Great introduction to rodent keeping

Gerbils were my first rodents and they set a wonderful precedent. They're gentle enough for beginners, active enough to be rewarding, and forgiving of early mistakes in husbandry (as long as the basics are right). My pair of Mongolian gerbils are 3 years old now and still as active and curious as when I got them at 8 weeks. I'd recommend gerbils to anyone curious about keeping small rodents.