Gerbil?????

Question

Ive owned hamsters in the past and now i want to try a gerbil. I want a gerbil because you can have more than one in a cage. Are they any different than hamsters. I want to hear from gerbil owners. like the pros and cons?? Why do you like your gerbil? Do they have different personalities?? Do they bite? things like that.

thanks :)

Answer 1

I dont have a gerbil RIGHT now, but ive had gerbils and absoultly loved them x3

they're a good c hoice if you cant stand rat tails  (i like rats better, but some ppl cant stand their tails D;)  gerbil tails are nothing like rat tails.

I think that gerbils are better than hamsters, but you HAVE to have 2 in the cage . (same gender)  you have to tame them though , never pick em up by the tail

gerbils are smarter than hamsters, and I* think, nicer.  they can learn cute little tricks :D

I loved all my gerbils they were nice.    the only thing bad about them is they only live 2-to like 4 years or so.  but thats the same with hamsters and rats.

you should get them :OO.

i agree theyre better than hammies.

edit:OH AND!! theres a word for it its like dinural? it means active day AND night. thats what gerbils are dinural.  they're more active in the day than hammies

Answer 2

Well, gerbils are a lot more active than hamsters. I've owned both, so I know the pros and cons of each one.

Hamster Pros:

1. They rarely bite.

2. They are a lot easier to catch if they escape, because they are pretty slow.

3. They are even cuter than gerbils.

Hamster Cons:

1. They hoard food and hide it under their bedding, where they then pee on it, which then makes even more smell. Yuck.

2. They sleep all day, so unless you want to stay up late, you won't get much time with the hamster.

3. They can be more boring than gerbils, because they aren't as active.

Gerbil Pros:

1. You can play with them during the daytime.

2. They don't use as much bedding.

3. Great way to get rid of old toilet paper tubes! Hamsters don't chew on them as much.

Gerbil Cons:

1. They are harder to keep tame.

2. They are REALLY fast and hard to capture.

3. They bite.

I kind of disliked my gerbils, because they REALLY hated me. They had fairly unpleasant personalities, and they didn't like people to hold them. My hamster had a really sweet personality and liked being held a lot. Oh, and to the person who said something about "dinural," it's actually spelled "diurnal."

Answer 3

I currently have a gerbil. They run VERY fast, hard to catch and hard to tame!

Answer 4

They are the best ones out there. dont bite, tottally different personalities

Answer 5

They have a long tail, and might bite.

Answer 6

Gerbils need to be kept in same s*x pairs, preferably from the same litter.

A tank is better than a cage, it gives them room to dig.

The person who said they use less bedding is incorrect, they should be given more, due to the digging instinct.

A 15 gallon or larger tank is recommended. I've seen 10 gal for a pair, but that really just isn't enough room for them to be happy.

Gerbils are easy to tame once you do a little research. They can be hand tamed by using treats and patience.

My gerbils are about a year old, and I've rescued one in the past, trained him, and gave him to my niece. My boys are fantastic and fun to watch. They give me a little tap with their teeth when they are ready to go back, but it is not even enough to make a scratch.

Gerbils are not like hamsters in that they won't just sit and hang out. They are curious my nature and need to run and sniff at things, and then run, and then sniff again. Constantly moving once they are out.

They chew like a woodchipper. Any cardboard you toss in the cage will be gone within hours to days, depending on the side.

Gerbils like to burrow, and you will likely see tunnels in the bedding, where they decide to "set up camp".

Gerbils don't necessarily need a food bowl, they enjoy when you sprinkle the food on the floor so they can dig for it to eat. It sounds kind of mean, but it isn't at all. Just be sure to avoid the bathroom corner.

Gerbils drink less water than hamsters, and that means less pee. While that means you can go a little longer between tank cleaning, don't neglect them.

With my gerbs, I let them run in the bathtub for ten minutes or so each day. They like to do a lot of their bathroom stuff then, and I can just wash it down the drain- after they are out, of course.

I could go on and on and on about my boys.

I don't really have any cons, other than to say not all gerbils like to run in wheels, so don't necessarily expect them to. :]

Answer 7

Gerbils are similar, yet different from hamsters. Gerbils are awake throughout the day and night, which is nice. It's one of the reasons why I chose gerbils over a hamster. Gerbils have a long, furred tail. You should NEVER grab or hold a gerbil by it's tail. It's a defense mechanism, and if you pull on it and the gerbil struggles to get away, there's a good chance it might break or you'll pull the skin off. Gross, I know.

Gerbils are more active, and are social. They should be kept in same s*x pairs. Trios and groups of four are alright, but should be for males. Females are the more aggressive gender, so they should be limited to pairs. Both are great pets in pairs, though. As long as they come from the same litter at the same time, there shouldn't be a big problem. If you get two gerbils from different litters, it's best to introduce them using the split cage method.

Gerbils love digging and must chew. In my opinion, the best housing for them is a tank with a mesh lid (found in the reptile section of the pet store). For a pair, I'd recommend 15-20 gallons. 10 gallons is alright, but you'll soon realize it's extremely small and there's not much room for them to run and play. You'll have to provide things for them to chew on such as toilet paper and paper towel rolls, cardboard boxes, etc.

Gerbils are not the type of pet that likes to be held. They'd much rather run around. With that being said, though, it doesn't mean you can't ever hold them. My gerbils will tolerate me holding them for some pets and kisses for about 5 minutes before wanting to be put down to run and explore.

PROS:

- active

- can be kept in pairs

- smell very little

- not nocturnal

- very entertaining

- aren't much of biters

CONS:

- don't like to be held for long periods of time

- can be skittish without much handling

- they are quick little buggers, and aren't the best pets for young children

I love my gerbils. I have two wonderful little girls, and I wouldn't trade them in for any other pet. One started out as a biter. She bit me so hard, I bled, and boy, did that hurt! However, over time, and with lots of handling, she has turned into a complete sweetie. She lets me hold her and kiss her without any struggles. When I have her out in the bath tub for a play session, she'll run up the front of my shirt and come right up to my face and say hi. My other gerbil hasn't bitten me to the point of bleeding, but she does give a quick nip when she wants to be put down. She's a bit temperamental and has her good and bad days. She doesn't tolerate me holding her much, but still gets held for some kisses and petting too. I still love her. Gerbils each have their own little personalities, as you can see from what I've told you about my gerbils.

Like any other animal, it's up to you, as a pet owner, to show them biting is not okay. Most gerbils go through a mouthy stage when they're younger. They just put everything in their mouth to see if it's edible. It's not a big deal, and shouldn't be more than slight pressure. If a gerbil does bite you, though, you can blow a puff of air in their face and firmly say no. It doesn't hurt them; it only startles them. They'll associate the unpleasant puff of air with biting you, and they'll learn not to.

If you have any other questions, feel free to e-mail me. I'd be glad to help answer them. Gerbils are great pets, but aren't the ones for everyone, so please do your research BEFORE getting them :]