Mary Allen
The gerbil is a small rodent that originally comes from the arid regions of Central Asia and is known by many different names: Mongolian gerbil, Mongolian gerbil, or simply gerbil. Since the lively gerbil is also active during the day, comparatively uncomplicated to keep, and also very trusting, it is very popular as a pet and is also suitable for beginners.
Physique and Appearance
With a body length of around 9.5 to 13 cm, the gerbil is slightly larger than the house mouse. The thickly hairy tail with its bushy tip reaches almost the same length. While the body of the gerbil is very slender, its head is characterized by a rather squat appearance. The snout with its typical rodent teeth is quite short and the small rounded ears stand out clearly. Particularly noticeable are the strong hind legs, on which the gerbil likes to sit upright, and the clearly visible claws on the front paws, which act like small hands when grabbing food. In the wild form of the gerbil, the short fur is ocher-colored to red-brown, with the belly side always lighter. In the meantime, however, numerous other coat colors can be found, so that the individual animals are usually easy to distinguish.
Origin and Way of Life
The natural habitat of the gerbil is the dry inner basin of Central Asia. In the steppes, semi-deserts, and deserts of Mongolia and northern China, it lives in larger family groups that create extensive systems of passages in the sandy or clayey soils. In it, he not only collects supplies but also spends the hot summer days and most of the winter in them. The gerbil only goes to the surface in search of food, where it can cover long distances. The gerbil is also active around the clock in the great outdoors. Unlike other animals in this climatic zone, it does not go into hibernation either. The individual gerbil colonies usually consist of a pair of parents and their not yet adult offspring. After sexual maturity, the young animals leave the territory. Other conspecifics are consequently driven away. Since the animals have a distinctive group behavior, you should never keep a gerbil alone, but always with at least one other conspecific.
Appropriate Husbandry
In order for the gerbil to be able to pursue its natural needs, it of course needs suitable housing. This must enable him to dig as he likes and to create tunnels. There should also be space for them to groom their fur with the help of a sand bath and an easy-to-clean feeding area. Unfortunately, many of the small animal cages offered in pet stores are far too small and the plastic interior can be dangerous for the gerbil if it gnaws at them. A terrarium, which is sometimes recommended for keeping gerbils, is also only suitable to a limited extent. It is often poorly ventilated and difficult to clean. On the other hand, we recommend special gerbil boxes made of wood, which have a viewing window on the front and a pull-out drawer for changing the litter. Wood shavings are particularly suitable for digging and should be replaced about every one to two months. Several floors can increase the range of motion of the gerbil. He can hide himself and his supplies in wooden houses and tunnels. A container for the sand bath and hay or straw as nesting material are essential. On the other hand, all objects made of plastic or metal are completely unsuitable. With good housing conditions, a gerbil whose life expectancy in the wild is only a few months can live up to four years.
Nutrition
As in its natural habitat, the gerbil’s diet should mainly consist of grass seeds and grains in pet ownership. Ready-made gerbil feed in the correct mixing ratio is available in stores. So that the gerbil receives all the necessary vitamins and minerals, you should supplement this dry food with fresh vegetables and green fodder as well as a small amount of fruit. A certain proportion of animal protein is also important since the gerbil is not a pure herbivore. Dried mealworms are best. If you give him these special treats by hand, he can become very trusting. Additional vitamin preparations, salt licks, or supplementary feed are not necessary with a species-appropriate diet. Although the gerbil comes from a dry area, it always needs access to water. He can cover part of his fluid requirements with fresh food, but a drinking bottle should also be available.
Reproduction
In the deserts and steppes of Central Asia, the gerbil only has young during the warmer months. In your home, however, he can provide for offspring all year round. After mating, the female gerbil is pregnant for about 24 to 26 days. Usually, four to six still naked pups are born. A litter can also contain up to twelve young. They are suckled by their mother up to the age of 25 days, with the gerbil father also looking after the nest. So that they can learn the necessary social behavior, you should separate gerbil boys from their mother after eight months at the earliest. The young gerbils become sexually mature at three to three and a half months, but usually, they do not reproduce for the first time until half a year or even a year and a half later. Since a female can become pregnant again just a few days after giving birth, it is possible that your gerbil couple will quickly become a stately colony. If you do not want to breed, you should therefore rather keep two same-sex animals or have the male neutered.
Socialize Gerbil
Socialization with hitherto unfamiliar conspecifics is difficult, but not impossible. The easiest way to do this is with animals that are not yet sexually mature or with a young animal that you bring together with an existing old animal. The dividing grid method has proven itself for this. You divide a cage into two equal halves so that each gerbil has its own area and can sniff the other through the grid. Twice a day you put the gerbils in the other area so that they get used to the smell of their conspecifics. If, after a week or so, you find that they are reacting more and more calmly to the other person’s presence, you can remove the divider. Nevertheless, you should stay in the cage for the first few hours so that you can intervene in the event of overly violent turf wars.