|
|
Back Home
SiteMap
|
Do You want to Pet a Gerbil
Do You want to Pet a Gerbil?
Have you ever seen a gerbil? If you have observed this creature for some time, you will surely want to take one home as a pet for yourself. Gerbils are funny, friendly and extremely inquisitive creatures! They get along very well with children as one can observe them for hours while they are displaying their silly antics, without getting bored. Caring for them is not a hassle as they are fond of grooming themselves, and they shall provide you with unlimited entertainment. Most of the time, gerbils are sociable creatures. They love company and prefer to stay in groups. They also love to explore new places- and any new sound or smell attracts them. They will start sniffing around the moment they experience a new sensation, instead of cowering in their hiding places. You could also install a little exercise wheel in their cages, so that they can play to their hearts’ content!
Unlike most pets, you do not have to devote extensive amounts of time and energy to gerbils. These creatures keep themselves occupied without any help. Gerbils can be traced back to the rodent family and are scattered all over the world. The most popular species is the Mongolian Gerbil and they live underground. If you desire to adopt one as a pet, you will realize that these gerbils are available in a variety of colours such as dove, white, all-black and golden.
Its length varies between six and twelve inches including its long tail. At 2 ˝ ounces it weighs perhaps a little more than an adult hamster. Their lifespan ranges between two to four years, though some live for almost six years.
When it comes to food, gerbils are not at all fussy. They are happy when provided with a simple mix of grains and seeds. You can feed these gerbils- nuts, lettuce, bananas, apples, spinach, carrots or even, broccoli! Thus, most of its food will surely come from your own dinner table and you need not make separate arrangements for your gerbil.
As for a place to stay, provide your gerbil with a container that allows enough light and air. There must be an attached water-bottle, a drinking tube and a good amount of bedding to keep your gerbil happy. You could use an old aquarium for this purpose by covering it with a wire cage. These aquariums are easy to clean and have a solid floor. Plus the bedding remains inside the cage which keeps your apartment clean. Cover the floor of the aquarium with paper and sawdust.
Strew around a few cardboard pieces which will eventually be shredded by the gerbil to make comfortable bedding for itself! Use corn cob, aspen or hardwood shavings while making suitable bedding instead of using pine or cedar.
Clean the cage once a week with the help of warm water and a safe liquid soap. Gerbils want to keep their teeth short and sharp- and this is done by chewing on a piece of untreated wood. Provide them with such a block in their cage. Lastly, take care of your pet without disturbing it unnecessarily. Avoid pulling its tail as due to a natural defense mechanism, its tail might come off.
Gerbil pets, Gerbil information, Gerbil tips, Gerbil advice
Next Article: Playing with your Gerbil can be fun
-
|
|
