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Back to Basics In the wild, gerbils live in groups in underground burrows, to avoid the heat of their desert homes. Gerbils are diurnal - alternating sleep with periods of great activity throughout the day and night. Company Gerbils are very social animals and love company - especially of their own kind. A lone gerbil will be lonely and unhappy. Single-sex pairs should live together happily if they are litter-mates, although some males may fight as they get older. Stimulation Gerbils are energetic and agile, so need plenty of space in which to run around and explore. A classic gerbil pose is standing upright on its back legs using its tail for balance, so the cage should be tall enough to allow for this. As with all small animals, a cage can be too small but never too big. All cages should have a nesting box or somewhere the gerbils can hide or sleep. However, once they’re awake, gerbils are constantly on the go. Their long, powerful back legs are a distinctive feature and enable them to jump to impressive heights. Their front legs are shorter, and are used for burrowing and catching and holding their food. Rather than simply offering food in a bowl, much enrichment and stimulation can be provided by hiding it around the cage so the gerbils have to dig and burrow to find it - much as in the wild. Hiding treats or food in a cardboard toilet roll tube or burying it in bedding are ways to add interest and prevent boredom. Supreme makes a variety of wholesome, nutritious treats, which are perfect for hiding around the cage to encourage foraging. Environmental Enrichment Gerbils are extremely inquisitive and need lots of stimulation to keep them occupied. They love having new toys to play with and explore. There is a wide variety of toys available in pet stores, but gerbils tend to lose interest very quickly and move on to the next new toy, so often the best ones are inexpensive items, such as old wooden cotton reels, cardboard boxes and tubes. Ladders and exercise wheels are also an option, although a closed wheel is essential to avoid injuries to tails and feet, and anything plastic is liable to be chewed. Gerbils also love to burrow and dig, so a good, deep layer of woodshavings or soil will provide much to keep them busy. This is where a cage with deep solid sides will pay dividends in terms of containing the mess from scattered bedding. Health Quite apart from the need for socialisation and stimulation, daily handling is important to check for any signs of injury or ill health, i.e. cuts, lumps, runny eyes, dirty bottom. Teeth and nails should be checked for length. Like all rodents, gerbils need plenty of safe things to chew, i.e. hay, untreated wood, cardboard, to prevent dental overgrowth. Hygiene Originating in the desert, gerbils are very effective at storing water; their droppings are very dry and they don’t urinate much. This means they are extremely clean to keep and have no odour. Cages need a thorough clean every 3 weeks, although obviously soiled bedding should be replaced as and when necessary. Supreme’s Home Help is a spray-on hutch and cage cleaning solution that works by eliminating bacteria, and germs which cause odours and can be harmful. In addition to substrate, gerbils will also appreciate some bedding, particularly in the colder months. Russel Bedding is ideal for all small animals. It’s made from very finely threshed barley straw and treated with a bactericide, virucide and fungicide, so it’s soft, warm and fluffy with a fresh lemony smell, highly absorbent and entirely safe if eaten. |
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Gerri Gerbal Features of Gerri Gerbal |
Gerri Gerbal Gerbil Trivia |
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