The Care of Gerbil Babies

There are several members of the Gerbillinae, or gerbil, family that are popular as pets. Mongolian gerbils are the most common of these. They have a variety of colors and are easily purchased in pet stores. Gerbils are small rodents found in parts of Africa and Asia. As pets, the babies do require some special care that can be different from that for adult gerbils.

  1. Housing

    • The parents and babies can be housed in a tank (at least 30-gallon size) with corncob on the bottom. They need places to hide to feel safe and less stressed. Older pups can be given toilet paper tubes and cardboard boxes in which to hide. Corncob litter is preferred over other litter types for babies because it reduces the risk of the babies' developing a respiratory disease. Plain toilet-paper pieces can be used as nesting material.

    Newborn Pups

    • Both parents will care for the pups, so you need to do very little beyond providing housing and food. The pups will nurse for three weeks. During the first week the parents and baby gerbils should be left alone. Any changes to their housing, such as cleaning or handling of the babies, could stress the parents and cause them to ignore their babies. The only exception is to continue to provide fresh food and water for the parents. You should also remove any pups that did not survive. If the parents seem overly nervous, cover half the tank with a towel for them to hide behind.

    Week-Old Pups

    • At this age you can safely handle the pups. Wash your hands before handling the pups and hold them gently. Regular handling, especially after their eyes have opened, is important for the gerbil babies to feel comfortable with people. You can now safely clean the cage as well.

    Weaning-Age Pups

    • The gerbil babies will start to wean at about three weeks of age, and be fully weaned at five weeks. At three weeks, start offering them the same food that the parents eat. They should be fed a diet of rodent chow and vegetables as treats. They can also be given sunflower or canary seeds and Cheerios. Make sure the water bottle is low enough in the tank so that the babies can reach it. You may need to show the babies how the water comes out for them to learn to drink. At six weeks of age they can be separated from their parents, who most likely have another litter on the way.

    Health Problems

    • The most common health problem for baby gerbils is respiratory infections. This often happens at about the age that they wean. Contact your veterinarian if your pups are showing signs of breathing problems or are making a clicking sound when they breathe. Without treatment, most do not survive.