Gerbil info please?

[heabrook]

I was wondering if anyone has experience with gerbils and could give me a few tips. I haven't been able to find that much information on them from the internet. Specifically --- how much fresh veggies they can have, health, etc.

[Treen]

There's a gerbil section on this site http://www.erodent.co.uk/GerbilIndex.htm and a 'gerbil links' page too.

Good luck!

[heabrook]

Thank you

[bunnyluv17]

Gerbils can have small amounts of veggies and fruits daily. They will probably enjoy crunchy foods over soft foods, like carrot, brocolli, apple, celery. Gerbils are pretty hardy and generally stay healthy. I would avoid any kind of pine or cedar bedding as it can cause respiratory problems. Aspen shavings are probably the best bedding for gerbils. Gerbils are social and should be kept in same-sex pairs. The best habitat for a pair of gerbils is a large tank with a lid. Fill the tank with lots of bedding because gerbils love to dig. Wire cages are not ideal because gerbils will chew the bars and can get sores on their face and in their mouth.

Gerbils constantly chew so provide plenty of things for them to chew. They love cardboard rolls and small cardboard boxes, and will make nests out of tissues and toliet paper. They also love hay.

Excercise wheels should be either wire mesh or a wodent wheel, gerbils can get their tails caught in the wheels that only have wire bars.
Don't give them anything made of plastic because they will chew it to shreds.

[Shidohari]

That's cool i think i would be able go get gerbils easier than guinea pigs at this time. And you can train them to be tame too...i may get them on my next paycheck if i have enough money after my credit card bills. If anyone owns any please pm me with their observations

[standuprookie]

You may want to consider adoption, I know in my area I see many gerbils on Craigslist and Freecycle, and of course check Petfinder and petfinder classifieds.

[Shidohari]

unfortunately there's nothing local to me. the closest places to adopt from are two hours north or south of me. I wish i could say otherwise but there isn't.