How to Care for your Gerbil and Hamster

These little critters are one of the perfect first pets, and although they are quite similar to look after there is one major difference. Gerbils are active during the day and sleep at night, while Hamsters sleep during the day and come out to play at night. Gerbils are more sociable rodents and will be very happy if kept in pairs, however unless you want lots of baby gerbils running around don’t house male and females together. Hamsters and Gerbils generally live up to 3 years, although someone once told me theirs lived for 10 years, but their fur used to changed colour!!!!

If you are going to purchase a pair of Gerbils, I would buy them together from the same pet shop and kept in the same cage. That way they will know each other and should happily live together

Type of Cage
I would only keep Gerbils in a glass aquarium with a tight fitting mess lid. If placed in a wire cage they will try (if not succeed) to chew through the wire, either resulting with Gerbils running round your house or sores on their noses. Hamsters on the other hand will live happily in a wire cage. Plastic cages for either rodent is not recommended, Gerbils will chew straight through with Hamsters not far behind!! There are many types of bedding on the market which are suitable for Hamsters and Gerbils. The only two to avoid is Pine or Cedar Shavings. These can give off chemicals which some people believe lead to respiratory problems.

Remember to hang on to old cardboard tubes, Hamsters and Gerbils love to either run up and down them or chew them and make more bedding for themselves. Or you can purchase wooden chews for them to nibble on. It is very important that you have chews for them as this stops their teeth from growing too long, just like your nails need trimming.

Exercise
Although these rodents are small they have lots of energy and require exercise. This can either be an exercise wheel in their cage or a runaround ball that they can be placed in and allowed to run round the house safely, not near stairs!!! If you want you can purchase a hamtrack where you place your little critter in their ball and let them race around a track. I wouldn’t keep them in the ball for any longer than 15-20 minutes

Handling
Gerbils are easier to handle than Hamsters. However you have to pick them up gently and often so they get used to being picked up. Yes they can bite, but they will normally only bite if they feel threatened or stressed. It takes time, be patient and touch them and play with them often. The more effort you put in then the easier it will become.

Food & Maintenance
Fresh food and Fresh water is a must, changed daily, (would you drink or eat two day old food and water?) I like to give our Gerbil a small amount of carrot once a week, again for him to chew on, and he likes it. You can purchase fruit treats for them too, but this is not to be used as a food replacement

They will need to be cleaned out regularly, once a fortnight should be enough, however this does depend on the number of Gerbils/Hamsters you have. Either buy a cleaner from a pet shop for the glass or use plain water.

If anyone else has their own thoughts and ideas please feel free to add yours and lets keep those little critters happy and well for everyone