Hey, are you wondering if gerbils are the right pets for you? Well, look no further. Here are several pros and cons that should help you out in your decision!
- They are low maintenance pets
- They don’t require very much space
- They are friendly
- They don’t need much out-of-cage time
- They don’t smell
- They don’t cost much to maintain
- There are several varieties to choose from
- They are fun to watch
- You do not need to clean their cage as often as you would for some other pets’
- They are adorable
- They all have fun personalities
- They don’t usually bite
- They are crepuscular
- They are not cuddly
- They are very small
- They are escape artists
- They could make a bit of a mess
- You should only house gerbils of the same gender together
- You may need to take them to the vet
- You need to ensure predators can’t get them
- They don’t live very long
- They may drop their tails
- They may keep you awake at night if they live in your bedroom
Let’s start by talking about the pros!
Pros
They are Low Maintenance Pets
Although there are some pets that require less maintenance than gerbils, gerbils still are very, very low maintenance pets! Seriously, it only takes about 20 minutes (give or take) to care for them on most days.
So, if you are very busy during the week and don’t have too much time to spare, gerbils may just be the right pet for you!
They Don’t Require Very Much Space
Gerbils do not need very much space at all! Here are the minimum cage size requirements for gerbils.
| Number of Gerbils | Tank size (US gallons) |
| One | 10 gal |
| Two | 15 gal |
| Three | 20 gal |
| Four | 25 gal |
| Five | 30 gal |
Basically, one gerbil should have at least a 10 gallon tank, and for any other gerbils you have, you should add at least 5 gallons per additional gerbil.
Also, the tank doesn’t have to be super big, as far as floor-space.
As long as the gerbils have at least 4 inches of bedding, the tank is big enough to fit all of the needed accessories and toys comfortably on the first level, and they are regularly let outside of their cage to play, you can use a taller tank with less floor space!
If you don’t have enough space in your home for a really big cage, but still would like pets, gerbils may be great for you!
They are Friendly
Gerbils are very friendly animals! Of course, in the beginning, they may be a bit afraid of you, but once they see that you won’t hurt them, they will be very friendly towards you! Once they get to know you, they will climb on your hands, allow you to hand feed them, etc.
They Don’t Need Much Out-of-Cage Time
Gerbils, unlike most other small mammals, don’t need to be let out of their cage to often! Letting them out of their cage in a large playpen for around 1 hour a week is good enough.
You will need to make sure that the playpen you use is escape-proof (any gaps between bars in the playpen should be 1/2 inch or smaller). Here is the playpen I use and recommend: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FN6J2LO/ref=twister_B07VWSKMT6?_encoding=UTF8&th=1!
We let our gerbils out for about 10 minutes a day, and it works out well, because it doesn’t use up very much of our time, and the gerbils get enough exercise as well!
They Don’t Smell
Gerbils do not stink. Also, as long as you clean their cage regularly, the cage will not smell either! So, if you can’t stand the odors some other pets make, gerbils may be great pets for you!
They Don’t Cost Much to Maintain
Not only are gerbils low maintenance pets, but they also do not cost very much to maintain for the most part. You can also save even more money on maintenance by using gerbil-safe items that you can find around the house as things like chew toys, hideouts, etc.
There are Several Varieties to Choose From
There are several different varieties of gerbils! Although there are not as many varieties of gerbils compared to other kinds of pets, there are several different colors and breeds to choose from.
They are Fun to Watch
Gerbils are super fun to watch! They dig, burrow, scamper, play, chew, climb, and do other adorable things like that! Watching your gerbils should definitely bring a smile to your face!
You Do Not Need to Clean Their Cage as Often as You Would for Some Other Pets’
Not only do gerbils not smell, but you don’t need their cage as often as some other pets’ (guinea pigs, for instance)! For the most part, fully cleaning your gerbils’ cage every other week should be enough.
However, if the cage starts to smell a bit within two weeks of the last cage clean (this usually only happens if you have larger group of gerbils–or male gerbils–in the cage), you should clean it.
They are Adorable
Gerbils are soooo cute! Take a look at these pictures of our gerbils:
They All Have Fun Personalities
All gerbils have their own unique personalities. Some gerbils are adventurous, and love to run around and explore, while others are more calm! Their personalities are part of what make them so special and so them!
They Don’t Usually Bite
Unlike some other pets, gerbils are not prone to bite people and rarely do so! Only if they feel really threatened or afraid, will they bite.
They are Crepuscular
Unlike many other rodents, gerbils are not nocturnal. Rather, they are crepuscular, meaning they are awake in the morning and evening, and are awake at different times throughout the day and night! So, this means that you will be able to watch and play with them more often than nocturnal pets (hamsters, for instance)!
Cons
Although gerbils are amazing pets, there are some downsides to owning them.
They are not Cuddly
Many people think that gerbils are cuddly pets. However, this is sadly not true. Gerbils are very friendly and cute, but they do not enjoy being held for long periods of time, let alone being cuddled with!
They are Very Small
Although this may not seem like a con, it can be. Since they are so small, it is easier for them to escape or get injured accidentally.
They are Escape Artists
Not only is it pretty easy for gerbils to escape because of their small size, but they will also try to escape.
They Could Make a Bit of a Mess
Although gerbils do not make as much of a mess outside of their cage as some other pets, a little bit of bedding will most likely get out of the cage.
You Should Only House Gerbils of the Same Gender Together
Since gerbil neutering is not widely available and can be stressful for the gerbil, only house gerbils of the same gender together! Otherwise, baby gerbils everywhere!
You May Need to Take them to the Vet
Even though it is not an absolute fact that you will need to take your gerbils to the vet, there is definitely the possibility that your gerbil will get sick or injured. Also, not all vets treat gerbils, meaning it will a lot harder to find a good vet that does.
You Need to Ensure Predators Can’t Get Them
Even dogs and cats can be considered predators. So make sure that if you will be letting other animals that are predators into the gerbil room that the gerbils are safe and secure in their tank or cage. Or, better yet, don’t even let your dog, cat, etc into the gerbil room at all!
They Don’t Live Very Long
Sadly, gerbils only live around 3-4 years, which really is not too long.
They May Drop Their Tails
In the wild, gerbils drop their tails when caught by a predator so they are able to (sometimes) get away, and that hasn’t really changed. Gerbils as pets may drop their tails if you pick them up by the tail!
They may Keep you Awake at Night if They Live in your Bedroom
Although this is not a problem for some people, others find it very hard to sleep while their gerbils are running on the wheel, chewing, climbing, scratching, etc.
I hope that all of this info will help you all decide if gerbils are right for you!
