Gerbil Care Guide for Families

Bringing gerbils into your home can be a wonderfully rewarding experience for the whole family. These small, active rodents are known for their curious nature, social behaviour, and relatively simple care requirements compared to some other pets. Unlike hamsters who are strictly solitary, gerbils thrive in company, making them fascinating to watch as they interact. If you’re considering adding these whiskered wonders to your household, this guide will walk you through the essentials of providing a happy and healthy environment for them.

Choosing Your Gerbils

Gerbils are highly social creatures and should never be kept alone. Loneliness can cause stress and depression in gerbils. Always plan to get at least two, preferably littermates of the same sex to avoid unexpected babies. A pair or a trio often works well. Introducing older, unrelated gerbils can be tricky and requires a specific process called the ‘split cage method’, so starting with a bonded pair or group from the same place is much easier for beginners. Look for gerbils that are bright-eyed, active, and curious. Their coats should be smooth and clean, without any bald patches. Avoid any gerbils that seem lethargic, have discharge from the eyes or nose, or are making clicking sounds when breathing. Reputable breeders or animal rescue organizations are often the best places to find healthy gerbils. Pet stores can be variable, so observe the conditions and the animals carefully before making a decision.

Creating the Perfect Gerbil Habitat

The right home is crucial for a gerbil’s well-being. Forget the small, barred cages often marketed for hamsters – gerbils have specific needs.

Tank is King (Gerbilarium)

The best enclosure for gerbils is a glass tank (aquarium) or a similar solid-sided habitat, often called a gerbilarium. This serves two vital purposes: it allows for the deep bedding gerbils need for burrowing, and it prevents them from kicking bedding out everywhere! Wire cages don’t hold enough substrate and gerbils can injure their feet or noses on the bars. Ensure the tank has a secure wire mesh lid for ventilation – gerbils can jump surprisingly high! Size matters. For a pair of gerbils, aim for a minimum of a 20-gallon long tank, but bigger is always better. A 30 or 40-gallon breeder tank provides much more space for tunneling, exploring, and placing accessories. More space equals happier, more active gerbils.

Deep Bedding is Non-Negotiable

Gerbils are natural burrowers; it’s one of their strongest instincts. Providing deep bedding is essential for their mental and physical health. Aim for at least 8-10 inches of suitable substrate. Good choices include aspen shavings, paper-based bedding (like Kaytee Clean & Cozy or Carefresh), or a mix of these with hay and cardboard pieces to help tunnels hold their structure. Mix different textures to encourage natural digging behaviours.

Important Bedding Alert: Never use pine or cedar shavings for gerbil bedding. These woods contain aromatic oils (phenols) that are toxic to small animals, potentially causing serious respiratory problems and liver damage. Always choose safe alternatives like aspen or paper-based products.

Essential Furnishings

Beyond the bedding, your gerbils need a few key items:

• Water Bottle: A sipper bottle attached securely to the side (ensure the spout reaches them) or a heavy ceramic bowl (checked often for cleanliness and bedding contamination).
• Food Bowl: A heavy ceramic bowl is best as it’s sturdy and chew-proof.
• Nest Box/Hideout: A small house made of wood, ceramic, or even a sturdy cardboard box provides a safe place to sleep and feel secure.
• Chew Toys: Gerbils’ teeth grow continuously! Provide plenty of safe things to chew, such as cardboard tubes (toilet paper/paper towel rolls), wooden chew toys (untreated wood like apple or willow), hay cubes, and cardboard boxes.

Enrichment Extras

Keep things interesting! Add tunnels (cardboard or plastic), a solid-surface exercise wheel (minimum 8 inches diameter, avoid wire or mesh wheels), and perhaps a climbing structure if space allows. A sand bath is also highly recommended. Provide a shallow dish filled with chinchilla sand (not dust!) a few times a week, or leave it in permanently if large enough. Gerbils roll in the sand to keep their coats clean and free of oils.

Feeding Your Furry Friends

A balanced diet is key to a long and healthy life for your gerbils.

The Staple Diet

The bulk of their diet should consist of a high-quality commercial gerbil food mix. Look for mixes that contain a variety of seeds, grains, and pellets. Avoid mixes that are mostly sunflower seeds or corn, as these are high in fat. Scatter feeding (sprinkling the food around the enclosure instead of using a bowl) encourages natural foraging behaviour and provides enrichment.

Healthy Treats

Treats should be given in moderation. Gerbils enjoy small amounts of:

• Seeds: Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds (sparingly), millet sprays.
• Vegetables: Small pieces of broccoli, carrot, cucumber, peas, bell pepper.
• Fruits: Tiny bits of apple (no seeds), pear, berries (like blueberry or raspberry).
• Protein: A tiny piece of plain cooked chicken or scrambled egg, or mealworms (live or dried) can be offered occasionally.

Introduce new foods one at a time in tiny amounts to avoid upsetting their digestion. Always remove uneaten fresh food within a few hours to prevent spoilage.

