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Gerbils: The New Pet Hamster Species?
Let us start off by saying that we really thought Gerbils were another species of Dwarf Hamsters when we saw them here in Singapore. Well, they aren't. |
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That was until we saw their tails, which really
sparked our curiosity. These guys looked remarkably similar to a dwarf hamster,
and yet they had a prettier tail of a mice. Just what are these guys?
The Mongolian Gerbil
Although there are
many species of the Gerbil, only one specie is permitted as a house pet currently, and
that would be none other than our new found friend, the Mongolian Gerbil.
Scientific name Meriones Unguiculatus.
Also known as Desert Rats, they are native to the Northern parts of China.
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The Mongolian Gerbils
were first brought to the United States of America by Dr Victor Schwentker, for
research purposes. Soon after, the Gerbils stole the hearts of lab researchers
and they were brought home by many as pets. The Gerbils were then introduced to
the United Kingdom in 1964, and Pet Shops throughout Europe and America started
selling the Mongolian Gerbil as pets.
Appearance
As we have just
mentioned, The Mongolian Gerbil has the face and the size not far off from that
of a Dwarf hamster. The only noticeable difference would be their long tails,
about the length of their bodies, covered with short fur.
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They also have large
feet and muscular hind legs, which you would come to realize that they are
usually resting on their hind legs instead of being crouched over like a mice
or hamster.
The Mongolian Gerbils
have a lifespan of 3 to 4 years. An adult Gerbil could weigh an average of 71
grams. Their body lengths range from 12 centimetres to 14 centimetres, with
tails from 8 centimetres to 10 centimetres.
Colours
The Mongolian Gerbils
that we saw at a pet shop was only of one colour, but there are now 20 over
different colours and patterns to a Mongolian Gerbil as we know. The ones
available in Singapore consists of Black, Lilac, Dove, Argente Golden, Nutmeg, Agouti,
Dark-eyed Honey, Pink-eyed White and Red-eyed White.
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Some rare colours are Red
Fox, Yellow Fox, Self Cream, Honey Cream, Light Cream, and Argente Cream.In other countries,
some of the unique colours include Burmese, Siamese and
Schimmel.
Personalities
These little rodents
are intelligent, curious, playful and non-aggressive, they love to be picked up
and introduced to new exploring areas, so don’t be afraid to pet them whenever
you want to. They are also said to be active both in the day and night, so be
sure to provide lots of entertaining toys for them in their house.
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Unlike hamsters, the
Mongolian Gerbils are very sociable, so it is advisable to keep more than one
as pets, but be sure to do so from the start, when the gerbils are at an early
age. When a young gerbil is introduced into the family with an adult gerbil,
there is a chance the adult gerbil could kill the younger gerbil because of
territorial issues.
Housing For A Gerbil
A highly recommended
housing for a Mongolian Gerbil is a glass tank, for gerbils are known to chew
and plastic or wire caging would be destroyed or ingested by them. Have a glass
tank of an adequate size for the Gerbils to run and scuttle about, and fill it
with bedding of 2 inches or more. Similarly for all small pets, avoid pine and
cedar bedding as they could cause respiratory health issues.
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Mongolian Gerbils
love burrowing, digging and chewing, so invest in wooden toys and paper rolls.
Provide them with boxes or containers for makeshift sleeping spots or for
nesting. As you know by now, Gerbils are very active, so don’t forget the
regular exercising wheels and tunnels to keep them entertained! Try cleaning
parts of their tank like toys and bedding only when needed (when they stink),
as they might not be accustomed to you messing up their home too much (keeping
a bit of their old bedding helps).
Feeding And Bathing
Feeding your pet Gerbils requires very little
fuss, aside from water, you could mix up parrot and hamster seed feeds, with
the occasional vegetable, fruits, even hard boiled eggs and cheese. Avoid sugary
treats, Gerbils love sunflower seeds, so you could opt for that as a treat when
training them.
This is one point you
must take note of, just like hamsters, you must absolutely never bath your
Mongolian Gerbils in water. Purchase bathing sands for them, and introduce the
sand in a container similar to a Chinchilla or Hamster.
A Mongolian Gerbil As A Pet
We’d say, why not?
The Mongolian Gerbil is no doubt a great alternative to a hamster, they small
and easy to handle, although great for adults, they might not be suitable for
young kids as mishandling of the Gerbils such as squeezing or dropping them could
land them in a state trauma or even be fatal. They should not be picked up by
their tails as well. Proper adult supervision goes a long way, as always!
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Other than that, a
Mongolian Gerbil is fuss free, easy going, and amusing to watch. Although they
are already pretty great self-entertainers, just remember every pet comes with responsibilities
and commitment.
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The biggest problem
small animals face these days in Singapore is neglect, carry out your ownership
duties in terms of cleaning, feeding, and playtime, you could very well be on
your way of owning a very lovable pet. With that said, don’t forget to visit local
Animal Shelters to check for options as always!
Your Stories Can Be Heard Too
Do YOU have a Gerbil story? Your voices are important to us and the Pets community! Our readers are encouraged to share their Pet-related reviews of a place and its services, experiences, even lifestyle tips and tricks to better our Pets lives, on our platform, one paw at a time. Be a part of an educational and informative Pets community because at ThePetsDialogue, your voices could make a huge difference.
Write to us at [email protected] today!
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