User. Give your gerbils a few days to acclimate to their new home before handling them. Discourage people from picking them up and handling them. In fact, if they’re being overfed they will search for and eat the high-fat goodies and leave the uneaten high-protein, low-fat pellets and grains.”. When it comes to a gerbil habitat, go for sturdy and roomy. The American Gerbil Society recommends the following: You have a few options when it comes to choosing the right habitat for your gerbil: Check out these gerbils having some fun roaming free at home: The HSUS and the American Gerbil Society recommend aquariums so your gerbil can watch what’s going on in the world while still feeling protected from those who want to “play” with them. Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital. Gerbils — like people — love their fatty foods. They could get into an accident, such as falling down the stairs. However, through selective breeding, several lovely color variations are available including white, black, and gold. Gerbils have been known to escape their enclosures. Gerbils don’t need a food dish — just place their food directly on their bedding and allow them to forage. 3.

When you feel your pets are ready, start to approach them gently while they are awake.

Sometimes, the gerbils will have mark of the fighting. Your natural curious gerbil wants to explore the world around her, even if it means leaving them comfy habitat. Adult Size: Body is about 4 inches long; tail adds another 4 inches, Life Expectancy: 2 to 3 years on average; can live up to 8 years. Unfortunately, lettuce is one of those "high water content" vegetables. How will my inability to eat during the first trimester affect my baby?

When they accept the treats regularly, offer a treat through the open cage door.

Gerbils frequently kick bedding out of cages, Openings must be small — no more than a half-inch wide (or your gerbil may squeeze out), Prevents young children or other pets from harassing your gerbil, Glass sides allow viewing for your gerbil and yourself, Glass can’t be chewed up, unlike wire or plastic, Mesh cover must be purchased and kept firmly in place to prevent escape/harassment.