Here is a list of supplies that you will need before getting your gerbils. Please let me know if you have any more questions.
Food
When searching for which brand of food
to buy, you always want to look at how much fat and protein there is. The fat content should be about 7% (give or take two percent). Anything above 10% fat should not be used, and anything under 5% is too low. The protein should be between 10-16%, twelve is ideal. Pups, pregnant and nursing females will need more protein (16%). Senior gerbils should be on the low side.
Once you open the bag, smell it. It should smell flagrant, if it smells dull it might be stale.
Avoid foods that contain a lot of corn, especially if corn is listed as the first ingredient. Corn is a filler and does not offer much nutritionally. I give Ecotrition Organic for Hamster and Gerbils to my pregnant females and pups because of the high protein. I would also recommend it for non breeding gerbils because it is low in corn. You can also feed your gerbils fresh food but only in very small amounts. Here is a list of safe food to give them as a treat.
- Apple (seedless, the seeds can poison your gerbils)
- Almonds
- Walnuts
- Broccoli (Only feed in small quantity. Can cause build up of gas.)
- Carrots
- Cauliflower leaves and stalks
- Cucumber
- Parsley - a good tonic
- Chickweed
- Dried Apple Pieces
- Banana Chips
- Oatmeal (dry oats)
- Bread (fresh or stale, should only really be used when your gerbil will eat nothing else.)
- Breakfast Cereals (things like cornflakes, Kix, rice crispies etc. Make sure there is no added sugar.)
- Cheese (small amounts occasionally as fattening. Should only really be used when your gerbil will eat nothing else.)
- Meal worms
- Crickets
- Raisins
- Toast
- Grapes (seedless)
- Berries
- Peanuts (unsalted and unflavored. Monkey nuts are great.)
Make sure that you do not use any type of cereal if it has more then 3 grams of sugar.
Make sure that you do not use any type of cereal if it has more then 3 grams of sugar.
Bedding
There are a lot of different types of bedding on the market but that does not mean that they are all safe. The best nesting material is toilet paper, tissue paper, paper towels and shredded TP tubes. You should NEVER use Cedar or Pine because they contain phenol, a dangerous oil that can cause respiratory infections and other health problems. Here is a list of safe bedding to use :
Aspen
Corncob
Timothy Hay
Shredded Paper
Toilet Paper Tubes
Paper Bedding
Eco-Bedding
I like to mix 40% aspen, 20% Carefresh, 20% crinkle paper bedding (Eco-bedding), and 20% hay. When mixed together they make a perfect medium for building nests and tunnels. You should put at least 7-12 inches of bedding in the cage. It is always fun to watch them borrow and make tunnels!
Cages
The best type of cage for gerbils are aquariums. A 10 gallon is the most common size and can house 2 gerbils, although bigger is better. The rule is 5 gallons per gerbil but I prefer to use 10 gallons per gerbil. These are the minimum sizes. If you have a smaller cage like a 10 gallon, then it would be a good idea to either buy or make a tank topper. Here is a site that shows you how to make your own and a site that has various sizes for sale.
I have a 18" topper for my 10 gallon and it is amazing! Abby and Samantha spend 80% of their time up there in a hut or on a wheel.
http://www.sofunpetproducts.com/page/page/3408220.htm
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| 20gal. with tank topper. |
http://www.sofunpetproducts.com/page/page/3408220.htm
Make your own
http://www.gerbilsite.com/Husbandry/topper/topper.htmlAnother type of suitable gerbil cage is a plastic bin. You can buy them at a hardware or department store. They are cheap and light weight but they are not good for viewing gerbils unless you take the top off. All you have to do it cut a hole in the top and attach some wire mesh. Here is a site that shows how to convert a bin into a cage. http://users.accesscomm.ca/k9furkids/gerbilsite/bins.html
You should not get a plastic or wire cage because your gerbils will kick the bedding out, they will chew up any plastic that is left in the cage, they could get stuck in the tubes and they can chew their way out. I know that they look fun and colorful but they are not good for your gerbils.
Toys
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| Tom and Lily in a 30gal. plastic bin with toys. |
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| Lilly enjoying a sand bath. |
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| Courtesy of Eszter and Korny :) |
Sanitation
Sanitation is very important when owning gerbils. Always keep your gerbil area clean and organized so you don't invite any unwanted pests.
Before and after you pick up your gerbils, you should always wash your hands.
If you have multiple cages you can use purell hand sanitizer so that your gerbils can't smell each other.
Water
Even though gerbils are desert animals, they still need fresh water always available to them. Never get a water dish, your gerbils will kick the bedding out, walk in it or tip it over, which will all lead to a sick gerbil. Get a water bottle, preferable 4oz. Give your gerbil fresh water every day to prevent bacterial growth. I recommend these water bottles: http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2755135&clickid=cart
Females:
- Very active, they love to play
- Do very well in clans of 2-3
- Once bonded they live their lives together happily
- Less of a chance of getting scent gland tumors
- Live 3-5 years
Females are more active and energetic compared to males.
Males:
- Do very well in groups of 2-6
- easier to pair with other gerbils
- Don't get ovarian cysts like some females can later in life
- Live 3-5 years
- Are good for younger children because they are a bit less active
Males are more laid back and relaxed compared to females.
I don't have a preference, they are both great in my opinion.
