Mongolian Gerbil Facts

Mongolian gerbils make great pets and out of all the gerbils and jird species out there – they hold the single name ‘gerbil’ very proudly.  

All other gerbils or jirds need their full name to show how different they are to ‘gerbils’

1: Gerbils are really Jirds?
Gerbils – as we know them from the stores – are actually called jirds!  Yes, strangely they are known in their wild state as Clawed Jirds.  Quite a lot of other species of gerbils and jirds live in Mongolia too – so this whole name things was just made up out of circumstance.  We don’t mind though  – they are great whatever they are called.  

2: Gerbils have been popular pets since the 60s
Although they were kept in captivity for many years before this – they only really took off in the 60s and 70s when people became more interested in small animals as pets.  Little was shared about their habits and requirements so many a gerbil lived out their whole life without a friend and without the pleasures of digging and chewing.  

Luckily now though, that has all changed – as have gerbils – coming in around 30 different colour types – with over 100 variations on those basic ones too…

3: Gerbils live in Clans
Gerbils don’t live on their own like hamsters – they prefer to live in groups of two or more called a clan.  There is always one boss in a clan – and they work hard to keep that job.  

If another gerbil in the same clan wants that job – there is always a fight – a declan.  This is why gerbil are best kept in pairs only – therefore less chance of fighting.

4: Gerbils don’t like strangers
Although gerbils are friendly and social animals – they really do not like strangers – and this includes any gerbil who hasn’t been living with them and their clan for the past 48 hours.  Even if they were separated from their brother or cage mate while lost, went to stay at a friends or for whatever reason – they will most likely not get on if you just stick them back together!  

And gerbils don’t just prod each other either – they really fight.  The only safe way to introduce two gerbils is by using what is called the split tank procedure – using a tank which is split into two halves.

5: Gerbils get pregnant the day they give birth
Due to their biology, female gerbils come into heat the minute they give birth to their pups.  When breeding, females are best to stay with the male who helps bring up the first litter – however, it always means that gerbils have two litters in a row together – more pups – but easier to pair up for homing as gerbil usually only have small litters.

6: Gerbils can chew through solid wood
Gerbils – like all rodents – have teeth that grow all the time (not set ones like ours).  This means that they can constantly chew stuff – even wood – and still have fresh new sharp teeth to eat with.  

However, this also means that if you buy them anything nice for their homes – they will no doubt chew it to pieces.  It doesn’t hurt them to chew these hard things, and they quite enjoy it.

7: Gerbils can jump really high
Although gerbils are famous for digging and chewing – they can also jump really high if they want to.  They can easily clear a foot in high from a standing start.  

This means you ALWAYS need a secure lid on your tanks for them.  

And even if they don’t jump – they can often move all their bedding from one side of the tank to the other overnight and where there used to be only a few inches of bedding – there is now an escape ramp…

8: Gerbils will destroy your curtains
Gerbils love to investigate new things and will always come out to explore anything different – usually with their teeth.  Now, if your tank has a topper or you have your gerbils temporarily in a cage and they are near ANYTHING that isn’t concrete, just assume they will chew it to pieces.   

Same goes for out on a run anywhere – unless they are in a bathtub – they will try their best to assess the area and then see what they could do to entertain themselves teeth-wise…

9: Gerbils hold the ‘chewing a toilet roll to pieces in the fastest time ever’ record
Similarly to above – they LOVE chewing cardboard toilet rolls, boxes, cartons or anything else you put in the tank including that lovely house, those hanging bird toys, that wheel, that hammock, those treats and anything else that isn’t ceramic.  

Gone – or soon to be gone.

10: Gerbil are not nocturnal
Unlike hamsters who get grouchy during the day or if woken up – gerbils just love it during the day.  They are technically crepuscular in their normal habitat – that means active at dawn and dusk – but in our homes they don’t need to avoid the really hot or really cold temperatures in the same way.  

So if you put some fresh mealworms in their tank at 11am – they will wake up to eat them; if you stick a fresh toilet roll in at 2pm – they will wake up to destroy it; if you put some fresh hay in or a new dust bath at 7pm – you guessed it – they will wake up to come see what’ going on.  They are GREAT for family living.

11: Gerbils can eat Bananas, Apples, Cheese, Cucumber, Bell Peppers, Peas, Bread, Grapes, Strawberries, Celery, Lettuce, BlueBerries, Raspberries, Raisins, Sultanas, Currants, Mealworms, Scrambled Egg, Kale, Kiwi, Oranges, Watermelon, Applewood, Willow, Hazel Leaves and Nuts, Butternut Squash, Pears, Sweetcorn, Plain Popcorn, Pumpkin Seeds, Millet, Pomegranate, Carrot, Parsnip, Sprouts, Walnuts and Hazelnuts and more…

They can eat all of the above listed fruit and veg – and much more – in gerbil-sized pieces.  Or pop a large amount in their run with them and clear away what they don’t eat straight after.  

However, there are a few rules to follow including don’t feed anything that could have been salted or sugar-coated; sprayed with chemicals on a farm on on the street; be diseased; is going mouldy or is ‘off’’; or anything that has been mixed with anything unsavoury.  

Always check with a ‘safe’ food list before feeding anything not on this basic list – and avoid anything in the onion family of plants (including garlic and leeks), no raw potatoes, green tomatoes, clover, any pips or seeds (unless already found in gerbil treats) or wild plants that you haven’t identified as 100% safe.