Gerbil habitats

hamsftw · 02-25-2013, 04:50 PM

How similar is a gerbil's habitat compared to a hamsters? Just curious, I've always owned hamsters and would like to own a gerbil sometime in the future (perhaps two? apparently they are social creatures).

Kiki_3173 · 02-25-2013, 05:29 PM

This is a nice blog regarding strawberrysmom set up her Gerbilarium. It's a great blog

Process of a Gerbilarium | Hammy Happenings

HollyHamster · 02-25-2013, 06:22 PM

Yes, you must get two. My brother only kept one and it went crazy from lack of social interaction from another gerbil, and as a result, gnawed the last inch or so of its tail til it was like red hamburger. It eventually died, crusted over, and fell off. The poor gerbil lived for a few months afterword, then died. Not something I wish on anyone, or any gerbil.

We didn't know that gerbils needed the company of another gerbil, so yeah. My brother didn't want another gerbil (or any small fuzzy for that matter) after that due to the whole thing possibly freaking him out, not that he'd admit it anytime soon. What with being a guy and all.

He did try keeping small fuzzies again with a white rat, who died within a week of getting it, then a little dwarf hamster, who ironically, also died within a week of getting it. We then concluded that there was something in the tank that was contagious, and deadly to rodents, so the tank was scrubbed with bleach and, disheartened, my brother stuffed it in the attic and swore he wouldn't get another small fuzzy again. He never did.

Oops. Sorry. I tend to ramble. Just get a same sex pair (for obvious reasons) so they can keep each other company and not go insane.

**DrKMcK** · 02-25-2013, 07:10 PM

My first love, in terms of furries of my own, when I was young were gerbils. Back then they came in only one color and all the stuff that goes with them, from the cage on down, was so different. But one thing hasn't changed. Gerbils are real colony furries. I've had groups of four spend their whole lives together happily. I never rasied gerbil babies and always had same sex pairs or groupings. Unlike hammies, they do better with companions. Once they are adults it can be hard to introduce a new hammy to one who has lost a cagemate. As for the habitat, they also need lots of space, so the size of the habitat would be similar. One difference I have found is that gerbils tend to chew much more vigerously than hammies do. I used to track escaped gerbils by following the things they chewed on their way to whatever hiding spot they found. (Usually the last closet I checked out

). I've found gerbils to be easier to tame, they aren't as nervous as a new hammy can be. But I've also found them to flip out of my hands quicker than a hammy. It depends on the individual hammy or gerbil. I've had nervous, hammies and calm hammies and the same for gerbils. You'll see what I'm talking about if you do get a pair, (or 4

)

strawberrysmom · 02-25-2013, 07:36 PM

Omg!!! Gerbils are a big love of mine now. I have a pair of boys and I adore them very much. They are my daytime rodents. They are more active than hammys as they are out durning the morning and afternoon and evening. You must get at least two of the same gender. Males are less likely to Declan. Don't ever grab their tails or it degloves them.

I do have many pictures on my blog of their setups. A 40 gallon tank is best and deep layers of substrate to burrow in. They like having a sand box and will litter train fast if they have one. They love change to their habitat unlike hammys who stress out from change. They chew a LOT and are partial to wood toys and toilet paper rolls.

I use aspen for them and give them a lot of cardboard to destroy. A roll of toilet paper too or box of tissues. They make their own bedding too!

I could go on and on.

Driftwood is great in their tank as in the wild they make their burrows between roots of trees. Blah blah blah. I heart gerbils!!!

hamsftw · 02-26-2013, 12:14 PM

I like how they are daytime critters! I think for now I am just going to stick with hamsters because I know more about them. I would like to own a pair at least once in my life though, thank you for all the useful replies!

SprinkleHamster · 02-26-2013, 06:18 PM

We had gerbils when i was a kid, and ended up with s male and female and no real idea how to take care of them. At some point I think we had 30 gerbils in an aquarium- do not put 30 gerbils in an aquarium! (I was 9 at the time- so please do not judge me for being a bad gerbil mom) MAKE SURE THEY ARE BOTH BOYS or GIRLS. Also if they get out of the cage the other gerbils will kill it upon return because it will smell wrong.

And Jack Russels and gerbils do not mix well either. I mean they would have been nice I suppose but be aware if you pull their tails they will come off! (Natural defense) My brother did that to one of them, but then we could tell them apart. Also they love to chew, we actually would let them make most of their own bedding by chewing up old toliet paper rolls.