Gerbil Care Guide
Meriones unguiculatus
A gerbil kept alone isn't doing you a favour by being "low maintenance" — gerbils are highly social and typically do best in same-sex pairs or small groups, not solitary housing.
Lifespan
2-4 years
Adult size
Roughly 10-12cm body length plus a similarly long tail
Diet
Gerbil-specific seed and pellet mix, hay, occasional fresh vegetables
Temperament
Curious, active, social; generally not aggressive with proper pairing
Housing
Tank or enclosure with deep bedding for burrowing, minimum 40cm floor length for a pair
Legal notes
No special permits typically required for pet gerbils in Canada; check pet store or import restrictions if acquiring from outside the country
Gerbils are active, curious rodents that spend a lot of their natural behaviour underground, digging and building tunnel systems — which is why deep bedding matters more for gerbils than it does for many other small pets. They're also strongly social animals, so housing decisions and bedding depth are two of the biggest factors in whether a pet gerbil actually thrives.
Housing & bedding
- Use a glass or plastic-based enclosure rather than a wire cage bottom, since gerbils dig constantly and wire flooring can injure feet
- Provide bedding at least 20-30cm (8-12in) deep to allow natural burrowing and tunnel-building
- Choose paper-based or aspen bedding; avoid cedar and pine shavings, which contain aromatic oils linked to respiratory irritation
- Keep housing in a room with stable temperature, away from direct sun or drafts
- Provide hides, tubes, and chew-safe structures to enrich the burrowing environment
Diet & feeding
- Feed a commercial gerbil-specific seed and pellet mix rather than a generic rodent or hamster blend
- Provide unlimited timothy hay for digestion and dental wear
- Offer small amounts of fresh vegetables a few times a week; avoid high-sugar or high-fat treats
- Provide constant access to fresh water via a sipper bottle
Chew toys & dental health
- Gerbil teeth grow continuously, so provide wood chews, cardboard, and safe chew toys at all times
- Rotate enrichment items regularly to prevent boredom and encourage natural gnawing behaviour
- Offer a sand bath occasionally for coat maintenance
- Provide an exercise wheel sized appropriately (solid-surface, no rungs) for safe running
Health & common problems
- Overgrown teeth: caused by insufficient chewing material, can lead to eating difficulty
- Tail slip: gerbil tail skin can degrade if grabbed — always support the body, never lift by the tail
- Nasal irritation ("sore nose"): can result from dusty or inappropriate bedding or high humidity
- Obesity: watch portions, since gerbils are prone to weight gain on seed-heavy diets
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Frequently asked questions
It's not recommended long-term — gerbils are highly social animals and generally do best in same-sex pairs or small groups rather than living alone.
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Social needs & pairing