What do gerbils like?

Answer 1

Gerbils are not extrmely hard to take care of. They need a cage (obviously (: ) but not a very large one; I have two and they used to live in a ten gallon terrarium just fine. (I got an attachment for Christmas last year). They need food, which is not hard to find at all. Food specifically for gerbils is available, but most hamster foods also work. Also, they need oats, and green vegetables, like lettuce and spinach. They LOVE oats and veggies.Treats are also a nice addition to their eceryday meal, but should not replace anything. There are many treats in pet stores that gerbils like. Mine like 'Honey and Yogurt Drops'. They also like Cap'n Peanut Butter Crunch. They need a regular-sized rodent water bottle and cold water, renewed once weekly. For their health, a weekly cleaning is good. To set up their cage, I put paper towels in to keep their, eh, digestion byproducts from sticking to the glass on the bottom of the cage. On top of thatm I put about one and a half to two inches of ASPEN wood shavings, which are also sold at many pet stores. Again, ASPEN. This is best. Pine, I don't know, but DO NOT GET CEDAR. This can cause disease, fungus, and all sorts of nasty things. To clean the cage, I take the gerbils out and put them in a exercise ball and just let them roam my room. I then dunp the old shavings and paper towels into a trash can (with a bag), use Clorox Wipes to clean out the cage (there will occasionally be some stuff stuck to the bottom glass, this is normal.) I then put paper towels in, then shavings, clean out their bottle with hot water and fill it up with cold water, and you're done. A lid for the cage is necessary. This can be a normal top for a ten gallon aquarium (which is what the terrarium is; as a structure, they're identical), or an expansion-type thing that sits on top and has its own door-thing. Also, gerbils need an exercise wheel and other opportunities for exercise. For example, small rodent/lizard pens are available. I put down two layers of newspaper in the area of the pen, put in some toys, and pretty much let them go crazy. You should get an exercise wheel with no openings in it. You will see why when you read more. It is best to get a wire-bar cage attachment and a wheel with a connector thing for the bars. For example, mine has a turnable knob that I slide throught he bars and then twist to keep it up. When you first get your gerbil(s), try not to touch them and DO NOT pick them up for the first three or four days. Allow them to get used to their new home, and your voice and the sounds of your home. Then, start with touching and light petting in-cage. When they seem comfortable with that, then you can pick them up one at a time (recommended until you are experienced; I've had mine for two years now and I love to have them both running around on my arms and shoulders.) Beware of biting at an early stage of ownership. After about a month, biting is less common. I am never bitten now. Gerbils live for two to four years. If one of your gerbils escapes, the first thing you need to do is shut of the room the cage is in from the rest of house. If the escape was less than, I'd say, fifteen to twenty minutes of your discovery of the escape, chances are your furry friend is still in the room. Watch your step carefully, and look anywhere, ANYWHERE it could be. Mine have been under my bed, dresser, nightstand, even in a little space behind my computer desk. (That was the worst!) If you start to notice your gerbil's behavior change, it may be sick, You should contact the pet store you got the gerbil from for advice (or other pet stores); there are not many veterinarians who specialize in rodents. A particularly common disease in gerbils is called 'wet-tail'. It is characterized by irritableness, lethargy, loss of appetite, and frequent urination and defecation. It is highly contagious, and if you own more than one gerbil, separate the sick gerbil from the others. Danger rates vary, but some cases are fatal. Luckily, neither of my gerbils have contracted this disease. If you want to own more than one gerbil, you should introduce them to each other at a young age. This works best if they are from the same litter. Gerbils are naturally nocturnal, bur may eventually adapt to their owner's schedule. Mine used to keep me awake nights on end with their scurrying and chewing and such, but they have settled down (thank God). Your gerbils should be kept somewhere with light, such as a well-lit bedroom. My room is well-lit, and the cage is right by a window. The gerbils seem to enjoy this. If you notice a crook in your gerbil's tail, it is most likely broken. Though it may heal incorrectly, it does not cause any major problems. One of my gerbil's tail was broken in two places due to an accident involving an old free-standing exercise wheel. He gets around just fine, and doesnt seem to even notice his slightly bent tail anymore.

I hope you enjoy your new members of the family!

Answer 2

The number one things gerbils need are food and water. I think anyone would know that.

Something that will keep it entertained and happy is another gerbil. Gerbil's are social animals and do better in pairs or groups animals, probily the same sex as each other or you will have little ones.

You will need a good cage I prefer fish tanks other than cages because they burrow. You can also use a good plastic bin. A lot of people disagree with this but it is just a cheaper way to have then and it gives them lots of room to play and to dig.

You will need a hideout hut and chew toys. Also if you want to train your gerbil get treats. But make sure not to spoil him/her you don't want a gerbil who can't walk because he is to fat.

Another good thing to have but you don't need this is potty litter. And you NEED bath powder never get dust. Also for the bedding NEVER use cedar or pine. Use Aspen and what I like is the Carefresh bedding. They also need a wheel because they are very active also you with need an exercise ball for them to run in. I hope this helped I don't think I forgot anything.

Answer 3

Gerbils like apple,carrot,sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds as snacks. But do not give them too much of this stuff. And to play they like tubes and wood blocks.