How to Select a Healthy Pet Gerbil

Gerbils are colorful, inquisitive and friendly pocket pets

Learn how to find a healthy, well-socialized gerbil to be that perfect pocket pet.

Things You'll Need

• 10-gallon or larger aquarium
• Bedding (aspen or carefresh)
• Gerbil food
• Food dish
• Gerbil suitable house
• Water source

Instructions

Purchase the Needed Pet Supplies

1. Find a 10-gallon aquarium minimum to house your gerbils. A glass fish tank is better than a wire hamster cage because gerbils like to dig in deep substrate and will kick the litter out of a wire enclosure. With a pair of gerbils, it can be helpful to put a wire cage topper above the aquarium to give your new pets more room to run around.

2. Aspen shavings or carefresh type bedding is better for gerbils than many other types of substrate available. Cedar shavings, and most pine chips available, have oils that irritate the skin of small rodents. Gerbils like to dig and build tunnels, so put at least 3 inches of substrate at the bottom of their habitat.

3. Commercially prepared gerbil food, suitable hiding place houses and inverted water bottles are all readily available from pet stores or grocery stores. Remember that gerbils will chew any plastic dishes or houses so choose the materials carefully.

Finding a Gerbil in Your Area

1. 

   While gerbils are often available at local pet stores, it may be better to select your new pocket pets from a private breeder.

2. Sometimes the gerbils at pet suppliers have been mass produced for feeding snakes, and the inbreeding and overcrowded conditions make for unhealthy or poorly socialized animals. Unhealthy gerbils from poor breeding stock can have genetic defects, like kinked tails and propensity for tumors.

3. Check with the American Gerbil Society for a gerbil breeder in your state to increase the likelihood of receiving a well-socialized, healthy pup (baby gerbil). Private breeders are usually willing to travel to place gerbils in loving households, and often have gerbils available for less than you'd pay at a pet store.

Evaluating a Potential Pet Gerbil

1. Observe your potential pet gerbil for a moment and listen to its breathing. If a gerbil's breathing has a clicking or catching sound to it, that is a sign of respiratory infection.

2. 

   Check the condition of the gerbil's fur coat and eyes. A gerbil's fur coat should look and feel soft, smooth and clean. Fur that looks greasy and matted is a sign of poor health. Gerbils also have bright, almond-shaped eyes when in good health.

3. 

   The last thing to evaluate about your pet gerbils before making the purchase is their attitude and socialization. Gerbils are very social animals and should usually be purchased in bonded, same sex pairs. While personalities vary, and not every gerbil will run gladly into your hand right away, an emotionally healthy gerbil will be curious and display a friendly demeanor.

Resources

• American Gerbil Society--Find a Gerbil Breeder