Foods to Avoid

Certain foods are harmful or toxic to gerbils. Never give them: citrus fruits (lemon, orange), grapes/raisins, rhubarb, onions, garlic, raw potatoes, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, or sugary/salty human snacks.

Water Wisdom

Fresh, clean water must be available at all times. Check the water bottle daily to ensure the spout isn’t blocked and refill it completely every day or two. If using a bowl, clean and refill it daily, ensuring it hasn’t been filled with bedding.

Daily and Weekly Care Routines

Gerbils are relatively low-maintenance, but consistent care is important.

Daily Checks

• Check water bottle/bowl and refill as needed.
• Check food level; scatter feed their daily portion or top up the bowl if necessary.
• Give them a quick visual check-over for any signs of illness or injury.
• Interact with them gently – talk to them, offer a treat from your hand.
• Spot clean any obviously soiled or wet bedding (usually their potty corner).

Weekly Tasks

• Clean the water bottle thoroughly with hot water and a bottle brush.
• Clean the food bowl.
• Wipe down any shelves or accessories.
• Offer a sand bath if it’s not a permanent fixture.
• Depending on your setup and tank size, you might remove the top few inches of the most soiled bedding and replace it, but with deep bedding, full cleans are infrequent.

Less Frequent Cleaning

With a deep bedding system (8+ inches), full tank clean-outs are stressful for gerbils and disrupt their established tunnel systems and scent markings. They are often only needed every 1-3 months, or even less frequently, depending on the tank size and number of gerbils. When you do clean, save about one-third of the old, clean bedding to mix back in with the new substrate. This helps retain familiar scents and reduces stress.

Handling and Socialization

Building trust with your gerbils takes time and patience. Start by simply sitting near their enclosure and talking to them softly. Offer treats through the lid mesh or by placing your hand flat inside the tank. Let them come to you. Once they seem comfortable taking treats from your hand, you can try gently scooping them up with cupped hands.

Safe Handling Technique: Always support a gerbil’s entire body when lifting them. Gently cup them in both hands. Never, ever pick up a gerbil by its tail! Their tails are fragile and the skin can easily deglove (pull off), which is extremely painful and requires veterinary attention.

Keep initial handling sessions short and sweet, always over a safe surface like their tank or your lap while sitting on the floor. Supervised playtime outside the tank can be great fun, but ensure the area is completely gerbil-proofed – block off small gaps, remove electrical cords, and keep other pets away. A bathtub (dry, with the plug in!) or a secure playpen can be good options.

Understanding Gerbil Behaviour

Observing gerbil behaviour is part of the fun! You might see them:

• Grooming: They groom themselves and each other, which is a sign of bonding and good health.
• Burrowing: Constantly digging, rearranging bedding, and creating tunnels.
• Thumping: Stamping their hind legs rapidly. This can signal excitement, alarm, or be part of mating rituals.
• Chewing: Everything! Cardboard, wood, even the bars of a cage topper if they have one. This is normal and necessary for dental health.
• Sleeping Piled Up: Gerbils often snuggle together in a big pile to sleep, which is perfectly normal social behaviour.
• Scent Marking: Rubbing their bellies on objects to mark territory using a scent gland located there.

Keeping Gerbils Healthy: General Wellness

While this guide doesn’t replace veterinary advice, knowing the basics of gerbil wellness is helpful. Healthy gerbils are typically active, alert, have bright clear eyes, smooth fur, and maintain a good appetite. They engage in normal behaviours like burrowing and chewing. Keep an eye out for changes. Lethargy, ruffled fur, loss of appetite, clicking sounds when breathing, discharge from eyes or nose, diarrhoea, or noticeable lumps could indicate a problem. Overgrown teeth can occur if they don’t have enough chewable materials; signs include difficulty eating or drooling. If you notice any concerning signs, consulting a veterinarian experienced with small animals is recommended. Maintaining a clean environment, providing a proper diet, ensuring they have ample chewing opportunities, and minimizing stress are the cornerstones of keeping your gerbils healthy.

Gerbils and Children: A Good Match?

Gerbils can be wonderful pets for families with children, teaching responsibility and empathy. However, interaction always requires adult supervision, especially with younger kids. Children need to be taught how to handle gerbils gently and safely, respecting that they are small, delicate animals. Because gerbils are quick and can nip if frightened or startled, they might be better suited for children aged 8 and older who can understand gentle handling and the gerbils’ needs. The primary care responsibility should always lie with an adult, but children can certainly help with feeding, providing fresh water, cleaning accessories, and supervised playtime.

A Joyful Addition

Gerbils are engaging, curious, and relatively low-maintenance pets that bring a lot of activity and interest into a home. By providing them with the right environment – emphasizing a spacious tank with deep bedding – a balanced diet, opportunities for enrichment, and gentle handling, you can ensure your gerbil companions live happy, healthy lives. They offer endless fascination as they dig, play, and interact, making them a delightful addition for families willing to meet their specific needs.