Gerbils

Food and drink

What should I include in my gerbil's menu?

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Gerbils need animal proteins

 

gebrilWild gerbils mainly eat seeds, roots and stalks so a good gerbil food includes seeds, for example, and not too many sugary products. Gerbils also eat insects so there should be animal proteins in their food. As well as dry food specially for gerbils, also give them small amounts of vegetables, making sure the water content of these is not too high.

As gerbils are desert animals, they drink very little and get most of their fluid from food. Of course they should nevertheless be provided with fresh drinking water every day. 

 

Important information

Five useful tips!

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What should I definitely bear in mind when thinking about buying gerbils?

  1. gebril

    Gerbils are very active and fun animals to watch. After sleeping for a couple of hours, they stay awake for a couple of hours and they don't really have a day and night rhythm.

  2. Gerbils often have a curious and friendly nature. They are not suitable for small children, however, as they are so small and fast.

  3. Gerbils are generally much more active than hamsters.

  4. Cages with bars are not suitable for gerbils, the best are special gerbilariums or aquariums with a mesh grille at the top.

  5. A gerbil's home will stay clean for a long time. But it is still recommended to clean it out at least once a week. 

Gerbils need animal proteins

 

gebrilWild gerbils mainly eat seeds, roots and stalks so a good gerbil food includes seeds, for example, and not too many sugary products. Gerbils also eat insects so there should be animal proteins in their food. As well as dry food specially for gerbils, also give them small amounts of vegetables, making sure the water content of these is not too high.

As gerbils are desert animals, they drink very little and get most of their fluid from food. Of course they should nevertheless be provided with fresh drinking water every day. 

 

What should I definitely bear in mind when thinking about buying gerbils?

  1. gebril

    Gerbils are very active and fun animals to watch. After sleeping for a couple of hours, they stay awake for a couple of hours and they don't really have a day and night rhythm.

  2. Gerbils often have a curious and friendly nature. They are not suitable for small children, however, as they are so small and fast.

  3. Gerbils are generally much more active than hamsters.

  4. Cages with bars are not suitable for gerbils, the best are special gerbilariums or aquariums with a mesh grille at the top.

  5. A gerbil's home will stay clean for a long time. But it is still recommended to clean it out at least once a week. 

Fun facts!

Five facts about gerbils

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gebrilDid you know... Five fun and important facts about gerbils!

  1. The most commonly kept gerbil is the Mongolian gerbil.
  2. Gerbils used to be known as desert rats.
  3. Gerbils stamp with their back feet to warn others of danger.
  4. Gerbils often stand upright to take in their surroundings.
  5. Gerbils can live to be five years old, much older than mice or rats.

 

Housing

Tips for a comfortable home!

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How do I make my gerbils as comfortable as possible?

gebrilsGerbils love to dig and destroy things. Make sure that the cage is not made from wood or plastic. A large glass tank with a grid on the top is ideal, or a home especially for gerbils. Add a thick layer of sand, hemp fibre or wood shavings at the bottom, so they can enjoy digging.

Add platforms to the cage, so that they can clamber up and down, some nesting material so they can make a nest to sleep in and a closed running wheel. Most gerbils love to run. Gerbils are definitely group animals that can live in pairs or, if paired well, in groups.

gebrilDid you know... Five fun and important facts about gerbils!

  1. The most commonly kept gerbil is the Mongolian gerbil.
  2. Gerbils used to be known as desert rats.
  3. Gerbils stamp with their back feet to warn others of danger.
  4. Gerbils often stand upright to take in their surroundings.
  5. Gerbils can live to be five years old, much older than mice or rats.

 

How do I make my gerbils as comfortable as possible?

gebrilsGerbils love to dig and destroy things. Make sure that the cage is not made from wood or plastic. A large glass tank with a grid on the top is ideal, or a home especially for gerbils. Add a thick layer of sand, hemp fibre or wood shavings at the bottom, so they can enjoy digging.

Add platforms to the cage, so that they can clamber up and down, some nesting material so they can make a nest to sleep in and a closed running wheel. Most gerbils love to run. Gerbils are definitely group animals that can live in pairs or, if paired well, in groups.

For the professionals!

Ambition to breed?

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gerbil nestAre you already familiar with breeding gerbils?  

When you consciously decide to breed, always make sure you have plenty of new homes for the young. If you would like a litter of gerbils, it's best to place one male and one female together, so not in a group.

The female should ideally be bred around the age of six months. She is fertile once every four days and after a gestation period of around 3.5 weeks the young are born in a nest she built the day before.

The father and mother will raise the young together, but bear in mind that the mother can be bred immediately after the birth. The young are born bald, blind and deaf, developing to independent gerbils in six weeks. 

Rewards & treats

I like a snack sometimes too!

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A snack won't do any harm, but always use moderation.

Everyone likes to treat their pet sometimes, but for pets that live in a restricted space, it's important not to just constantly provide snacks. Witte Molen's snacks for rodents are formulated with care so it's no problem to treat your gerbils to something tasty now and then.

Products for gerbils

Food, bedding and sticks!

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gerbil nestAre you already familiar with breeding gerbils?  

When you consciously decide to breed, always make sure you have plenty of new homes for the young. If you would like a litter of gerbils, it's best to place one male and one female together, so not in a group.

The female should ideally be bred around the age of six months. She is fertile once every four days and after a gestation period of around 3.5 weeks the young are born in a nest she built the day before.

The father and mother will raise the young together, but bear in mind that the mother can be bred immediately after the birth. The young are born bald, blind and deaf, developing to independent gerbils in six weeks. 

A snack won't do any harm, but always use moderation.

Everyone likes to treat their pet sometimes, but for pets that live in a restricted space, it's important not to just constantly provide snacks. Witte Molen's snacks for rodents are formulated with care so it's no problem to treat your gerbils to something tasty now and then.

Frequently asked questions

I can’t find any food specifically for gerbils. What should I buy for my gerbils?

Gerbils have very similar dietary requirements to mice. A good quality gerbil feed should be varied and contain plenty of vegetables and seeds.

My gerbils barely drink anything. Should I be concerned?

No, don’t worry. Gerbils are originally from the desert where they had to use water very efficiently to survive. That’s why they also urinate so little. If you give them a little piece of vegetable every so often, gerbils need hardly any water at all, but do make sure they always have fresh water available just in case!

Can my gerbils eat snacks?

Of course, but in moderation. Most gerbils are sensitive to too much sugar, so chew sticks and fruit are not such a good choice for them. The PUUR range includes plenty of healthy snack options.

What can I give my gerbils to give them enough to chew on?

Gerbils love to chew and it’s good for their teeth as well. You can give them PUUR Pauze Sticks which are coated in tasty treats. Many gerbils will also like the PUUR Pauze hay packs and hay sticks: not only can they chew the hay up, but they can also use it as nesting material.