Owning... gerbils

Start here

Before buying gerbils, remember that it is your responsibility to care for them every day of their lives, which may be for up to 5 or 6 years.

Breeds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Colours

Golden Agouti, the only variety of Mongolian gerbil available in pet shops. A golden red with black guard hairs, a white tummy and black tail-tip. Black eyes, black and white whiskers and grey ears.

White Spot, a sandy coloured coat with a white spot on the nose, forehead and neck. White feet and a white tail-tip.

Pink-eyed White (Albino), pure white coat, pink eyes.

Dark-tailed White, similar to the albino but with a dark ridge across the tail, hence the name.

Argenti, golden all over with no guard hairs. White tummy and paws, red eyes.

Black, completely black, with black eyes and whiskers.

Dove, soft grey in colour with light grey whiskers and ears, red eyes.

Grey-bellied, a coat of any of the above colours but with a grey abdomen.

Dilute, the fur on the body is sandy-coloured, changing gradually to grey at skin level.

Choosing your gerbils

Any gerbils in a pet shop will be Mongolian gerbils, as these are the most common breed kept in captivity. Gerbils are social animals and must be kept in pairs. Two young littermates (of the same sex) are best - do not introduce two strange adults as there will be a fight. Gerbils should be bought when they are 4-6 weeks old, since they are fully weaned at this age.

When choosing gerbils, look for the following things:-

1. A clean nose free from mucous;

2. Clean, bright eyes with no discharge;

3. Straight teeth which are not visible when the mouth is closed;

4. Clean ears, covered with hair. Check for any discharge;

5. A smooth, shiny coat. Check for wounds or scabs;

6. A clean bottom, with no staining under the tail (this indicates diarrhoea).

Male or female?

There isn't much difference between the sexes. Males are larger than females. Always keep gerbils in same-sex pairs unless you intend to breed from them. Please do not breed gerbils unless you know exactly what you are doing and can provide homes for all the offspring.

Where should I get my gerbils from?

It is best to get gerbils from a reputable pet shop. They are sometimes available from rescue centres, but if you get rescue gerbils you cannot know their age or history - if they are over 1 year old and not tamed, you will have a hard time trying to handle them, and they may never become fully tame.

Gerbil Main

1. Mongolian gerbil (right), the most common breed. Its Latin name is "unguiculatus", which means "tooth and claw". The back, head, tail and limbs are covered with thick tawny fur with black guard hairs. The tummy and chest are completely white.

2. Jerusalem gerbils, are very similar to Mongolian gerbils but are slightly larger when mature. In the wild, they live in most of North Africa and as far east as Syria. As with other gerbils they live in burrows but lead a solitary life, only coming together to breed. They are a deep mahogany or dark grey in colour, with white tummies. They do not make very good pets, since they are difficult to tame and mainly nocturnal.

Egyptian gerbil ------