Gerbil Tip Sheet Flashcards
Gerbil knowledge
Gerbils are clean, quiet pets that are best kept in twos or groups.
These mini architects spend hours entertaining their owner, tunnelling and building burrows.
There are approximately 89 species of gerbils, with the most popular being the Mongolian gerbil, from the Mongolian Desert. In the wild, gerbils like to live in burrows with their families.
Assorted colour variations are available, which include agouti, argent, blue, lilac, dove, cream, chinchilla, black and albino.
In their natural setting, gerbils thrive living in communal groups. This should be sufficient reason to keep more than one gerbil.
Unless babies are wanted, females generally get along together better than males.
Gerbils should be introduced to one another at 6 to 10 weeks of age if a relatively happy living arrangement is to be accomplished.
Recommend placing your gerbils’ home in a room where there is a fair amount of activity.
This way they will have an opportunity to get familiar with your family’s day-to-day routine.
The optimum temperature is between 68°F - 74°F (20°C - 23.8°C).
Rapid changes in temperature may lead to respiratory problems.
Place the cage away from direct sunlight, heat or air-conditioning vents and any drafts.
Gerbil maturity
Sexual maturity occurs at eight to nine weeks and the gestation period is 24 to 28 days.
The number in a litter may be two to eight pups and their eyes open at 10 to 12 days.
During birth and weaning, if the male is left with his partner he will share the parental duties.
Very little intervention other than fresh food and water are required.
Anything more than a quick change of food and water and the occasional spot cleaning will upset the mother, and cause her distress.
Live 3-4 years
ENVIRONMENTAL
Cage
An aquarium with a tight fitting lid is an excellent option for your gerbil who loves to dig in his bedding.
A two-story cage with a removable plastic bottom is another option - just don’t underestimate your potential escapee!
Try and give your gerbil room enough to run, sleep and tunnel.
ENVIRONMENTAL
Nesting material
This material is made specifically for gerbils, hamsters, mice, rats, and degus (it’s safe).
It provides your gerbils with an opportunity to gather and chew bedding to form a cozy bed inside their hideaway.
ENVIRONMENTAL
Hiding Place
Every living creature needs an area to call their own.
A hideaway is necessary in reducing stress and makes them feel secure.
Their home can be made of ceramic, wicker or wood, but make sure it is made specifically with a gerbil in mind.
Tissue boxes or toilet paper rolls, although happily slept in and chewed, are potential health hazards that you should avoid.
NUTRITIONAL
an omnivore.
primary diet is an extrusion food.
Follow the recommended guidelines on the bag of food as to how much should be offered daily.
Also, add a teaspoon of a gourmet hamster & gerbil food mix to the extrusion food daily feeding program, to keep him satisfied.
Gerbils have a habit of selecting mixes with nuts, corn, seeds and fruit morsels and leaving the healthy pellets behind, so a primary diet of extrusion food is the best option.
Many small animals are susceptible to diarrhea, especially when new foods are introduced too quickly or they encounter a stressful situation (i.e. being adopted). By providing food that is familiar to them, their digestive systems will prevent this type of health problem.
NUTRITIONAL
Miss Hollow Adapt
Using Moss Hollow Adapt, while minimizing stress, can help your new pet adapt to their new home by promoting relaxation from stress caused by
the environment (Echinacea), offering a prebiotic for building gut flora (Burdock Root), easing diarrhea (Psyllium Husk), increasing palatability (Wheatgrass), providing a natural dewormer
(Diatomaceous Earth), and nutrient rich clay (Bentonite).
This veterinary health product uses natural ingredients which can aid all small animals before symptoms emerge.
NUTRITIONAL
Hay
Supply grass hay to stimulate natural foraging activities, which help in the prevention of obesity.
The bonus here is that they also love it!
Hay is also an excellent source of nesting material.
There are variety of hays to choose from; however, gerbils especially enjoy oat hay, which often contains immature seed heads.
NUTRITIONAL
Treats
Treats are a great way to help keep your gerbils from becoming bored with their fare, and staying healthy and active.
All gerbils should be introduced to new foods gradually.
Never more than 5% of their total diet should consist of treats, or about a ½ tsp daily.
Offer treats to encourage interaction between you and your pet, but only after your pet eats his basic food.
NUTRITIONAL
Recommendations
We recommend that for the first few days in your home, you do not feed your new pets any fruits, vegetables or treats.
It is at this time that they will be most prone to getting diarrhea.
Limiting their variety of foods is best until they are settled.
Fresh foods are considered treats for gerbils rather than a staple in your pet’s diet.
Carrot and beet tops, dandelion greens and flowers (that have not been subjected to spraying), kale, collard greens, romaine and leaf lettuce (not iceberg lettuce), parsley, and pea pods are some good choices.
Large amounts of green foods should be avoided, since they are difficult to digest and can cause health concerns.
NUTRITIONAL
Vitamin and Mineral Supplement
This should be added to the drinking water or food, according to bottle directions.
In the wild, animals can choose the foods their bodies require.
Even if you give your gerbils a variety of foods, you may not be providing them with certain vitamins/minerals that they need.
NUTRITIONAL
Salt and Mineral Stone
Your gerbils need a salt and mineral stone available at all times.
Salt will encourage them to drink enough water, and the water aids in digestion.
MAINTENANCE
Water bottle
The use of a four to eight water
bottle is necessary. so the water stays clean and free of bedding and the vitamins are not wasted.
Fresh water should be available at all times and replaced daily.
Water bottles need to be kept clean of not only any bacterial growth, but also of sediment that may be caused by using nutritional supplements.
Use a bottle brush set to clean both the inside of the bottle and the inner surface of the stainless steel drinking tube.
Brushes may be used with dish soap.
Be sure to rinse bottles and tubes well and to wash and rinse brushes themselves following use.
If your pet is housed in an aquanum, a bottle holder or bottle guard will be required.
MAINTENANCE
Crock bowls
These are easy to clean, cannot
be chewed and are hard to tip over. Two are advisable, one for food and the other for treats.
MAINTENANCE
Dust bath
Gerbils need regular dust baths to remove excess natural oils from their fur. They don’t bathe in water, but in Tinely ground sand.
Approximately two tablespoons of dust bath should be added to a shallow dish for five-10 minutes at a time.
