Where to get Gerbils in NY/NYC area?

[lilkaymin]

I never had gerbils before, i currently have a dog and have owned fish and a guinea pig. Anyway, i'm graduating this spring and looking for a pair of gerbils since i haven't had a small pet in a LONG TIME (college).

There's a petco literally 2 blocks from where I live near my university in Long Island. Should i get the gerbils there or is there a breeder or something in NY/NYC?
I'd prefer really young ones.

Thanks. :)

[LikeItOrNot]

Try here:
http://www.agsgerbils.org/Breeders.html
Also check here..
http://www.agsgerbils.org/classifieds/ (http://www.agsgerbils.org/classifieds/) :)

Might even be some breeders on this board..

It's best to get them from a breeder instead of Petco or Petsmart. They'll be tame, you can get them younger, less likely to have health problems and you'll be sure of the sex.

[Zouave]

Some old threads refered to a NY breeder.

Why not try rescuing some from a shelter? I got some beauties, including an all white and a siamese.

[LikeItOrNot]

She's never had gerbils before so she's probably better off getting them from a breeder. Rescues and petshop ones usually have issues like nipping, mean, hate people, pregnant, wrong sex, aggressive..etc. They weren't bred for tameness and health, they were bred to be sold.

[lilkaymin]

Some old threads refered to a NY breeder.

Why not try rescuing some from a shelter? I got some beauties, including an all white and a siamese.

Thanks for the replies!

Actually, is that breeder where you got your first gerbils from in Babylon still around? I go to Stony Brook University which is in Suffolk County and that woudl be perfectly convenient if i could get them there.

Maybe i'm not looking right but i can't seem to find a breeder in NYC, a city with millions of people.

Are the animals in pet stores REALLY that bad? I know not to get dogs from pet stores but gerbils is kinda crossing the line.

Thanks everyone.:)

[andreaS15]

"Most" Pet shop gerbils are fine, alot come from AGS registered breeders in some cases.
I have now owned 5 gerbils from Pet Shops, all great pets but one, which was a Pet Shop rescue with only 3 legs (Family ate it off trying to kill her, she had some kind of brain damage i'm sure).

I find alot of rescues make WONDERFUL pets, it's like when they've had it bad, they truly apperciate everything you've done for them, unlike my spoiled little brats :p I'm picking up a rescue pair of males for my mom, The lady who's fostering them now say's they are THE sweetest little gerbils and they are maybe 1.5 - 2 years old.
I like Older gerbils myself, much calmer and don't mind being handled as much as the young ones who just want to run and play 24/7.

[doppelgangrel]

lilkaymin, I have a pair of six-week-old golden agouti males that I am looking for a home for. I am in New Brunswick, NJ, for the next 2.5 weeks (after which I go home to East Windsor for the summer). It's about a two hour drive to Stony Brook, I think. If you are interested, we can arrange to get you the boys, and I can teach you everything I know about caring for gerbils. Let me know.

If you aren't interested in my boys, I would recommend that you be wary of pet stores. Pet store personnel rarely know much about their more exotic animals, and you're likely to be fed some misinformation. Just look at the number of "wrong gender" stories on the forum! It's better to get from a breeder in that they are more likely to be able to tell you the right things.

[lilkaymin]

lilkaymin, I have a pair of six-week-old golden agouti males that I am looking for a home for. I am in New Brunswick, NJ, for the next 2.5 weeks (after which I go home to East Windsor for the summer). It's about a two hour drive to Stony Brook, I think. If you are interested, we can arrange to get you the boys, and I can teach you everything I know about caring for gerbils. Let me know.

If you aren't interested in my boys, I would recommend that you be wary of pet stores. Pet store personnel rarely know much about their more exotic animals, and you're likely to be fed some misinformation. Just look at the number of "wrong gender" stories on the forum! It's better to get from a breeder in that they are more likely to be able to tell you the right things.


First of all let me thank everyone and you for the replies! :)

dopplegangrel, I think i'm quite interested. Do you have pictures of those two agouti males or perhaps some more info?

I actually go home every weekend and fridays to brooklyn, which would shorten the trip down to about 45 minutes ( at least according to mapquest ). I could perhaps meet you right outside the exit on the Belt. Of course I would gladly cover any costs of the trip as well (gas tolls, etc). LMK!

In any case, thanks for the help and the offer.. :cool:
BTW, my aim is exactly my sn here. If you feel it's more convenient to contact me there, feel free to, i'm online 24/7.

[doppelgangrel]

My screenname is "dragoncreation." Give me an IM, and we'll talk more. :)

[LaGypsyEyes]

I actually got my Gerbils from petland discounts and they're the sweetest things on earth. *Smiles* I wish I could buy two more and maybe I will when I get them a bigger cage.

Anway, good luck. I hope you find the gerbils lovable. :p