Reproduction
What do gerbils look like after brith?
Naked and Blind.
How loud are gerbils typically?
They are pretty quiet animals.
What is used for bedding?
wood chips or shavings and sawdust
If a person mistreats or provokes a gerbil what might happen?
They will get bite; gerbils are normally gentle and curious animals.
Most common ailment?
A common cold
Before gerbils mate what does the male do?
The male gerbil will smell the female and then start drumming with his rear feet.
Why might a gerbil bite a human?
If the human mistreated or provoked the gerbil it will bite but they are normally gentle and curious.
Can gerbils chew through with plastic?
Yes, which is why it is highly recommend that their cage be metal.
How much water do gerbils drink?
They don't drink much water but should always have it and in a drip bottle.
What is a disease that causes high deaths in gerbils?
Tyzzer's Disease
What are baby gerbils called and are they hardy?
They are very hardy and they are called pups
What is a sound that female gerbils make during mating but also used as an alarm in a different situation?
A shill squeak.
What should you use if you need to cover a gerbil's cage?
What type of food should they have?
Commercial pellets with common grains
Red Nose causes what in gerbils?
It causes hair loss and red swollen areas of the skin around the muzzle or nose.
How often does a female gerbil go into heat?
Every 4-6 days.
What do male gerbils have on their stomachs?
They have scent glands on their stomach that looks like a bald patch or strip.
What do they need for exercise and why?
They need a tunnel or exercise wheel because they are highly active.
Can you pick a gerbil by the base of their tail?
Yes, you can as long as it is the base of the tail.
How often do gerbils get external parasites and if they do which are they?
They do not get external parasites often and are very hardy. When they do it could be fleas, lice, and demodex which is a species of mange mites.
How long is the gestation period in gerbils?
It is 24-26 days long.
What is another form of communication that male gerbils typically use?
Drumming with their rear feet.
How much space should a gerbil breeding pair have and why?
150 square inches because if they have too little space cannibalism may occur.
What can happen if you grab or pull their tail roughly?
The tail and the fur on the tail can fail off leaving only the tailbone and a wound.
Bacterial infection spread via contaminated food, bedding, or wild insects/rodents. Signs include severe diarrhea, dehydration, and a bloated abdomen
Salmonellosis