There are more than 100 species of gerbil, but the one that you are most likely to bring home from the pet store is a Mongolian. Hopefully you are bringing home two, since gerbils are social animals and they don’t like to live alone. But if your two new gerbils are a boy and a girl, get ready for lots of little gerbils.

A 10-gallon glass tank is your best bet for a gerbil house. Wire bottoms can hurt their feet, and wire sides are likely to make a mess of your house as the gerbils dig and play in their bedding. But make sure to use a wire top. Bedding can be made of paper, aspen shavings or hay, but never pine or cedar. Give them extra bedding to dig in, a cardboard tube to crawl through, and maybe a rock to stand on as they survey their kingdom. They also need a little cave to sleep in; making them a wooden box is considered classy.


Commercial gerbil food is formulated to give your pet the right balance of fat and protein. But it is good to supplement it with some fresh vegetables and fruit. Leafy greens, carrots, broccoli and apples are all good, but cabbage and onions are bad. And, as always, a fresh water bottle is absolutely essential.






We’ve tried to find the best sources we can for the information above, but you should always consult a veterinarian, professional trainer or other expert.