Table of Contents
Why do gerbils have short lives?
So the lifespan of a captive or pet gerbil is a lot longer than that of wild gerbils. Nowadays, Mongolian gerbils usually will live between 2 and 5 years, with an average of 3 years. But the main dangers in captivity that might lead to a short lifespan are improper care and a bad diet.
What type of gerbil lives the longest?
Fat-tailed gerbils are very rare in the U.S. Although they’re 1-2 inches smaller than Mongolian gerbils, fat-tailed gerbils have a slightly longer lifespan. Mongolian gerbils can live up to 5 years with good care, while fat-tailed gerbils can reach 8 years.
How much does a gerbil cost?
A gerbil costs $5-10. Its cage costs $50-60, plus $50 for a water bottle, chew toy, and exercise wheel. Each gerbil eats $50-60 of food per year, and the tank needs $50-100 of bedding. Vets bills cost $40 for a checkup, $10 for medication, and $200 for surgery.
How many times a day should I feed my gerbil?
How often should you feed gerbils? Gerbils need to be fed daily to keep them sustained. You should, however, be wary of feeding them foods with high fat or sugar contents (such as fruit, nuts and seeds) every day, Gerbils can swiftly become obese. You might also find that your gerbils like to hoard their food.
Do gerbils like to be held?
Are Gerbils Affectionate Pets? Gerbils are affectionate pets that show affection towards other gerbils and humans. You can show affection by petting, holding, or cuddling your gerbil. Most gerbils will like a basic form of affection, like being pet or held.
Should I get male or female gerbils?
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 is it like owning a gerbil?
Gerbil Behavior and Temperament As pets, they are very curious and will explore anything so they can be quite entertaining to watch. Gerbils live in colonies in the wild so they are very social animals; they do not do well as a solitary pet. Keeping a same-sex pair is necessary; litter-mates usually do well together.
What lives longer hamster or gerbil?
Gerbils usually live longer than hamsters – three to eight years on average, versus two to five years for hamsters (with these figures varying according to species). Gerbils need a much deeper cage than hamsters, for digging.
Do gerbils need a bath?
Gerbils should have access to a sand bath at least once a week to keep their fur clean. A sand bath removes dirt and excess oils from the skin, which can prevent bacterial infections. Never give your gerbil a water bath. You can spot-clean your gerbil with a bit of water if this is necessary.
What’s the average life expectancy of a gerbil?
Their average lifespan is approximately 2-4 years , around 3 years being typical. However, some gerbils have been reported to live for up to 5 years. There are dozens of other gerbil species, some of which are occasionally seen as pets.
How long do gerbils live for as a pet?
The average life span of a pet gerbil is about 3-4 years but they can live up to 5 years. Mongolian gerbils live in colonies in the wild and therefore should be kept in at least (same sex) pairs as pets. They groom each other, play and sleep (often piled up) together.
What is the gestation period of a gerbil?
The gestation period of nonlactating gerbils is 24–26 days, but lactating females always have a prolonged gestation of 27 days. If females are bred in the postpartum period, implantation is delayed, and gestation can be as long as 48 days. Mean litter size ranges from 3 to 7 animals.
Should gerbils live alone?
It’s best that a gerbil doesn’t live alone if possible, and the best way to ensure that gerbils live together peacefully is to adopt them from the same litter at the same time (or perform a split-cage introduction) and to keep them in appropriate, safe groupings.