If you own a pet gerbil, its ancestors probably came from Mongolia. The Mongolian and Fat-tailed gerbils appear more suited to a domesticated life than other species and are widely regarded as friendly, gentle creatures.
Gerbils only became household pets comparatively recently, although some say the great warrior Genghis Khan owned a Mongolian gerbil back in the 11th century. He certainly didn’t entertain it with chew toys and wheels, however!
Whether you own a gerbil or are just curious about these burrowing rodents, this article will, as its title indicts, tell you everything you’ve ever wanted to know about gerbils, where they come from, and how they became to be such popular pets.
Why Is the Mongolian Gerbil Such a Great Pet?
Mongolian gerbils tend to be very hardy animals that make entertaining, low-maintenance pets. In the wild, they are social animals that live in groups of anywhere between two and 17 individuals.
They live in complex burrow systems in shrublands and desert environments in Mongolia, Northern China, and Russia.
Despite being adapted to live in a harsh environment, Mongolian gerbils lead happy and active lives as pets, especially if they’ve got some company.
Mongolian gerbils are sociable creatures that prefer living with a fellow gerbil companion and could become listless and depressed if kept in solitary confinement.
The Mongolian gerbil, also known as the Meriones unguiculatus, was named after a Persian warrior god but is much gentler than its scientific name suggests.
Mongolian gerbils rarely bite and are generally gentle creatures, which makes them popular pets, especially for young children. They are also very clean animals whose active lifestyles make them entertaining to watch.
What Do Gerbils Look Like?
Although there are over a hundred different species of gerbils, they share many of the same characteristics. For one, they’re all pretty small, except for the great gerbil, which measures 15 and 20 cm long!
Most gerbil species measure around 11 to 13 cm and are roughly the weight of a medium-sized tomato.
They are covered in soft, dense fur that is usually gray, tan, or brown and helps in camouflage in their natural environment. In addition, they have a scent gland in their belly’s middle, which is a shade darker than gerbils’ coat color and hairless.
Gerbils have long tails to help them balance when running and jumping. In many species, the tail is also covered in fur to protect it against the sun.
With their round ears, big black eyes, long whiskers, and flexible noses, gerbils are undeniably cute, but they also have a few built-in weapons that they use to protect themselves if threatened.
The gerbil’s claws are strong and knifelike, which makes them perfect for burrowing, while its razor-sharp teeth are designed for chewing through hard seed cases.
When gerbils defend themselves in the wild, they fight tooth and nail, sometimes inflicting nasty injuries on their aggressors.
The History of Gerbil’s Journey to Domestication
It took a curious zoologist and missionary to discover the potential of the humble gerbil.
During the latter part of the 19th century, Father Armand David traveled through much of western and northern China, spreading the word of God and collecting plant and animal species that the Western world had never seen before.
When he first discovered Mongolian gerbils, he called them “yellow rats” and sent them to the French National Museum of Natural History in Paris.
There, in 1867, a scientist gave them the name Gerbillus unguiculatus, which later became Meriones unguiculatus as more species were discovered.
It was nearly 100 years later that gerbils finally made the journey from Europe to the US, but not as pets. The first gerbils to arrive on American shores were imported by Dr. Victor Schwentker, who wanted to use them for research.
The 20 breeding pairs of Mongolian gerbils Schwentker imported proved so entertaining and easy to keep that they soon became popular pets. Nearly all the pet gerbils in the US are descended from these original Mongolian specimens.
The Classification and Paleontology of the Gerbil
It’s obvious to anyone who’s ever seen a gerbil that they’re closely related to other rodents, including rats and mice.
All these small furry critters belong to the Muridae family, which is the largest of all the mammalian families.
Muridae are divided into several different subfamilies, including Gerbillinae, the family to which all gerbils, sand rats, and jirds belong.
The Muridae family is considered monophyletic, which means all members are descended from a common ancestor.
Gerbil Facts: Insights Into the Lives of Burrowing Rodents
For every gerbil living in a cage, hundreds of others live natural lives in the wilds of Mongolia and on the dunes of Southern Africa.
There, they nest, burrow, forage, and reproduce just as they have been doing for hundreds of years.
Let’s learn more about the different species of gerbils, how they live, and how their lives differ from those kept as pets.
What’s the Average Lifespan of a Gerbil?
Small rodents have quite short lifespans, and gerbils are no different. In the wild, a gerbil’s life only lasts a couple of years, while those kept as pets can survive for two to three.
