Animalscaretips
They are happiest in same-sex pairs or small groups. Gerbils are sociable animals and, in the wild, group sizes range from two to 15 animals of all ages and sexes. Groups are founded by a breeding pair and extended by their offspring and other relatives. Housing gerbils together (PDF 93.3 KB).
- Do gerbils like living together?
- Can a gerbil live alone?
- How many gerbils live together in the wild?
- Is it OK to have one gerbil?
- Can 3 gerbils live together?
- Can you put 2 gerbils in the same cage?
- Do gerbils need a wheel?
- Do gerbils need a sand bath?
- Do gerbils need a companion?
- Do gerbils fight with each other?
- How big of a tank do I need for 2 gerbils?
- Can you put hamsters and gerbils together?
- Do gerbil bites hurt?
- Should I get male or female gerbils?
- Is it cruel to keep gerbils?
Do gerbils like living together?
Gerbils are social animals and need the constant company of their own kind. The only exception to this is the Fat-tailed gerbil, as females of this species can be kept alone, and will often fight with other females. Otherwise, it is always advisable to get a pair of gerbils, either two males or two females.
Can a gerbil live alone?
Can Gerbils Live Alone? A gerbil can live alone. Many owners, especially new owners, only get one gerbil at first.
How many gerbils live together in the wild?
Gerbils do not like to be alone and live in families of up to 20 members in their natural habitat. If kept in a solitary environment, a captive gerbil will become depressed. If you're planning to adopt gerbils, two males or two females from the same family will bond together.
Is it OK to have one gerbil?
Gerbils are very sociable pets that are usually kept in pairs. If you'd prefer to keep a single gerbil, you will need to interact with the gerbil regularly to fulfill its social needs. ... With the right attention and care, your single gerbil can live a long, happy life.
Can 3 gerbils live together?
You can keep three gerbils together in a trio, but the risk of declanning is higher. Gerbil trios work best if they're siblings from the same litter. If you'd like to keep a group of gerbils together, ensure that there's enough space. ... Male gerbils are less aggressive than females, so they're less likely to fight.
Can you put 2 gerbils in the same cage?
Because of the social nature of gerbils, the ASPCA recommends housing a minimum of two of them together. ... Units of more than two females together may fight, and aggressively so, so always be cautious when planning gerbil living arrangements.
Do gerbils need a wheel?
A wheel is important, enabling gerbils to get plenty of daily exercise. However, it needs to be a gerbil-friendly variety. A hamster wheel is dangerous for gerbils, as they can trap their tails in its rungs, which is very painful and can lead to swelling and infection.
Do gerbils need a sand bath?
Instead of bathing gerbils in water as you would a human, gerbils need 'sand baths'. Sand baths involve the gerbil rolling around in a small pot of sand, an activity which looks rather strange but actually gives the animal a chance to give its fur a good scrub and to free itself of dirt.
Do gerbils need a companion?
Gerbils need a companion in order to be happy. In the wild they live in colonies, or family groups consisting of a breeding pair and several generations of pups. Pet gerbils need friends just as their wild counterparts do.
Do gerbils fight with each other?
Gerbils will often play-fight by boxing and chasing each other and squeaking. These behaviors are fine but if serious fighting occurs, you need to separate them. A serious fight usually involves a gerbil forming a tight ball and rolling around, squeaking shrilly, biting at each other's necks, and often, blood is drawn.
How big of a tank do I need for 2 gerbils?
One or two gerbils require an area that measures at least 18 inches wide, 24 to 30 inches long and 12 inches high. They also do well in a 15 gallon tank (or larger). As a pet parent, you will want to keep your gerbil safe.
Can you put hamsters and gerbils together?
Gerbils are social animals, known for living in pairs and even large colonies. ... Known for their territorial nature, when confronted by other animals, hamsters will attack. Because of these drastically different social needs, gerbils and hamsters should never be placed in the same cage together.
Do gerbil bites hurt?
Gerbils are friendly animals that generally won't resort to biting unless they feel threatened and have no way out. A gerbil might give you a little nip but this doesn't really hurt or break the skin. It's only in rare cases that a gerbil will bite hard and such a bite can hurt and cause an injury.
Should I get male or female gerbils?
Some owners say males are more docile and friendly towards each other than females. ... However, it's generally a good idea to choose males if you want to keep more than two gerbils together, as they seem slightly happier in larger groups than females. There is very little size difference between male and female gerbils.
Is it cruel to keep gerbils?
Keeping gerbils as pets isn't cruel if you take care of them and provide them with everything they need: other gerbils, a large enough cage and deep bedding layer, enrichment to keep them from getting bored, and a nutritionally well-balanced diet.
