Pre Gerbil Purchase Questions

[PaulInKingston]

Before I go out and buy my setup I have a few questions:

Q1: How many gerbils can a 29 gallon tank hold without being over stocked? The tanks measurements will be L=30 inches/W=12 inches/H=18 inches.

Q2: Are females easier to keep than males? I have read that males urine smells much stronger. My plan is all females from the same family.

Q3: Is normal lighting in the home enough or does an aquarium light need to be provided? My plan was to buy a proper mesh top for the aquarium.

[gerbilgirl92]

I'm not sure how many gerbils could go in a 29 gallon tank. But remember clans are harder to take care of then just 2 gerbils. Just figure about 5 gallons for each gerbil. That would be about 5 or 6 of them.


I have heard that female gerbils can be more aggressive when it comes to keeping them in large numbers. But I'm not sure about that.

You don't need any extra lighting. Just light from the house and windows will be fine.

[pezza]

An extra note about the light.

Ive heard its good to give gerbils a good light on lights off time so for instance dont put your cage in a room which is constantly dark, or light.

My cage is in my bedroom so it doesent matter to much.

[gerbilgirl92]

Yeah mine is too. I like to keep them nocturnal so they don't keep me up all night. I've got them "trained"

[gerbillover]

Around 5 gerbils would be perfect for a 29 gallon.

Females, for me, are harder to keep than males. As they fight more than males if they are kept in pairs of more than 3.
If you are going to be keeping them in a 29 gallon, I really think you should get males. As if there are only 2 females, they will fight over territory, but if there are more they may fight as well. You could keep 5 males together no problem.

As long as they they get a good amount of sunlight, it should be fine.

[PaulInKingston]

Males it is then, tanks.