Many gerbils die soon after birth because of the hardships they face. Diseases and a lack of food and water contribute to many of these deaths. Of course, pet gerbils don’t face these problems, which is why they tend to live a little longer.
A study of “survival curves for Mongolian gerbils” found that females tend to live longer than males, averaging 139 weeks, as opposed to the male gerbil’s mean survival of 110 weeks.
If you’re lucky and you get a strong gerbil with good genes, you could enjoy her company for up to 209 weeks – the equivalent of four years.
Gerbils and Their Nesting Instincts
In a wild colony, gerbils create networks of burrows that include tunnels and designated areas for storing foods. They also build cozy nests out of shredded twigs and other plant material.
Nesting is one of the surefire signs of a pregnant gerbil, and expectant mothers will go to great lengths to collect a pile of bedding material that they can use to create a birthing nest for themselves and their little ones.
Why Gerbils Benefit From Being Burrowing Rodents
When you’re only a little bit bigger than a credit card and weigh less than a medium-sized tomato, having somewhere to hide is crucial. Gerbils aren’t the only burrowing rodents in the world – hamsters also burrow, as do some species of mice.
Not only does burrowing create a haven from potential predators, but it also protects them against extreme weather conditions, which, when you live somewhere as inhospitable as the Mongolian steppe, is critical.
Pet gerbils need to burrow just as much as their wild counterparts. Not only is it instinctive behavior, but it also helps to keep them fit and stops their claws from growing too long.
Learning and Socialization in the Life of a Gerbil
Young gerbils rely on their parents to teach them the ways of the world, just as human babies do.
From their parents, they learn what types of foods are edible, how to groom themselves effectively, and how to communicate with other gerbils without offending them.
Gerbils rely on various vocalizations to communicate with each other and their human owners. Young gerbils are more talkative than their parents and will often squeak out of excitement or for no obvious reason at all.
The Role of Gerbils in Scientific Research
Since the gerbils were introduced to the US, they have given scientists useful insights into numerous pathogens and diseases.
Like other rodents, gerbils are susceptible to many of the same medical conditions that affect humans and respond to those conditions in a similar way, which helps scientists develop more effective treatments.
Their unique characteristics make them invaluable in certain areas of medical research. By using them, scientists have made progress in understanding infectious diseases, strokes, epilepsy, and some areas of parasitology.
What Is the Gerbil’s Natural Habitat?
Most gerbils, including the Mongolian and the Fat-Tailed gerbil, live in sparsely vegetated desert environments where the sandy soils are perfect for digging burrows.
Despite that sweeping generalization, some gerbils have adapted to life in moist habitats. For instance, the Bushveld gerbil lives in the woodlands of central and Southern Africa.
What Do Gerbils Eat?
In the wild, gerbils rely on seeds, nuts, grasses, and fruits to get most of their nutrition. They will also supplement this diet with the occasional insect, making them omnivores rather than strict vegetarians.
You probably don’t want your five-year-old catching crickets and mealworms to feed to your pet gerbils, and that’s understandable. You can supplement your gerbil’s diet just as effectively with small amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Gerbils and Their Behavior – What’s Normal?
Unlike the nocturnal hamster that only wants to interact in the early morning, gerbils are diurnal and, therefore, active throughout the day.
They are busy little creatures that need to do a lot of chewing to stop their teeth from getting too long. In the wild, they chew on branches and twigs, but as pets, they need cardboard and toys to keep them healthy and occupied.
Although rarely aggressive, gerbils will bite if they feel threatened. Few gerbils enjoy a cuddle, but most find sitting on your lap, being petted and stroked quite tolerable.
Gerbils will also defend their territory and attempt to escape if the opportunity presents itself.
Do Gerbils Make Good Pets?
Gerbils are fun, active, and generally friendly, which makes them appealing as pets, but they might not be as low maintenance as you first expect.
Housing Gerbils in Captivity
Gerbils love socializing and cuddling up with one another on chilly evenings, so you should never keep a single gerbil. Ideally, you should look for two related males or females so they’ve got company, but ensure that they don’t accidentally produce a litter of little ones!
You’ll need to provide them with plenty of space, so investing in a decent-sized cage (70cm x 35cm x 50cm tall is ideal). They also need plenty of deep substrate to burrow in, dust baths to keep their coats shiny, and climbing tubes or wheels to keep them mentally and physically stimulated.
Common Health Concerns to Look Out For
Parasites can be a problem for pet gerbils, and they can easily pick up mites, fleas, and intestinal worms if not properly cared for. Gerbils are also prone to kidney disease and a type of epilepsy that causes spontaneous seizures.
