If they’re asleep, forget it, they don’t want to be disturbed. BUT, if they’re awake – it’s playtime!
Gerbils are a bit shy so they’ll need to get to know you first. Always handle them gently and don’t make any sudden movements. They’ll soon learn to trust you and then you’ll see just how friendly and nosy Gerbils really are! Gerbils are very sociable animals and get lonely and unhappy if they are kept on their own.
Exercise
It is extremely important that your Gerbil has the opportunity to exercise every day. Your Gerbil will love running around and playing; provide play things such as toilet roll tubes, flower pots, cardboard egg boxes and pieces of safe wood, such as hazel or apple wood, that they can climb on – and gnaw! Piles of twigs (natural wood – willow, beech, hazel or apple) make platforms for them to explore or rest under. Gerbils will chew the wood and this will help keep their teeth in trim! By hiding food and the occasional treat in cardboard toilet roll tubes, in empty yoghurt pots, or in different areas of the animal’s enclosure, your Gerbil will be forced to hunt for its food – this will keep it occupied for many happy hours and help prevent boredom.
Handling Your Gerbil
To ensure that your Gerbil becomes tame and affectionate it is important that you handle it frequently and correctly. Picking up a Gerbil incorrectly could lead it being permanently frightened and may lead to it becoming aggressive. Remember that most small animals are prey in the wild. So, if approached from above they’ll see a large shadow and become scared. They might run and hide or try to attack you.
The best way to pick up your Gerbil is to talk to it as you approach – on the same level. Crouch and let it come to you, presenting the back of your hand for it to sniff. If your Gerbil is confident and appears interested, slowly unclench your fist and offer your palm. It may well crawl on to your hand or you can gently scoop it up. Cup your Gerbil in the palms of your two hands to ensure that it is safe and won’t be dropped. Lift slowly – picking up too quickly would be the equivalent of going up the Empire State Building in 3 seconds! To ensure it is safe at all times you should hold it over your lap or close to your chest. Always talk to your Gerbil to calm and reassure it. A small treat once it is out will make it happy as well.
Gerbils need feeding twice a day, every day (in the morning and in the evening). A good quality, heavy, earthenware bowl keeps food dry and clean and prevents the gerbils from tipping the food. Bowls must be cleaned after every use.
Gerbils have traditionally been fed on hamster mixes. However, this is not ideal as their requirements are different and hamster mixes contain too much fat for a gerbil. To find out more about high quality, nutritionally complete Gerbil food visit out supremepetfoods website.
If you’re changing your Gerbil’s diet, it’s vital that you introduce the new food gradually. Mix about one quarter of the new food with three quarters of the old food on the first day and then gradually increase the new food and decrease the old food over a 10-day period. This should make sure that your Gerbil has no tummy upsets.
You can also feed treats from your garden such as broccoli, carrot and cucumber, but remember; too much green food can cause diarrhoea.
At the Tiny Friends Farm in Hadleigh, Suffolk, Supreme believes that the very best food should be nutritious as well as ohh so delicious. Our food encourages natural foraging, and is perfect for tiny friends with big personalities.
Gerri Gerbil Tasty Mix is nutritionally balanced and suitable for gerbils of all shapes and sizes. Delicious ingredients such as pumpkin seeds, carrot, maize, oats, wheat and peas, as well as added vitamins provide a tasty everyday diet that helps promote your pet’s natural wellbeing and vitality. We’ve also added tasty linseed to help keep your pet’s skin and coat in the very best condition.
You need to provide plenty of room for your gerbil to eat, sleep and run around. Gerbils should be kept in pairs or groups and you must make sure that there is room for all of them. They need to be kept indoors and careful thought must be given to where your gerbils’ cage will be. The temperature in the room should be constant, away from direct sunlight and draughts, and out of reach of any other pets. Gerbils need good, secure, roomy housing. They can be kept in a wire cage with a plastic base or a plastic hamster home but the best option is to construct a “gerbilarium” (an aquarium with a well ventilated cover). Never keep them in a wooden hutch as they will gnaw their way out! A good cage will be two tiered and have at least two compartments – one for the day and one to nest and hide in at night. Don’t forget that if you have more than one gerbil you will need a bigger cage. They prefer to sleep separately at night, too, so need their own nesting areas. Would you want to share your bedroom all the time? Remember that a cage can NEVER be too big – buy or make the largest cage you can manage. Gerbils are one of the easiest small animals to look after. Because their little bodies have adapted to having limited amounts of food and water, they waste very little body fluid, excreting only concentrated urine and dry faeces. If kept in a gerbilarium, with lots of absorbent peat and woodshavings, the animals can live in sanitary conditions for up to 3 months. It is important, however, to check DAILY for stale food, which should be removed. Also check the water bottle regularly, as gerbils are prone to piling litter underneath them, which can cause them to leak.