How to Take Care of Your Male Gerbil

Gerbils are social animals and a single gerbil will not be happy. If you acquire a young gerbil, perhaps from somebody who wasn't able to take care of him, try to get another one as soon as possible. If the gerbil is older than a year, it is probably best to keep him by himself, but provide plenty of toys and attention. Males don't have special requirements in terms of food and care, although they are very likely to spend much of their time play-fighting.

Things You'll Need

  • 20-gallon or larger tank or cage
  • Mesh barrier
  • Gerbil mix
  • Fresh produce
  • Non-toxic wood chews
  • Cardboard tubes and boxes
  • Paper-based rodent bedding
  • Plain, unfragranced toilet tissue
  • Cleaning cloths
  • Dishwashing liquid
  • Bucket
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Instructions

    • 1

      Create a split cage if you are introducing two male gerbils. A split cage is a single, long tank with a mesh barrier in the middle. The gerbils can see and smell each other but cannot fight.

    • 2

      Swap the gerbils from one side to the other several times a day. After a week, remove the barrier for several hours at a time and observe their behavior. If they don't fight seriously, they will box. It is safe to let them share the tank permanently after a few sessions. Signs of serious fighting are a frenzied fight with the gerbils rolling around in a ball or one chasing the other at high speed. If this happens, retain the barrier for another week or longer.

    • 3

      Feed your gerbils a high-quality gerbil mix, supplemented with small amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables. Each gerbil needs about 1/2 oz. to 1 oz. of the mix each day, but many owners just let them have as much as they want. Provided your gerbils don't start gaining weight, it is safe to feed them the mix generously. Extra nuts and seeds are fine as an occasional treat once or twice a week, but not every day.

    • 4

      Provide non-toxic wood chews or fruit tree twigs. Like all rodents, gerbils' teeth are constantly growing. The gerbils need to chew to wear their teeth down.

    • 5

      Provide small cardboard objects as gerbil toys. They like cardboard tubes, cardboard boxes and cardboard cartons.

    • 6

      Replace the bedding and clean the cage once a week. Dishwashing liquid and hot water mixed together in a bucket forms a suitable cleaning liquid.