Adopting any type of pet is the beginning of a slightly changed lifestyle for you. With each new pet comes new responsibilities, ones that you have to be able to accept before going ahead with purchasing your pet. Many of the pets sitting in shelters now are there for the small reason that their original owner could not accept the responsibility of the new addition to their household. So before long, they’d had enough and off to the shelter the pet went. No pet deserves this.
Gerbils have a unique set of responsibilities. While they aren’t as difficult as a new puppy or as loud as a new bird, they have their own set of needs. The following list should provide you with almost everything you should think about before buying a set of gerbils (preferable) or a single gerbil.
Do I have the space?
· Do you have enough space in your home for the gerbils’ cage and accessories? A space that is not pushed out of the way, so that your gerbils won’t be in the middle of traffic, but they have some view of people and what’s going on?
· Is there room in your home that a gerbil can safely explore freely, without getting hurt or causing damage to any of your personal belongings?
Will Gerbils be safe in my home?
· If you have kids, are they old enough to understand the size of a gerbil and what will/will not harm them?
· Are you completely aware of the chemicals used in your home, and are you willing to remove those that could be harmful to gerbil’s health?
· Do you have time to do the research to understand what gerbils can/cannot eat, do, inhale, breathe, etc.?
· If you have other pets in your house, are you certain that they will not harm a gerbil?
Do I have the money to support another living thing?
· Do you have enough money to purchase the supplies initially? This includes: A safe cage, a safe wheel, hamster/gerbil food, bedding (please understand what bedding is safe for gerbils, as certain types of bedding such as cedar can cause respiratory problems), water bottle, toys (optional, items like wood and toilet paper rolls are acceptable instead), treats, and a house). When I first bought my gerbils, the initial price was about $120.00 Canadian. This was all-new supplies, so taking the “used” route may be a little cheaper.
· Can you afford to buy more food, bedding, treats/toys monthly?
· If your gerbils encounter illness, will you have the money to take them to the vet and pay for medication?
Will there be enough time in my schedule to care for gerbils?
· Do you have a minimum of 15-30 minutes a day to play with your gerbils and give them out-of-cage time?
· Will you have time to clean their cage every week or two weeks?
· Will you have time to go to the store to buy their accessories every month or so?
Do you understand gerbils needs completely?
For example;
· Are you aware that gerbils are best kept in pairs, as they are social animals?
· Did you know that gerbils do not bathe in water, instead prefer to bathe in a sand bath? This needs to be a dustless sand bath. Usually called Chinchilla sand, often confused with chinchilla dust.
· Did you know that gerbils cannot eat certain fruits and vegetables because of their water content? Do you know what fruits and vegetables are acceptable?
As mentioned above, if you answered yes to the questions, chances are, you’re ready for a gerbil. If not, maybe there are some lifestyle changes or additional research is required. But if a gerbil is really what you want, make it a goal to make the changes so that you can support a gerbil.
