Should I get my nine year old daughter a gerbil

Question

My nine year old wants a gerbil really badly should I get her one?

do they make good pets

I need too also know about them......

a list of things i need will do good

and prices and vet expenses

Answer 1

It really depends. Gerbils can be very quick, so you have to ask yourself whether this is a pet she can handle and care for herself. They are easy to care for, and once tamed, they can be wonderful pets. I, myself, have two and I love them to bits and pieces. Depending on how mature your daughter is, I'd say a gerbil may be a wonderful pet.

Please keep in mind that gerbils are social, so they should be kept in same s*x pairs. Either a pair of males or a pair of females is great. Gender is just a preference. The only major differences that I can think of between the genders is that males have obvious testicles and they tend to scent mark more with the scent gland located on their belly.

Gerbils are easy to care for, and they're energetic and entertaining. They, generally, don't bite unless threatened. This doesn't mean they can't, though. They're awake throughout the day and night. They don't mind if you wake them up to play. Since they're desert animals, they don't drink as much water. Less water consumption = less urine. Less urine = less smell. You can easily change their bedding every two weeks. Gerbils need to chew because their teeth grow continuously, so you must be sure you have plenty of things for them to chew on. Cardboard items such as cereal boxes, snack boxes, toilet paper and paper towel rolls, empty tissue boxes (with the plastic part taken off), fast food drink holders, etc. are great. Because of this, though, plastic items are a big no-no. They can and will chew it up. If ingested, it could cause a blockage. Gerbils also love digging. They can and will kick bedding everywhere, which leads to my next topic.

In my opinion and the opinions of many other people, tanks with a mesh lid are the best housing for gerbils. It keeps bedding in the tank, and you're able to add a lot for them to dig in. A tank with a lid (found in the reptile section of the pet store) is pretty much escape proof if you have clips keeping the lid on. For a pair of gerbils, I'd recommend a 15-20 gallon tank. Gerbils are active, so they need room. There are two general rules I recommend people follow when choosing tank sizes for gerbils. The first is 10 gallons per gerbil. This works out to a 20 gallon tank for two gerbils. The second is 10 gallons for the first gerbil and 5 gallons per additional gerbil. This would work out to 15 gallons for two gerbils. A 10 gallon tank is okay for a pair of gerbils, but it really isn't ideal. You'll realize that once you add things into the tank, there's not as much room for them to run around and play. You can use a tank topper for a 10 gallon tank to make it larger for a pair. There are bad things about toppers, though. This includes gerbils chewing on the bars, having to take the entire topper off when the gerbil is in the tank, the doors of toppers being too small to reach in comfortably to get the gerbils, etc. I have a tank topper for my gerbils, and I find it pretty good. I wish I could give them a bigger tank, though. There are two toppers I recommend, and I'll put them in my sources below. Wire cages aren't ideal due to the fact that they're usually painfully small, the gerbils could chew their way out if there's plastic, gerbils could chew on the bars, and bedding can be kicked out of the wires causing a mess around their cage that you'll find yourself vacuuming up every day.

For bedding, I recommend aspen shavings or carefresh. Aspen pellets and corn cob are alright as well. My top choice is aspen shavings. It's absorbent, masks odors well, and holds up tunnels very well.

For the initial cost, you'll probably be spending anywhere between $75-$120. This depends on what you choose to get and where you get it from. Brand new tanks tend to be pricey, except for 10 gallon tanks and less. For larger tanks, you'll probably be better off looking in local classifieds or on http://www.craigslist.com The tank does not need to hold water. It just has to be clean and safe for rodents, meaning there aren't dangerous cracks. A mesh lid will probably run you $10-$12. Gerbils don't need to go to the vet unless they're ill. The cost of a vet visit varies, so I'm not sure of a good estimate to give you. Monthly, you'll probably just be spending money on toys and bedding. This will probably be under $20. You'll probably have to get food every two months, and that's not expensive either. Most gerbil or hamster/gerbil foods you find at the pet store are fine. I do recommend you stay away from Kaytee foods, though. It has a preservative that is believed to cause cancer in small animals.

Here's a list of things you'll need:

- two same-s*x gerbils

- a 15-20 gallon tank (or wire cage if you'd really like)

- water bottle

- food

- food dish (optional)

- bedding (stay away from cedar and pine. aromatic oils can cause respiratory problems)

- wooden hut

- cardboard items for chewing

- wire, mesh wheel (optional, but highly recommended) or silent spinner (hard, plastic wheel)

- chinchilla sand

- bowl for chinchilla sand (optional)

- treats (optional)

- hamster ball (optional)

That's all I can think of at the moment. Keep in mind that gerbils have delicate tails. They should never be handled by their tail. If someone holds their tail, and they struggle to get away, it could cause the skin to come off. It's a defense mechanism. It's just something you'll want to remind your daughter of when she handles her gerbil(s). Gerbils should never be given water baths. They could easily catch a cold. Sand baths with chinchilla sand work well, and most gerbils seem to enjoy it.

If you have any other questions, feel free to e-mail me. I'd be glad to help answer them. Gerbils can be wonderful pets for the right people. I love my two to pieces and wouldn't trade them in for any other pet.

Answer 2

gerbils make excellent pets for young children because they are small, low maintenance, happy, energetic, non stinky pets! they do chew on everything so you should expect them to chew on some of your things. you will need: a wire cage with at least one level per gerbil, at least two gerbils, a water bottle, a food bowl, one hiding place for each gerbil, and lots of toys such as bird toys, dog toys, or cat toys. you will also need a wheel, not one with bars though. use carefresh bedding to change out the cage every week. gerbils are very inexpensive and usually do not need any vet expenses. just make sure your daughter does research before she gets a pet. good luck!

Answer 3

You said you were 10, like me!!! Why would you lie???

Answer 4

I think that they are a very fine pet. but, when I was a kid, we had two and one day, my mom went to clean out their cage and it bit her and hung on. it's tooth went clean through the nail. OWIEEEE!!!!

Answer 5

http://www.freewebs.com/ryansrodents/ this site will help

Answer 6

If you think that she is responsible enough, then go for it.

Bag of pellets every 2mo. @ $10.00   $60.00

Fresh veggies and fruit every mo.@$5.00     60.00

Hay (Timothy) 2 bales @ $5.00 each     10.00

White wood shavings 5 bales @ $10.00 each     50.00

Annual veterinarian checkup     45.00

Total

*please note that is not the Adoption cost at an SPCA shelter, this is an approximate yearly cost of keeping the animal $225.00

Answer 7

Totally get her one there the best things in the world

get a cage, gerbil, carefreshbedding, water bottle, food dish, and food.

it all you need to do is give them attention and clean there bedding once a week and everytime you clean there cage refresh there food and water.  

Answer 8

I just have one thing to put in...in cleaness rate in common rodents, it goes like this

1rat

2gerbil

3hamster

4guinea pig

5rabbit

that's what i've been told. I just thought i'd let you know

Answer 9

The 1st answer isn't really that good. Gerbils may bite a lot but in my experience hamsters do as well.

You could get her a PAIR of rats because they are less prone to biting and they are more interactive.

Vets for any rodents are high because they are generally more in the exotic group.

A good cage for a gerbil will cost you probably at least 40 but I would look at www.martinscages.com.

Answer 10

they bite alot, i would get a hamster over a gerbil

Answer 11

i think you should get her one depending on her maturity level and her act of responsibility . personally i've never had a gerbil but i'm sure it would make a good pet for your daughter.they'ree inexpensive so if it gets sick just let it die and buy another...