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The most popular pet Gerbil is the Mongolian Gerbil. Their Latin name is Meriones Unguiculatus which means Clawed Warrior. In the wild they can be found in the arid sandy steppes of Mongolia and Northern China. Since they are originally desert animals they are very economical with water, producing little urine. Like most desert animals though, Gerbils are not completely nocturnal. They have periods of sleep and activity throughout the day and night, being most active at dawn and dusk. Gerbils have a lifespan of 3-5 years.
Gerbils are very social creatures and need to live with another Gerbil (or more). They're happy in breeding pairs (one male and one female) or in same sex groups. Gerbils should be introduced at a young age or you will have to use the split cage method (explained in Animal Introductions).
Gerbils are extremely curious creatures (almost like cats) and need almost no taming at all. About all it takes to tame them is to put your hand in front of them. They may avoid it at first but eventually their curiosity will get the better of them and they'll just HAVE to investigate it. They rarely ever bite, only when they feel very threatened. Gerbils will thump on their back legs when they are spooked or excited. This consists of jumping in place 3-4 times then pausing to listen then jumping in place again. They have scent glands on the bellies which they rub on everything (including each other) to mark things as theirs. Gerbils are very smell oriented. The smell of a female in heat in a room can de-clan a group of males.
Gerbils are not homosexual or bisexual. Same sex Gerbil groups often do dominance mounting to establish rank in the group. Also when a female in a group is in heat the other females will react to the smell by mounting.
Health Issues
Problems with this star are genetic and all animals in that breeding
line should be retired. This means parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, and any offspring and their offspring. You should also
contact those who have bought animals from these lines to warn them. If this seems extreme consider this: When diabetes first showed up in a
certain Campbells Dwarf hamstery it took years to convince the breeder. In the meantime, this hamstery was mass producing diabetic hamsters then
selling and shipping them around the world.
Respiratory Infection - Gerbils are most susceptible to respiratory infections around weaning age. The symptoms are ruffled fur, lethargic behavior, huddling in a corner and clicking while it breathes (this is the fluid moving in the lungs). I treat with one tablet of Ornacycline® for an 8 oz. bottle for 5 days. Care must be taken to make sure the Gerbil drinks. Treat the entire tank as it is contagious.
Tyzzers - This is a form of diarrhea. It's very contagious to ALL rodents. It is usually fatal and can wipe out your entire kennel. Here is a link to a good web page about Tyzzers from the National Gerbil Society.
Seizures - This is a genetic trait in some lines. Pups will
outgrow mild cases. It's usually induced by fear or excitement, The ears will twitch and the Gerbil will freeze. It may even appear to be dead.
There are plenty of healthy Gerbils to breed with so any lines showing seizures should be removed from your breeding program.
Other Genetic Issues - The Fixed Wrist is a genetic defect. The
breeding line of these pups should be retired. Kinked tails can be caused by a genetic defect or as a result of rough treatment of parents or
siblings. If genetic the breeding line should be retired. If it's from continued rough treatment then one or both parents should be retired.
Bedding Allergies - Some gerbils are allergic to certain kinds
of bedding. If a gerbil is allergic to the common beddings available it should be removed from breeding. Again there are plenty of healthy animals
to choose to breed from without using Gerbils that are allergic to everything.
| 2009 Mid Atlantic Show |
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