I ❤ MY GERBIL

I am an experienced breeder, going back many years. I began breeding again in August 2020 with the goal in mind to show. I specialize in Siamese and Burmese colors. I also breed a few rare types: Blue, Patched Pied, and Rex coats.

I breed for quality, not quantity. Health and good temperament are my top priority.

I selectively pair up my gerbils to improve on traits like color, size, eye shape, and overall conformation based an the American Gerbil Society standard. 

The base product I feed is Kaytee FortiDiet Pro Health Hamster/Gerbil food. I mix in oxbow hamster and gerbil food, uncooked pasta, and assorted nuts. I also feed freeze dried mealworms, cheerios, millet spray, pumpkin seeds, fresh carrots, kale, cucumber, and occasionally apples.

I do NOT feed Timothy or Alfalfa hay as gerbils tend to have allergies to hay. It's not necessary as part of their diet. Most people provide it for enrichment or to help build tunnels.

A young gerbil can be very flighty because they are getting to know the world. All the new sights and sounds spook them and make them jumpy. This is a normal predatory response. So until they are more adjusted, be careful not to drop them or let them jump from your hands when holding them.

In my experience, both male or females make good pets. It all depends on their personality...not what sex they are.

Gerbils live in communities and are happiest living with at least one buddy. It is recommended to house no more than 4 males or 3 females together. I find these numbers work well with my clans.

Never put two gerbils who do not know each other in the same cage without introducing them properly. They will fight and it could cause serious injury or death. You can introduce two strange gerbils by using the split cage method. There are many articles available online. Do your research. 

https://www.agsgerbils.org/gerbilpedia/items/Split-Cage-Method

Gerbils can declan (start to fight) even if they have lived happily together for years. There are many reasons for this, but most common, it is a fight for dominance. So it's important to catch aggressive behavior before it escalates. Sometimes placing them in a split cage set up for a few days can help defuse the fighting. 

Selecting a cage is a personal preference. The decision is based on how much money and space you have. As well as how many gerbils you plan to keep. Some people like tanks and others find cages easier to manage. 

The general rule is 10 gallons of space per gerbil. Ideally, I find a 20 gallon long to be suitable for 2 gerbils max. Most of my gerbils are housed in tanks, but I do like the Preview 528 cage. It is lightweight and easy to clean. Importantly, my gerbils appear to be happy in this cage.

Plastic habitats are fun but a gerbil will chew threw it fast. Its not safe for your pets and you'll just have to buy another cage once they destroy it.

WHY IS MY GERBILS NOSE RED?

One of the most common health issues with gerbils is nasal dermatitis. Here is a link to a good article.

https://www.gerbilwelfare.com/gerbils-nose-red/

WHAT IS DEGLOVING?

Degloving is an injury in which the fur, skin, and muscle are torn off a gerbil's tail, leaving muscle and bone exposed. It can happen as a result of picking up the gerbil by the tail or if they get their tail caught on something. If this happens, a vet visit may be needed if the wound looks infected. In most cases, a minor wound will heal on its own. You can treat the wound by rinsing it off with saline solution and applying a small dab of neosporian. 

DO GERBILS HAVE SEIZURES?

Another issue gerbils commonly have are seizures. I read about 50% of gerbils will have a seizure between 2 to 6 months old. The good news is most gerbils out grow having seizures. Here is a good article for more information. 

https://www.gerbilwelfare.com/seizures-in-gerbils/#Is_My_Gerbil_Having_a_Seizure

WHY IS MY GERBILS EYE SWOLLEN?

Another common issue is swollen, red, or closed shut eyes. This is often caused by dirty or dusty bedding, sand, or allergies. Most often it's just debris that got in the eye. If the eye is oozing yellow puss, then it's infected and must see a vet. If it's oozing red, don't be alarmed, gerbil mucus is red in color. An irritated eye may get a collection of red mucus. If this is the case, you can treat by either rinsing with saline or wiping the eye with a warm wet q-tip.

If you suspect allergies, stop feeding hay and switch to "Eco Bedding".

1. Allow your new gerbil at least 48 hours to get use to its new environment before you start interacting. You can watch them and talk to them, but refrain from trying to hold them.
2. After the 48 hours, start getting them use to you by placing your hand in cage. Allow them to sniff you and climb on your hand.
3. I recommend you do not give treats by hand in the beginning. Some gerbils start to nip or bite because they associate your hand with food. Eventually they will learn the difference but first you need to teach them that's a hand, not food.
4. Always wash your hands before handling your gerbil. They may nip or bite if they smell food or other animals on your hands.
5. Put some of the gerbils old bedding in the new cage. This helps alleviate some of the stress when moving to a new cage. Most breeders will provide if you ask.
6. Keep their bedding low for the first month (1 to 2 inches). This allows you to work on taming your gerbil. You don't want them to constantly hide from you in deep bedding.
7. Always use a clean cage that has no smells of other animals. Those smells can make your new gerbils fight.
8.  Teach them to jump in a bowl which will allow you to pick them up easier. Chasing a gerbil will make them mistrust you.
9. Provide at least one hiding spot, perhaps a small wood hut. Gerbils feel safer and more secure when they know they have a spot to retreat when they get scared.
10. Get a butterfly net. This is the quickest, easiest, and safest way to catch a gerbil if it escapes.
11. Do not provide a sand bath until your gerbil is at least 10 weeks old. From my experience, they can get sand in their eyes which can cause an eye infection or the loss of an eye.
12. I recommend a 10" exercise wheel. Smaller wheels will cause spinal damage.