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Gerbils make great pets, and are relatively easy to look after. They still have specific needs, though, and that includes daily care. There are a few costs associated with any pet ownership, too. But if you can take on board the responsibilities that come with owning an animal, you’ll find gerbils a wonderful addition to the household.
If you’re still think about buying gerbils but are not 100% sure, check out the pros and cons below.
Chew it over – weigh up the pros and cons of gerbil keeping
Pros
- Companionship - gerbils make great companions, becoming very attached to their owners. As you get to know your pets you’ll understand their individual personalities, and they’ll likely be more interested in spending time with you. They’re very curious little animals, and very interesting to watch and interact with.
- Relatively Low Costs - like all pets, there are certain costs associated with gerbil keeping. The basics include a good enclosure, bedding, food and food bowl, water and a water bottle, a wheel, and some toys. There may be vet bills too. This may sound like a big investment, but you’ll get several of those items free with a Omlet Hamster & Gerbil Cage; and in general small mammals cost far less in upkeep than larger pets such as cats and dogs.
Cons
- Upkeep - although low-maintenance, gerbils still need care. This includes daily feeding, checking and refilling their water bottle, and weekly cleaning out of the enclosure. And that’s for three hundred and sixty five days a year.
- Lifespan - gerbils are short-lived compared to larger pets such as cats and dogs (although Fat-tailed gerbils live longer than most rodents).
- Not for young kids – although they’ll love them, kids under 11 are not able to look after a gerbil properly, due to the care and attention required. So, if you’re buying for a child, you’ll till need to be the pet’s main carer.
If after reading these pros and cons you still can’t decide, see if you can pet-sit for somebody else’s gerbils while they’re on holiday. You can ask friends, or you could contact a local adoption centres – they sometimes look out for occasional volunteers to foster gerbils for a while.
Comments
Jen, 28 April 2020
Gerbils need a lot of space like a 40 gallon aquarium or a bin cage but someone said they got there gerbil a 20 gallon:( not big enough reading one arrival on gerbils doesn’t mean your ready to have one please do your research:)
Austen, 10 April 2020
Thanks so much just got my gerbil (mocha) yesterday at Petco. Not sure what breed though! I spent 64 dollars on her cage, plus i bought mocha the gerbil, and her food for 26 dollars. Thats 90 dollars but mocha is worth every penny! Also, shes in a 10 gallon aquarium with wheel food water bottle hideout castle. Looking soon to get her tubes so she can have a ball running throughout them!
Bill, 24 November 2018
My parents say that all small pets are a pain to have but I proved them wrong with this article! They gave in and let me have a gerbil. (They also let me have a jird aka a fat tailed gerbil.)