Gerbils as Pets

Mongolian Gerbils are one of what I've called "the big four" of rodent pets (hamsters, mice, rats, and gerbils). They have been kept as pets for roughly 30 years and are available in a wide variety of colors. The Mongolian Gerbil is the species most commonly kept as pets and unless otherwise noted the term "gerbil" almost always refers to this species. Other species available as pets are Duprasi or Fat Tailed Gerbils, Shaws Jirds, and a few West African Sspecies.

Positives
Gerbils have many features that make them excellent pets. Probably their greatest advantage is that they are desert animals and have a very efficient use of food and water. The benefit of this for a pet owner is that they produce little urine and their cages do not need to be cleaned as frequently as other rodent pets.

Another major positive to gerbils is that they are absolutely fearless. People have speculated that this may be due to a limited number of predators in their home environment or that nothing in their "pet" environment pushes their buttons. Since the animals are not afraid, they are generally easier to tame, and their response to new stimuli is generally to explore (they are very curious) or flee rather than to bite.

Negatives
Their incessant gnawing and scratching. This makes it impossible to use plastic cages. If left in a plastic cage for permanent housing, they will eventually gnaw their way out. If left in one for a short time, they will usually scratch the sides to an extent that within a few weeks, the plastic will be sufficiently scratched that you will not be able to see through it. They are also a little flighty, and are not overly fond of cuddles, holding and petting.

Special Care
Gerbils are very tolerant and require little in the way of special care. One thing which should be mentioned is that many books claim that gerbils can absorb enough water from occasional feedings of lettuce or celery and that this can substitute for a water bottle. It is no substitute you will need a bottle just as with every other type of rodent pet.

Gerbils are unusual among rodents in that they generally mate for life in pairs or occasionally triads. A gerbil separated from its mate or mates may not take another mate and might not even take its own mate back. I have not always found this to be the case, but it is something to be taken into account. The best comment I have heard is that gerbils are monogamous--just as monogamous as people are.