How much does a gerbil cost to buy and keep?

How much is a gerbil to buy?

PetSmart lists a gerbil at $21.99 each, sold in store only, as of November 2026. You pick male or female, and PetSmart offers a 14-day guarantee: if the gerbil becomes ill in that time, it will replace the pet or refund you. Its own care notes say gerbils live 3 to 4 years and should be kept in same-sex pairs, so the real starting price is two gerbils, about $44.

Prices change and differ by store, so treat any figure as a guide. Gerbils from a good breeder may cost more than a chain store, and rescues charge an adoption fee that usually supports the gerbil's care while it waited. Both are covered in our guide on where to get a gerbil.

How much is a gerbil at Pets at Home?

We could not find a gerbil price on the Pets at Home website as of November 2026, and live pets there are sold in store, where stock varies. Ring your local branch to check if they have gerbils and what they charge. Ask whether they will sell you two of the same sex together, and whether staff have checked the sex, because Gerbil Care UK warns that pet shop gerbils are not always sexed correctly.

In the UK, rescues are a strong alternative. Wood Green, for example, takes applications for gerbils. Its published fees for other small rodents were £17 for a rat and £12 for a hamster or mouse as of November 2026; it does not list a gerbil fee, so ask when you apply.

How much are gerbils at Petco and PetSmart?

PetSmart's price was $21.99 per gerbil as of November 2026, with no sale price shown, and the listing says selection varies by location. Petco's website would not load for us when we checked, so we can't give you its price. Call your local store and ask the same questions: do you sell same-sex pairs, how old are they, and have they been checked for sex by someone experienced?

PetSmart's care sheet also says to see a vet within 14 days of buying, so budget for a first check-up straight away.

How much does it cost to set up a gerbil tank?

This is where the money goes. Gerbils need a glass tank of at least 100 × 50 × 50 cm (39 × 20 × 20 in) for two, which is what Wood Green recommends, and most "gerbil cages" sold in shops are too small. Here are real prices for each item, as of November 2026.

A UK set-up built around the Marrakesh 120 and the Trixie wheel comes to about £265 before bedding and accessories. A US set-up built around the Marineland tank at full price and a mesh lid is about $150 before the rest. Gerbil Care UK's starter list shows where to save: a plain brown cardboard box works as a nest, toilet roll tubes and egg boxes are free enrichment, and a second-hand tank is fine because it does not need to hold water.

For tanks that pass the size test, see our picks of the best gerbil cages and our guide to gerbil cage size.

How much does a gerbil cost per month?

Very little once the tank is set up. Beaphar suggests 5 to 8 g (0.2 to 0.3 oz) of its gerbil pellets per gerbil a day. For a pair, that is about 300 to 480 g (11 to 17 oz) a month, so one 750 g (26 oz) bag of Burgess nuggets at £2.99 lasts more than a month.

Our gerbil diet guide explains how much to feed and which extras are worth buying.

Vet bills: the cost people forget

Gerbils are cheap to feed, but treatment is not. Gerbil Care UK warns that gerbils are exotic pets that may need a specialist vet, and treatment can easily run into hundreds of pounds. PetMD recommends a vet visit once a year. Common reasons for a visit include fight wounds, tumours, overgrown teeth and skin problems, all covered in our gerbil health guide.

• Find a vet who sees small mammals before you bring gerbils home
• Ask what a consultation costs, so a visit is never a shock
• Put money aside each month, or check whether a small-pet insurance policy covers gerbils
• Book a first check-up soon after you get them

How much does it cost to neuter a gerbil?

We found no published price for neutering a gerbil, and costs vary widely between vets, so ask a small-mammal vet for a quote. It is not a routine operation for gerbils, which are normally kept in same-sex pairs. Rescues sometimes neuter a male so he can live with a female: Gerbil Care UK describes a single male who was neutered and spent his retirement bonded with a female.

How much space do gerbils need?

At least 100 × 50 × 50 cm (39 × 20 × 20 in) for two, from Wood Green. Blue Cross gives 100 × 40 × 40 cm (39 × 16 × 16 in) as the minimum for two, and 120 × 40 × 40 cm (47 × 16 × 16 in) for three, as Gerbil Care UK reports. European standards add 25 percent floor space for each gerbil after the second. Space is also the main cost decision: a bigger tank costs more up front, but the mess is spread thinner, so it needs a full clean less often.

Is a gerbil a good budget pet?

Yes, if you can afford the start. Over a 3 to 4 year life, the tank is the one big cost, food and bedding are small, and the vet fund is the wild card. If that suits you, read gerbils as pets for the rest of the picture, and our gerbil care guide for the full shopping list and set-up.