Help!! I know NOTHING about gerbils!

[RockerKid1210]

Hi, :wavey: I have three hamsters and I was thinking of keeping a gerbil. So Far the only thing I know is not to keep them in the same cage. I just need the basic info. Are they playfull? And can I keep them in a Habitrail? what do they eat and do they drink from water bottles like hammies? anyway please help thanx
:bouncy: :bouncy: :bouncy: :bouncy:

[gerbilheaven]

Gerbils make great pets. To learn more about them go here.... http://www.agsgerbils.org/Gerbil_Care_Handbook/index.html
Ashley

[StarKat]

Try www.gerbil-info.com .

[Lisaloo]

Yup...
They eat a simarlar food to hamsters, you can get hamster & gerbil food together in one pak prob work out cheeper than getting two paks....
they drink from water bottles just like hamsters.
They are a lot more active than hamsters, and you cant reely cuddle them etc. but they love to run about. They chew anything in site. its best to get a glass aquarium for gerbils but i have got a friend who kept em in a habitrail thingy.
They need to stay in pairs so u wud have to buy two gerbils, otherwise they get lonely and die...
if you dont want loadsa babies choose 2 girls or 2 boys.
They like to chew hay every now and then.
You should pick them up by cupping your hands around them, you shouldnt grab them around the waist because it can shock them, and dont pick them up by the tail cus it cud come off eek.
This is a natural thing they do if predators grab the tails...

Gerbils reely are the cutest things and ive had 2 hamsters before and i gotta say gerbils are much more fun and they arent nocturnal so you can get em out during the daytime...

[PyscoFalcon]

First of all gerbils are highly socabil and need to be kept in at least pairs - prefably groups. They also need to be kept in a atank (no cages) with a mesh roof.

Only wooden toys as they chew plastic and it can kill them. Wheel can brake tails and legs. They should be fed a gerbil only food like Gerri Gerbil as hamster food is far too low in protien. They wake several times during the day and night, are very curious and love to dig tunnels. Give them pleanty of cardboard to chew up.

For bedding Asen shavings or CareFresh is best with undyed, unscented toilet paper for nesting. The minimum size for a pair of gerbils is 10 gallons.

[Kioki]

hey if you really wanna know about gerbils, here is some helpful info. I have 4 gerbils and 2 hammies. Never put them in the same cage, as you know already, and gerbils are very sociable, so try to get them in pairs if you can. Also, they eat any seed mix, I try to get a mix with little seeds and bigger seeds, but it's up to you, and they eat fresh vegetables. You can keep them in a habitrail, but do not keep any more than four in there at onece (depending on the size of the cage, but keep in mind that a 10 gallon aquarium will hold 3 gerbils and keep them comfortable.) As with hampsters, they drink from a waterbottle, but you must keep them 100% full at all times. I once left for three days and my gerbils drank the last of thier water and they all got out. Always make sure that they have something to chew on and a dish full of food. If by any chance you end up with littlke baby gerbils (pups) then don't worry about taking the male out, he will make a perfectly good daddy, But hampsters on the other hand, will eat the young. If you have any more questions, feel free to E-Mail me at gerbil_luvr@earthlink.net :stpatty:

[Lisaloo]

i read once in a gerbil book they can actually eat meat and cheese!!!!
i wouldnt risk meat however, bcos not all book r correct, but i have tried my gerbils with cheeze(seeing as they r simarlar 2 mice and i fort it was pretty safe) and Sherbet (one of my two gerbils) absolutely LOVES it. however i wud advise you not 2 give them alot- jist a little bit, like a nut/sesame seed size , if you know what i mean. (a couple of gerbil-size bites) once in a blue moon sorta thing- jist so u r on the safe side. (not tooo often)
does everyone else agree??

[Babyblue]

" If by any chance you end up with littlke baby gerbils (pups) then don't worry about taking the male out, he will make a perfectly good daddy"

While gerbils make good dads and would help raise the babies, if you leave the male in the tank then the female will become pregnant right after she gives birth and you'll have second litter within 3 weeks. This is what happened to me, I bought 2 supposedly male gerbils and didn't realize one was a girl until one day I woke up to eeping babies. I separated the father right away but it wasn't quick enough and I had a second litter a few weeks later.