Gerbils are little creatures that make really good pets. They are friendly and amazing at the same time. If you are a gerbil or a new gerbil owner, you may wonder what care gerbils require.
Well, gerbils are not complicated. However, they are very fragile animals and should be taken care of by adults who understand their needs. They require daily care like ensuring they feed well, are in good health, and are clean.
This article will show you how to take care of a gerbil. Let’s get started!
How to Take Care of a Gerbil
1. Feed Them Daily
You should feed your gerbils every day. Remember that gerbils are omnivorous, and they mainly feed on planter matter.
They mainly feed on fruits, seeds, and vegetables to stay healthy. Nowadays, gerbils can feed on quality dry food with various vitamins and minerals. They are also fed fresh food so their teeth can stay healthy.
2. Cleaning Their Cage Regularly,
Gerbils are more hygienic than other rodents. They like their cage clean and, more importantly, their bedding. Ensure you check their cage daily. Remove any stale food that remains overnight. Also, wash their bowl and water dish as well.
Also, check if their beddings are dirty or soiled, remove them and replace them with clean ones. However, you should change the cage bedding at least twice a month if there are more than two gerbils in the cage.
3. Ensure They Have Clean and Fresh Water
All pets need access to clean and fresh water. Although gerbils are initially desert animals, they need water because they stay indoors. Check if their water bottle is clean and fill it with clean water.
4. Provide Them With Toys
Gerbils can get bored, especially if nothing keeps them busy. Remember, they stay in the same space every day, so it’s easier for them to get bored. You can buy them some gerbil toys such as tunnels and wheels for mental stimulation.
5. Provide Them With a Large Enclosure.
One of the things that gerbils require is a large space. They spend most of their lives in a cage, so they need a large space to play and exercise. So, the bigger the cage, the better.
If you have more than two gerbils, consider getting a much bigger cage so each can have enough space for daily activities.
5. Ensure You Place the Cage Correctly in its Room
Gerbils love to stay in a friendly and quiet place. Thus you need to find a good spot in the house to place the cage. Place the cage in a room where the people don’t go in frequently, away from the television or any other noise.
Furthermore, don’t place the cage in direct sunlight, radiation, ventilation systems, or draughts. The temperature of the room should stay between 65 and 75 degrees.
The cage should also be placed for other pets like dogs and cats, as gerbils get scared easily when they see other animals.
6. Ensure They Socialize
Another way to take care of a gerbil is to allow your gerbil to socialize with other gerbils and, most preferably, the same sex.
7. Take Them Out for Exercise
You can take your gerbil out of the cage to exercise its legs for about 20 minutes. However, it would help if you kept an eye on them as they are good at escaping. You can also cuddle with them if you are already used to each other.
You can also give them a ball to run around the house and ensure they don’t play around the stairs. Also, ensure other pets are outside or in a cage.
8. Take Your Gerbil for a Health Check
Health checks are essential for pets. Remember, your gerbil is relying on you for its health. Ensure you regularly take them to the vet for a health check to ensure they are in good health and happiness.
9. Give Them Grooming
Remember, gerbils are clean pets and are good at keeping themselves clean. These desert creatures use sand to remove parasites or bacteria from their coats. So, ensure they have access to sand in their cage.
Get a deep dish and fill it halfway with chinchilla sand. Place the dish in the cage for about 20 minutes a week. You can also help your gerbil trim their nails if you notice they have curled.
Final Thoughts
Gerbils are very fragile pets; hence, they must be handled with care. Please don’t allow children to take care of them as they might not know how to handle them. Use the above ways to take care of your gerbil, and you will live happily with your little creature.
