The Gerbil is one of the cutest pets and easy to take care of. Watching Gerbils in their cage can be a daily dose of happiness. They are effortlessly entertaining and fun to watch. To know more about this child-friendly pet, you may refer to the article below for interesting facts.
Basic Need of Gerbils
Even though Gerbils are cute and child-friendly pets, there is still some important information that every household should know before they bring rodents into their home. Here are the essential things about this friendly rodent that every pet owner needs to know:
Gerbils are Sociable
Gerbils are social creatures, and being alone in their cage is terrible for them. Some studies show that they live happier and longer if they have a partner. So if you are planning to own a Gerbil, make sure to bring two of them of the same gender.
Gerbils are Fragile
Gerbils are weak, which is why you need to take care of them gently. If your child is going to handle them, make sure that you supervise them. Avoid grabbing their tail and holding them too tight because it may cause a severe injury.
Gerbil Cages
Avoid using wooden cages because they might chew on them. Also, avoid using metal cages because it may cause injury to them, especially when they dig. The ideal type of cage is a fish tank, or terrarium with a minimum size of 20 gallon.
Food for Gerbils
Gerbils love to chew and eat, but be careful to feed them because it may be harmful to them. You can give them a combined with the best hamster food and parrot feed. You can also give them a small number of fruits and vegetables, cheese, sunflower seeds, and peanuts.
Water Intake
You must provide fresh and clean water to keep them hydrated every day. Water plays an important role in their digestion.
Gerbil’s Color Variants
You now have an idea about the basic needs of your Gerbil. You must also know the specific color of your pet. Gerbils have a lot of variation when it comes to color.
Wild Gerbil: Golden Agouti
Wild gerbils come in one color called the golden agouti. They look slightly tan on the top and a shade lighter on their underbelly. This is the most common one you’ll find in pet stores as well.
Variegated Gerbil
This is more a pattern than a color. Variegated gerbils have broken white patches against a standard coat color like black. The resulting gerbil has a coat patterned just like a Dalmatian. The amount of white varies in some patterns as well.
Black Gerbil
The black in a gerbil isn’t an ebony-like color. Instead, it’s black with a subtle hint of brown. Black gerbils usually have brown patches in areas like the ears, nose, and mouth, which vary in intensity depending on genetics. This color is considered rare in some areas. Their white whiskers are an interesting contrast to their dark coat.
Lilac Gerbil
This is a rare color variant for gerbils. The lilac gerbil is a solid color and may have patches on the head or jaw areas. It has a hint of grayness to it, making it look like a very subdued color. The unique color is aesthetically pleasing but may be challenging to find.
Blue Gerbil
Like lilac gerbils, blue gerbils have a solid color with a subtle gray hint. To be exact, they are in slate blue, which is pleasing and striking to look at. The underside of blue gerbils may also have a hint of gray.
White Gerbil
If you’re unfamiliar, white gerbils are often mistaken as lab mice. They come in shades like cream with red or pink eyes. These are not albinos. Instead, they are a result of genetic change. Some white gerbils also have black eyes, and they are fondly called BEWs or black-eyed whites.
Argente Golden Gerbil
This coat color is ginger in the shade. They have a strong ginger coat with a white underbelly. It is one of three variants and is the strongest ginger shade. It is followed by Argente Fawn, the most common of the three, and Argente Cream, the rarest and lightest in the shade.
Burmese
It has the same color as Colorpoint Slate. It also has part of dark solid brown with black points. Its ears, paws, and tails are black as well, and the paws and chin have some white spots. Its eyes are black, and its belly is the same color as the back.
Nutmeg
It is a common type of color, brown color with black ticking. It has an orange undercoat. This type of Gerbil has black eyes, and its belly is the same as the body’s color.
Siamese
This type is quite different because it has a light brownish or grayish with dark points. Its eyes are also black and become slightly reddish when light strikes the eyes. The Siamese has a darker tail.
Conclusion
Gerbils are cute and bring happiness in whatever color they are. Taking care of them will help you to ease your stress and anxiety. Some studies show that watching them for quite some time will bring you a moment of peace. Like other pets, they also have needs that we need to provide for them. Taking care of pets, regardless if they are big and small, is a big responsibility, which is why you must be ready for all those responsibilities.
