Gerbils

Question 1

What is a gerbils life span?

Answer 1

3-4 years

Question 2

What is an adult gerbils body weight?

Answer 2

50-60g

Question 3

What is a gerbils body temperature?

Answer 3

37.4-39*C

Question 4

What is a gerbils respiratory rate?

Answer 4

90-140 b/min

Question 5

What is a gerbils pulse rate?

Answer 5

250-500 b/min

Question 6

At what age is a gerbil sexually mature?

Answer 6

10 weeks

Question 7

What is a gerbils gestation period?

Answer 7

24-26 days

Question 8

What young do gerbils produce?

Answer 8

Altricial young

Question 9

What diet do gerbils have?

Answer 9

Omnivores

Question 10

Do gerbils perform caecatrophy?

Answer 10

Yes

Question 11

Are gerbils social or solitary animals?

Answer 11

Social - live in groups

Question 12

Explain what gerbils limbs are like and why.

Answer 12

They have short forelegs which hold food.
Large and furry hind legs which allow them to stand in sand and move with a jumping motion.

Question 13

Explain the attributes of a female gerbils mammary glands.

Answer 13

They have 4 pairs of teats (8) compared to males which have none.

Question 14

What do gerbils possess on their abdomen?

Answer 14

Sent glands to mark territory.

Question 15

Gerbils Housing
What sex groups do gerbils live in?

Answer 15

Female paired or neutered male and female paired.
Males will fight.

Question 16

Gerbil Housing
What should the enclosure be made out of?

Answer 16

Solid floored plastic or metal cages.
Multi-layered.
Metal mesh lid.

Question 17

Gerbil Housing
What bedding should be used?

Answer 17

Shavings or paper based product (not newspaper).
Should be 10-15cm deep for burrowing.

Shredded paper good for nesting area.

Question 18

Gerbil Housing
What bedding should be avoided and why?

Answer 18

Peat and other soil substrates as they encourage damp which leads to poor quality, greasy, matted fur.

Question 19

Gerbil Housing
What is the ideal temperature?

Answer 19

Temp - 15-21*C
Humidity - low (below 50%)

Question 20

Gerbil Housing
What enrichment can be provided?

Answer 20

Fruit-tree wood, cardboard boxes to chew, toilet roll runners for tunnels, exercise wheels, scatter feeding or hiding food.

Question 21

Gerbil Housing
What can be provided to encourage natural grooming?

Answer 21

Sand bath of fine silver sand.

Question 22

Gerbil Nutrition
What % protein and fat should be provided in the diet?

Answer 22

16% protein
5% fat

Question 23

Gerbil Nutrition
What should the diet consist of?

Answer 23

Gerbil-specific commercial food.
16% protein and 5% fat.
Extra protein can be supplemented by giving seeds, nuts, hard-boiled eggs, mealworms.

Small amounts of fruit and veg can be given, avoiding those with high moisture count.

Water requirement are low but should be provided daily in a water bottle.