Gerbils are small, active, and highly social rodents that are native to the desert regions of Mongolia. They are best kept in same-sex pairs or small groups and are known for their endless curiosity, burrowing behaviour, and remarkably gentle nature — they rarely bite even when startled. With a lifespan of 3–5 years, they make engaging and entertaining pets.
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 wh…
Read full review →My first gerbil passed at 2 years and 8 months, which I found surprisingly short. After researching I found 2–4 years is average for gerbils, though some reach 5. It's shorter than I'd hoped for the level of attachment I'd developed. The second gerbil died from loneliness shortly after (always get t…
Read full review →Our two gerbils Sage and Pepper have been a wonderful addition to the family. They're active during daytime, easy to watch, and gentle enough for our 10-year-old to handle (supervised). The burrowing is the best part — they excavate complex tunnel systems and rearrange everything overnight. They're …
Read full review →I've had mice, hamsters, and rats, and my gerbils are the friendliest of all. They've never bitten me despite being handled frequently, and they actively come to investigate my hand when I put it in their enclosure. Watching them burrow and rearrange their substrate is endlessly fascinating. They're…
Read full review →The curiosity of gerbils is one of their best traits. Whenever I put something new in their enclosure — a tube, a cardboard box, a new hide — they investigate it immediately and thoroughly. They seem to genuinely enjoy novelty and enrichment. I rotate their toys and add new substrate smells regularl…
Read full review →I set up a large bin cage with 30cm of substrate for my gerbils and watching them excavate it has been one of the best things about keeping small pets. They have an intricate tunnel system and rearrange everything constantly. When I add fresh substrate they spend hours digging and reorganising. Gerb…
Read full review →I started with one gerbil (bad idea) and got a second after doing more research. The transformation was remarkable — the solo gerbil had been slightly lethargic and repetitive in his behaviour. Once bonded with a companion, both gerbils became active, playful, and engaged. Always get gerbils in pair…
Read full review →Unlike hamsters, my gerbils are active during daylight hours, which means I actually get to see them behave naturally. They have a pattern of active bursts followed by short rest periods throughout the day. It's like watching a tiny nature documentary. The fact that they're active when I'm home make…
Read full review →Gerbils come from desert environments and have very concentrated urine, which means they produce minimal odour compared to mice or rats. My gerbils' cage needs cleaning weekly but doesn't smell between cleans. They're fastidious about their bathroom spot which makes spot-cleaning easy. Combined with…
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