A gerbil is a small mammal of the order Rodentia. Once known simply as "desert rats", the gerbil subfamily includes about 110 species of African, Indian, and Asian rodents, including sand rats and jirds, all of which are adapted to arid habitats. Most are primarily diurnal (though some, including the common household pet, do exhibit crepuscular behavior), and almost all are omnivorous.
The word "gerbil" is a diminutive form of "jerboa", though the jerboas are an unrelated group of rodents occupying a similar ecological niche.
One Mongolian species, Meriones unguiculatus, also known as the Clawed Jird, is a gentle and hardy animal that has become a popular pet. It was first brought to the United States in 1954 by Dr. Victor Schwentker for use in research.
Gerbils are typically between six and twelve inches (150 to 300 mm) long, including the tail which makes up approximately one half of their total length. One species however, the Great Gerbil, or Rhombomys opimus, originally native to Turkmenistan, can grow to more than 16 inches (400 mm) in length. The average adult gerbil weighs approximately 2 1/2 ounces. As of August 19, 2003, officials in western China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region began releasing eagles to combat the damage they say the great gerbils have done to eleven million acres (46,000 km²) of grassland.
Pet gerbils have an average lifespan of 2 to 4 years. Some have been known to live five or six years.
Diet
Your gerbils will do well on a good commercial gerbil seed mix with a protein content of about 12 percent, and a fat content in the 6- to 8-percent range. Nutritionally complete, gerbil mix is made up of pellets, grains, seeds and dried vegetables, and is readily available at pet supply stores. If you offer your pets a mix that includes sunflower seeds, you may notice them picking out these tasty treats first and leaving the high-protein, ultra-nutritious seeds for later. Don’t worry—they’ll eventually eat the good stuff, so please resist the urge to refill the bowl or offer more sunflower seeds, which are high in fat.
Offer small amounts of fresh vegetables to your gerbils every day. Carrots, leaf lettuces, turnips, and broccoli are good choices. Offer small amounts of sweet fruit such as apples and bananas every other day, but take care to introduce new foods gradually. Don’t forget to clean up any leftover fresh food before it spoils.
Fresh, clean water should be available at all times. It is best to use an inverted bottle with a drinking tube, and change the water daily.
Do not give your gerbils cabbage, potatoes, onions, uncooked beans, chocolate, candy or junk food.
The word "gerbil" is a diminutive form of "jerboa", though the jerboas are an unrelated group of rodents occupying a similar ecological niche.
One Mongolian species, Meriones unguiculatus, also known as the Clawed Jird, is a gentle and hardy animal that has become a popular pet. It was first brought to the United States in 1954 by Dr. Victor Schwentker for use in research.
Gerbils are typically between six and twelve inches (150 to 300 mm) long, including the tail which makes up approximately one half of their total length. One species however, the Great Gerbil, or Rhombomys opimus, originally native to Turkmenistan, can grow to more than 16 inches (400 mm) in length. The average adult gerbil weighs approximately 2 1/2 ounces. As of August 19, 2003, officials in western China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region began releasing eagles to combat the damage they say the great gerbils have done to eleven million acres (46,000 km²) of grassland.
Pet gerbils have an average lifespan of 2 to 4 years. Some have been known to live five or six years.
Diet
Your gerbils will do well on a good commercial gerbil seed mix with a protein content of about 12 percent, and a fat content in the 6- to 8-percent range. Nutritionally complete, gerbil mix is made up of pellets, grains, seeds and dried vegetables, and is readily available at pet supply stores. If you offer your pets a mix that includes sunflower seeds, you may notice them picking out these tasty treats first and leaving the high-protein, ultra-nutritious seeds for later. Don’t worry—they’ll eventually eat the good stuff, so please resist the urge to refill the bowl or offer more sunflower seeds, which are high in fat.
Offer small amounts of fresh vegetables to your gerbils every day. Carrots, leaf lettuces, turnips, and broccoli are good choices. Offer small amounts of sweet fruit such as apples and bananas every other day, but take care to introduce new foods gradually. Don’t forget to clean up any leftover fresh food before it spoils.
Fresh, clean water should be available at all times. It is best to use an inverted bottle with a drinking tube, and change the water daily.
Do not give your gerbils cabbage, potatoes, onions, uncooked beans, chocolate, candy or junk food.
Housing
Gerbils are social, so it’s a good idea to get at least two. If you introduce them when they’re young, there’s an excellent chance you’ll have a successful match—especially if you choose gerbils from the same litter. Please do not keep males and females together, or they will breed.
Get your gerbils set up in a wire cage or a 10-gallon aquarium that has a wire mesh cover. The enclosure should be placed away from direct sunlight and drafts, and lined with absorbent bedding. Timothy hay and aspen shavings are good choices, but avoid using pine or cedar shavings at all costs—the fumes from these products may be harmful to the animal. Also make sure that you change the litter often enough to keep it dry and odor-free.
Gerbils love to play, so be sure to provide yours with an exercise wheel that does not have any openings in which their tails can get caught. Toys will be much appreciated, but avoid toys made of soft plastic or cardboard— they will almost certainly be chewed to bits! Gerbils also like to hide and sleep inside enclosed spaces, so it’s a good idea to place a small box or flower pot for this purpose.
Gerbils also love to dig, so provide yours with plenty of extra bedding, hay or shredded paper towels. Tunneling’s fun for your pets, too, so be sure yours have cardboard tubes from paper towels and toilet paper. Larger, sturdier tubes— those made from PVC, for example— will also serve this purpose. And finally, don’t forget to place a smooth, clean stone or rock in your gerbils’ home. This will serve as a lookout for them.
0 comments:
Post a Comment