Otherwise, it is always advisable to get a pair of gerbils, either two males or two females. … It’s true that they can live in larger groups, but unless you have a very big space to keep them in, they’re going to be a bit crowded. In general, it’s best to keep between two and four gerbils.
Is it OK to have just one gerbil?
Gerbils are very sociable pets that are usually kept in pairs. If you’d prefer to keep a single gerbil, you will need to interact with the gerbil regularly to fulfill its social needs. … With the right attention and care, your single gerbil can live a long, happy life.
Do gerbils need a companion?
Pet gerbils need friends just as their wild counterparts do. Left on their own, gerbils become stressed and unhappy – playing with humans will not satisfy the full range of their instinctive needs. So, always opt for a pair, or buy your solitary gerbil a friend of the same species as soon as possible.
Are male or female gerbils more friendly?
Some owners say males are more docile and friendly towards each other than females. … However, it’s generally a good idea to choose males if you want to keep more than two gerbils together, as they seem slightly happier in larger groups than females. There is very little size difference between male and female gerbils.
What gerbil should I get?
Fat-tailed gerbils have longer lifespans, are more docile, and don’t need as much space. They can be kept alone, whereas Mongolian gerbils must live in pairs. But fat-tailed gerbils are rare in the pet trade. Most vets are only experienced with Mongolian gerbils, so they are widely seen as the best pet gerbil.
Can gerbils learn their name?
Can Gerbils Learn Their Name? Not only can your pet gerbil learn its name, but it can also learn how you interact with it. Like other pets, they know when you are going to play or feed them, and with some dedication, you can even teach your gerbil how to do some small tricks.
Can 3 gerbils live together?
You can keep three gerbils together in a trio, but the risk of declanning is higher. Gerbil trios work best if they’re siblings from the same litter. If you’d like to keep a group of gerbils together, ensure that there’s enough space.
Do gerbils fight with each other?
Gerbils will often play-fight by boxing and chasing each other and squeaking. These behaviors are fine but if serious fighting occurs, you need to separate them. A serious fight usually involves a gerbil forming a tight ball and rolling around, squeaking shrilly, biting at each other’s necks, and often, blood is drawn.
Can gerbils be left alone for a weekend?
If you give your gerbils enough food and water, they should be fine for 2-3 days. But anything could happen while you’re out of the home. Don’t leave your gerbils alone for longer than a weekend.
Is it cruel to keep gerbils?
Keeping gerbils as pets isn’t cruel if you take care of them and provide them with everything they need: other gerbils, a large enough cage and deep bedding layer, enrichment to keep them from getting bored, and a nutritionally well-balanced diet.
Do gerbils need a sand bath?
Instead of bathing gerbils in water as you would a human, gerbils need ‘sand baths‘. Sand baths involve the gerbil rolling around in a small pot of sand, an activity which looks rather strange but actually gives the animal a chance to give its fur a good scrub and to free itself of dirt.
Do gerbils bite their tails off?
Gerbils sometimes bite their tails off. They can do this to themselves or other gerbils. If you notice your gerbil chewing its tail, that’s likely because it’s in pain. … In the wild, biting off the tail can remove the infection.
Can 2 gerbils live in a 10 gallon tank?
Choose an aquarium the right size for the number of gerbils you plan to keep. Keep one or two gerbils in a 10-gallon aquarium, three in a 15-gallon aquarium, four or five in a 20-gallon aquarium and six in a 30-gallon aquarium.
Can you put two gerbils in the same cage?
Because of the social nature of gerbils, the ASPCA recommends housing a minimum of two of them together. … Units of more than two females together may fight, and aggressively so, so always be cautious when planning gerbil living arrangements.
How big of a tank do I need for 2 gerbils?
Gerbils housed in enclosures that are too small can often become aggressive and temperamental. One or two gerbils require an area that measures at least 18 inches wide, 24 to 30 inches long and 12 inches high. They also do well in a 15 gallon tank (or larger). As a pet parent, you will want to keep your gerbil safe.
Should I let my gerbils fight it out?
Play fighting in gerbils is a completely harmless behavior. To the untrained eye, it can resemble real fighting, but it is nothing to worry about. Gerbils that play together are happy gerbils. When they are not play fighting, they will exhibit friendly behaviors such as sleeping together and grooming each other.
Are female gerbils more aggressive?
Females can be more aggressive with other gerbils than males. In any gerbil group, there is a dominant pair of a male and female. … While the males can box and fight, the females can be even worse.
Do gerbils eat other gerbils?
When a gerbils dies, the other gerbils eat them. Of course when it is an adult gerbil it is too big to be eaten by one other gerbil. Pups however are most of the times eaten whole. This is completely natural and just to clean their nest.
Can I keep 4 gerbils?
It is always advisable to get a pair of gerbils, and you can keep either two males or two females. Whilst they are social and can live in groups, unless you have a very big area to keep them in it’s better to keep no more than 2-4. Large groups can become unstable and aggression can break out.
Can you put hamsters and gerbils together?
Gerbils are social animals, known for living in pairs and even large colonies. … Known for their territorial nature, when confronted by other animals, hamsters will attack. Because of these drastically different social needs, gerbils and hamsters should never be placed in the same cage together.
What is a black gerbil?
Black gerbils belong to the Mongolian gerbil species, Meriones unguiculatus, which means “little clawed warrior.” As a result of selective breeding for the pet industry, Mongolian gerbils sport a varied palette of coat colors, including black, brown, silver, lilac, dove, white and the common golden agouti color.
What do gerbil squeaks mean?
Gerbils make noise to communicate, both with you and other gerbils. Gerbils squeak and thump their feet to frighten other gerbils or predators. They make ‘yipping’ sounds when excited. Gerbils also purr to show contentment, chirp to get your attention, and make clicking breathing noises when they’re sick.
Why does my gerbil pee on my hand?
Is this a new gerbil? Often pooping and peeing on your hand is s a sign of fear, so if she’s not used to you yet or you don’t hold her often, this is probably the cause. Just keep working on handling her and getting her used to you, and she’ll eventually calm down.
Why does my gerbil nibble me?
A frightened, stressed or endangered gerbil can bite hard and break the skin. A nip is a way of showing that your gerbil wants to be left alone and doesn’t hurt as much as a real bite. When your gerbil does take a real bite it might hurt and might even bleed (heavily).