Creature Feature: Gerbils

By: Pritha Yalakkishettar

Squeak, squeak, squeak….hear that? That’s the sound of a certain small rodent called a gerbil running tirelessly on its exercise wheel! The expected lifespan of a gerbil is 2-3 years but up to 8 years has been recorded. A gerbil’s body is normally 4 inches and it's tail is also about 4 inches. For house pets they are as good as hamsters, they are very social animals and when living in the wild they live in colonies so if you’re ever thinking of getting a gerbil as a pet I would recommend getting two of the same gender and around the same age. So a sibling pair would work best for them to feel comfortable and safe.

For housing a gerbil you need to be especially careful because they are strong jumpers. Aquarium tanks are ideal for them as long as you keep it closed with a secure mesh lid. Make sure your gerbils are supplied with plenty of toys that are safe for them to chew on. You can also give them empty toilet paper rolls, it is perfect for their non-stop growing teeth.

A lot of people mix up gerbils with mice, they do look similar but they are pretty different. Mice have naked, or hairless tails while a gerbil’s tail is covered in fur like the rest of it's body. Gerbils are also much bigger than mice, are commonly found in the desert and are a lot more clean than mice. Mice are smaller and are much more globally widespread, meaning they can be commonly found everywhere.

I used to have two gerbils, their names were Asa and Coro, which is Japanese for day and night. Sadly they passed away, but they lived their 3 year lifespan and they were wonderful pets to have. I hope you enjoyed this creature feature of the amazing GERBIL!