Fungal infections can also occur if they’re housed in damp conditions.
Understanding Your Gerbil’s Needs
If you’re considering getting a gerbil as a pet, you need to familiarize yourself with its needs. That means providing fresh food and water, suitable accommodation, species-specific exercise, and medical support.
Pet Gerbils and Their Medical Needs
To keep your gerbil healthy, you need to monitor its behavior and condition daily, looking out for symptoms of illness, such as weight loss. As their teeth never stop growing, you’ll need to provide plenty of toys for them to chew on and consult a veterinarian about having their teeth trimmed or cut.
The Best Habitat for Pet Gerbils
Gerbils must live in a temperature-controlled environment, away from drafts and radiators. They will experience stress if they don’t have a big enough enclosure or any way of digging the types of burrows they rely on in the wild.
What Kind of Housing Is Suitable for Gerbils?
Many owners prefer to use aquarium tanks for their gerbils because they’re easy to clean, safe, and secure. A 10-gallon aquarium is a perfect size for a pair of gerbils and will give you a clear view of all their activities.
What About Mating?
Gerbils are ready to mate by the time they reach three to four months of age, but they can be quite selective about who they’re prepared to mate with. Gerbils are territorial and may become aggressive if a gerbil of the opposite sex is introduced into their cage.
Before allowing two gerbils to mate, ensure you can find homes for all their offspring. Gerbils reproduce quickly, with the females having a gestation period of just 24-26 days. They can also give birth to as many as eight pups at a time, so you could end up with an entire colony in just a few months!
The Best Way of Handling Gerbils
You should always support the gerbil’s entire body when handling it and avoid picking it up by the end of its tail, as this can cause damage. Instead, cup your hands around your furry friend and gently stroke its head and ears with the tip of your finger.
Why Gerbils Need Exercise and Playtime
Gerbils need mental and physical stimulation to keep them happy and healthy. Ideally, that means giving them at least 30 minutes of supervised playtime outside of their cage or enclosure daily.
Let your gerbil run off his excess energy in the bath or on a bed or sofa where you can supervise and keep him safe. Alternatively, get him an exercise ball, so he can explore the whole house without disappearing into a crack or getting into the wall cavities!
Where’s the Best Place to Buy a Gerbil?
You can find gerbils for sale in most pet shops in Europe and the US, but your best bet is to contact a local breeder.
By using selective breeding, professional breeders produce healthy gerbils with friendly personalities. They might charge a little more than a pet shop, but their level of care makes it worthwhile.
You could also try your local animal shelter or rescue center, as they may have unwanted gerbils available for adoption.
The Pros and Cons of Keeping a Gerbil as a Pet
Here are some advantages and disadvantages of keeping a gerbil as a pet.
Pros
The pros of having a gerbil are:
- They’re clean and odorless
- They’re inexpensive to keep
- They’re friendly and entertaining
- They don’t need much space
- They’re active during the day
Cons
On the downside, gerbils are:
- Not very cuddly
- Extremely good at escaping
- Need regular medical attention
- Sociable, so you have to have at least two
FAQs
What Is the Origin of Gerbils?
Most of the gerbils in Europe and the US originated in Mongolia, but some people have fat-tailed gerbils which come from the north Sahara desert.
How Many Species of Gerbils Are There?
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, there are 111 different species of gerbils, including sand rats and jirds.
What Fruits Do Gerbils Eat?
You can feed your gerbil almost any type of fresh fruit, including apples, pears, blueberries, and bananas.
Is the Gerbil a Mammal?
Gerbils are mammals that belong to the Rodentia order and the genus Meriones.
Where Do Gerbils Live in the Wild?
Gerbils are found in harsh desert environments in Africa, Asia, and India.
How Big Do Gerbils Get?
The body length of the average Mongolian gerbil is between 11 and 13.5 cm, but some gerbils get a lot bigger than that.
The Great gerbil can reach up to 20 cm long, making it about the size of a dinner fork and around 2.5 times larger than the Pouched gerbil of Southern Africa.
Conclusion
I wish I’d had a gerbil for a pet when I was growing up. Instead, I had a hamster that only woke up just before I went to bed!
Although gerbils need careful monitoring and daily care, they’re quite easy as pets and offer many rewards. They’re cute and active during the day and much cleaner than other rodents.
It’s difficult to imagine an animal adjusting from life in the desert to living with humans in an apartment somewhere. Still, the gerbil has managed it and seems to be flourishing in both environments.
