Gerbils are small rodents native to desert environments, but they make excellent pets for responsible children, as well as adults. If you have a gerbil in your home or want to get one, you need to know its needs well in order to ensure a happy life. Like most creatures, gerbils also need a clean environment to live in, nutritious foods, clean water, toys, affection, and regular veterinary checks. Read on to learn how to make your little rodent happy.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Providing a Peaceful Environment to the Gerbil
Step 1. Consider getting two gerbils of the same sex and not a single one
They are very sociable animals and love to live with their fellows. When you decide to buy one for the first time, you should actually think about getting a pair, in order to make your pet happier; however, if you already have a gerbil and choose to introduce a second one into your home, they are likely to fight each other.
- Check with your vet before getting a second rodent to see if it's a good idea for your little friend's health and well-being. if you opt for another specimen, consider using a cage with a divider so that the gerbils get used to each other before putting them together.
- Do not let a male and a female live together, otherwise they will mate. Although these creatures are adorable as babies, they reproduce quickly and it is easy to lose control of new births; most people find it difficult to find adequate homes, food and care for dozens of specimens.
Step 2. Keep the gerbils in a wire mesh cage or 40 liter aquarium-like tank with a wire mesh lid
Line the bottom with plenty of substrate, such as fleo (rat's tail) or poplar shavings. Store the container out of direct sunlight and drafts, as you need to prevent the gerbils from being exposed to extreme temperatures.
- Do not use pine or cedar shavings, as the vapors they emit can harm these small rodents.
- Make sure you distribute enough substrate to allow them to burrow and hide, as this behavior is dictated by their natural instincts.
Step 3. Get all the accessories you need to keep them happy
For example, your specimens might have fun on the wheel; these animals need a lot of exercise to stay healthy and the wheel is a great tool to keep them happy. Get a model that does not have openings where the pet's tail can get stuck and injure it.
- Also provide him with a cozy and pleasant space to sleep in. Gerbils love to hide and sleep in dark and confined places; therefore, put a small flowerpot or box in its cage.
- Add some PVC pipes that can act as a tunnel and for the little rodents to play in.
- Also put some stones they can explore and rest on.
Step 4. Buy some toys
Just check that they are not soft plastic, as the gerbils may gnaw and break them into small pieces. Look for items that animals can't destroy, such as hard plastic or sturdy wood.
Any piece of cardboard can be chewed and torn to shreds, but it is not dangerous for gerbils
Part 2 of 3: Feeding the Gerbil
Step 1. Give him a specific seed blend for gerbils
Look for a mixed seed product formulated specifically for these rodents at your local pet store. Follow the directions on the package to know the daily portions and place the food in a ceramic saucer inside the cage.
One way to start bonding with the gerbil is to pick the larger seeds in the mix, such as sunflower seeds, and offer them straight from your hand
Step 2. Get him a water bottle
Gerbils need to always have fresh water available. Get one of these cage accessories so you never miss a drink; make sure that the lower end of the drinking bottle does not touch or is not too close to the substrate, otherwise the water may flow out of the container.
Check the tip of the accessory every day to make sure it is working properly
Step 3. Offer him some treats
Croquettes, puffed rice, apples, carrots, and lettuce are all great choices for serving up treats. Make sure whatever you feed him does not contain sugar, flavorings or other additives; he must not eat "junk food".
Leave him some rather large morsels, as he may lose the small ones in the substrate and remove any leftover treats once he has finished eating them
Step 4. Get him something to gnaw on
As in all rodents, gerbils' teeth never stop growing. These animals need to keep chewing to keep the length of their teeth under control; So make sure you provide him with a sterilized bone or stick that is free of pesticides or other chemicals that he can gnaw freely.
Part 3 of 3: Caring for the Gerbil
Step 1. Clean the cage regularly
To ensure a happy life for your pet, you need to make sure his cage is clean and tidy; you should therefore perform a deep cleansing once a week. Remove all objects from the inside (including the gerbil itself) and scrub the walls and bottom with warm soapy water; at the end, rinse and dry the cage by putting new substrate, repositioning all the accessories and inserting the small rodent again. In addition to a thorough weekly cleaning, every day you should also take care of:
- Remove and replace the dirty or wet substrate;
- Remove and discard excrements;
- Remove food scraps.
Step 2. Handle the small rodent with care
It takes time and patience before the gerbil is ready and willing to be touched by humans. Earn his trust by giving him a chance to sniff and nibble your fingers a bit; you can also offer him some treats directly from his hands to build confidence. Once he feels more comfortable with you, you can try to pick him up.
To grab him, cup both hands around his body and slowly lift him out of the cage. Don't rush into it and don't grab it suddenly, otherwise it will frighten it and it will try to hide from you
Step 3. Give him some time out of the cage each day by observing him carefully
Even gerbils need to have moments of freedom to be happy. When you have established a relationship of trust, let him play freely in the room once a day, keeping him under control; make sure it is a place where you can monitor his movements, otherwise he may be hiding in some corner and you may have difficulty finding him.
Step 4. Have him undergo regular care and check-ups at your vet
A healthy specimen is much happier than a sick one; if you take care of your pet properly, it can live 3 or even 4 years. Take him to the doctor regularly for checkups to make sure he stays healthy and happy.
When sick, the gerbil can exhibit several types of symptoms, such as sneezing, difficulty breathing, diarrhea, and lethargy. If your dog is sick, take him to the vet as soon as possible for a checkup
Advice
- If you find that the animal digs a lot, it means that it needs more substrate to be happy. Try to add more to the cage to give him extra space to hide and burrow.
- Make sure its water is always clean and fresh.
- Gerbils love treats, but if they eat too much lettuce they could suffer from diarrhea, while an excess of spinach causes an increase in nitrates which kill white blood cells.
- Put some cardboard tubes of toilet paper in the cage, as these pets love to nibble on them.
- Talk and interact with the gerbil every day.
Warnings
- Never lift him by the tail, as you could seriously injure him.
- Never drop it, hold it in your hand on a shelf or while sitting.
