How To Have Happy and Healthy Gerbils

Whether you are a first-time pet owner or have a zoo at you home, gerbils make some of the best pets. Friendly, quiet, clean and curious, no doubt you will find hours of enjoyment with these little critters. Following a few simple guidelines can help you and your gerbil(s) have many happy and healthy years together. Here are 6 simple steps to ensure that happens:

1. Provide the proper home. For one or two gerbils, a simple ten-gallon glass aquarium with a tight fitting mesh lid and clean wood shavings is usually sufficient. If you are planning on breeding your gerbils, or if nature just takes its course, you will need to provide them a larger habitat. No matter what type of cage you choose, be sure to include a water bottle that hangs within their reach. Also provide a tip resistant food dish that can be easily accessed.
2. Offer a variety of foods. You may immediately notice that your gerbil(s) love sunflower seeds, but try to make them only a modest portion of their overall diet. A blend of grains, seeds and nuts should be available to them at all times, with the occasional supplement of fresh vegetable. Since gerbils not only need to chew, but they also enjoy it, offer them hard, or "crunchy" foods. Nuts and seeds in the shell are some good choices. You may also want to provide blocks of untreated wood for their chewing pleasure. Some people also like to provide a liquid vitamin supplement (several times per week) in the water bottle.
3. Make sure the water is fresh. This is especially important if you ARE adding a vitamin supplement to the water, as it can become rancid quickly. Many gerbils are left to drink stale water because the owners, seeing how little water they consume, leave the same water hanging until the bottle is empty. It is best to get into the habit of changing it daily or every other day, only leaving it for extended periods of time on rare occasion.
4. Use the proper bedding. This is one of the easiest to do right or wrong. Bags of clean, safe, wood shavings are available at almost every pet store and at most supermarkets. Be sure that what you offer is designated to be animal bedding. Wood chips from local home and garden stores are often sprayed with insecticide or paint, which could easily poison your little friends. If you don't have access to pre-made wood chips, you can offer blocks of untreated wood or clean, natural cotton rags, and the gerbils will make their own bedding. No matter which method you choose, it is most important that what goes into their cage does not contain any glues, dyes or chemicals. Their tiny little bodies need only consume a bit of a toxic substance to have a devastating effect.
5. Exercise their minds and bodies. In nature, gerbils get plenty of exercise digging and running over a large territory. Since we have limited their roaming area, it is important that we give them a way to burn some extra energy. Easy ways to provide the proper outlet are "gerbil balls," exercise wheels, and tunnels for exploration. Playing with your gerbil outside of his cage is also stimulating and fun for you and the gerbil!
6. Clean the right way. Even though gerbils are very clean animals, from time to time, you will need to refresh their home. When you do this, be sure not to use harsh cleaners or sprays, as these may leave a residue your gerbils can come into contact with. Instead, after you discard the soiled bedding, clean the inside of the cage with warm soapy water (dish soap is good) and rinse thoroughly. Once the excess water has dried, spray with a gentle disinfectant and allow to air dry. Animal-safe disinfectants are available almost everywhere, and a small bottle of a good quality disinfectant is a good investment in your gerbil's well-being over a lifetime.

Now that you know the basics of gerbil care, you are ready to begin your new friendship. These curious animals will provide endless hours of entertainment if properly cared for by following the basic steps listed above. I recommend continuing to read about gerbils, as many quality articles, magazines and books are readily available. Joining an online group about gerbils and sharing your experiences with other gerbil owners can be extremely helpful for you, others, and most importantly, your new friends!