Gerbil Pet Overview
If you are looking for a small, low maintenance pet the gerbil makes a great choice. Gerbils have an active, chatty personality and can tolerate each other. Easy to care for, they’re great for new pet owners. No strong odors low maintenance; Gerbils are easy care and don’t need much grooming. As they are so small, they only need a small space to live in, which suits fine for people who live in a compact home. That being said, gerbils will stick with owners when given the proper care and attention quickly. When housed together, you can feed and care for them with the right environment, then they become affectionate household companions.
History of Gerbils
Childhood comes into being during the early 20th century when gerbils enter the pet world. First, researchers used them in labs on account of their resilience. In the 1960s the Mongolian gerbil was a household pet. From Mongolia’s deserts, these gerbils came home with pet owners who fell in love with their friendly natures. Since he was easy to care for, had cute traits, and the germil was abundantly available, the gerbil was popular. They are now a favorite pet for families and children today. Worldwide their popularity continues to grow for their charm and manageable needs.
Gerbil Temperament
Greatly friendly and social temperament makes Gerbils an excellent pet. They’re naturally curious and love exploring new environments. Early socialization of gerbils is unlikely to develop aggressive gerbils at all. Like many other rodents, many gerbils are great with humans and not aggressive; gerbils certainly would not fall in the dangerous rodent category. They are calm, so they are easy to handle without fear of being bitten. Sudden movements or loud looks,, however, may startle, so you have to handle them with care. Gerbils do best kept in pairs or groups, but are very social with other gerbils. In a companion situation the loneliness is prevented and a positive behavior is reinforced. Gerbils are playful and energetic and love toys, tunnels and engaging activities.
Gerbil Colors
Selective breeding has given us Gerbils in an amazing array of colors. The shades reach from common to the rare hues. Gerbils supply a visual charm to each color.
Common Coat Colors
1. Agouti
The agouti gerbils are very earthy in appearance, resembling wild gerbils. They have brown and black feature hairs with lighter underbellies. This natural color helps the creatures look like desert creatures due to the woodland appearance they have.
2. Black
Sleek black fur from head to tail are black gerbils. And they have brilliantly shiny coats which give a dramatic bold appearance. Black gerbils are so eye-catching that they are hugely popular with pet owners.
3. Golden
Golden gerbils have warm, sandy fur, white bellies, though. They have a soft, radiant glow in their color brightening their appearance. These gerbils are warm little bundles of sunshine, absolutely welcome in any home.
4. Gray
They are light silver to slate gray and smoky elegant. Gray is less common than black or agouti, but is available throughout. Variety for gerbil families comes from their gentle muted color.
Rare and Unusual Colors
1. Lilac
Gerbils of Lilac coat have a mystical look having a soft fur with purplish gray color. It has a subtle, enchanting color of its own. Normally they have dark red or black eyes making them stand out.
2. Pied
The base color of pied gerbils is black or brown, with white patches. This piebald pattern created each gerbil unique. All pied gerbil designs are one of a kind and therefore highly distinctive in their visual appearance.
3. Blue
Steel gray or blue gray fur is the rare and prized shade of blue gerbils. It is very elegant and sophisticated. Enthusiasts are drawn by the fact that blue gerbils look different from all the other gerbils and have high demand.
4. Argente
Argente gerbils are golden orange and have red eyes. When combined, like this it gives it a cheery lively look. Bold colors add energy to any gerbil group, while organizing the paint colors into the group will make them memorable.
5. Cream
A gerbil’s fur can be soft, beige or off white. The color: they’re soft and gentle and the shade is subtle, just what you need for subtle beauty. Cream fur lends a soft quality for those with a taste for flowery.
Gerbils have their charm with each color bringing its own. We have agouti, black, argente, and everything in between: one color for everyone’s taste!
Gerbil Characteristics
Gerbils are small, agile critters, which means they make the ideal pet for compact spaces, or even the home itself. They weigh from 2 to 4 ounces generally, though. Their bodies are around 6 inches unless their tail. Gerbils’ wide set eyes, coupled with their expressions of alertness give them a most expressive appearance. The large eyes come in handy for seeing a movement and staying on top of the world around them. Gerbils are able to jump, move swiftly, dig effectively, through the strong hind legs. They’re built to dig, a skill that is critical in the wild. Their burrowing is mimicked by their sharp claw that makes it easy, as they like doing in their natural desert habitat.
The teeth of gerbils keep growing during their entire lives. This means they need to chew constantly. Safe materials (wood or other materials) are chewed on to keep their teeth healthy. They may, however, overgrow without proper chewing, which can cause health problems. Gerbils’ coats are short and soft and come in many colors. They have dense fur to keep them warm, or dry from cold or dry conditions.
In fact, gerbils’ tails are long, furry, nearly half the length of the rabbit. When jumping, or running, they balance using their tails. Unlike other rodents, gerbils can’t regrow tails if injured. Their safety requires careful handling as a consequence of this tail feature.
Gerbil Behavior
Gerbils are lively, curious, and full of energy. Their behavior often includes digging, exploring, and playing with toys. They love to burrow, which reflects their desert origins. Gerbils enjoy digging through bedding, creating intricate tunnels. They’re active throughout the day and night, with short bursts of energy. Social animals, gerbils thrive in pairs or small groups, showing mutual grooming and playful interactions.
• Natural Instincts and Playful Activities
Physical activities such as running on wheels or jumping are needed by gerbils. They are happiest with deep bedding and tunnels. When they are digging and burrowing that stimulates them, and keeps them active.
• Grooming and Nesting Habits
Gerbils groom themselves often, keeping theirs fur clean. Social grooming festivites helps keep bonds with companions strong. In addition, they collect soft materials to build cozy nests for comfort and security.
Types of Gerbils
There are over 100 species of gerbil, but only a handful is a pet. The most popular mongolian gerbils are noted for their friendly personalities. They are great for families and kids because they are so adaptable. Shorter, thicker, and calmer, fat tailed gerbils are. But they are less active and make good pets anyway. Other types, like Shaw’s jird, are less common but unique. Each species has specific traits that appeal to different owners.
FAQs
They live about 2 to 4 years, but longer, if so cared for.
Are Gerbils Easy to Train?
Gerbils are trainable but only with really simple behaviors.
Do Gerbils Smell?
Gerbils are clean as do not have a strong odor. Keeping their environment fresh is a regular job, or two, for the owners.
What Was The Correct Way To Handle Gerbils?
Don’t grab gerbils and move fast as it will startle them.
