Gerbil facts: surprising things about gerbils

Fun facts about gerbils

1. The name means "little clawed warrior". That is how the RSPCA and PetMD translate the Latin, Meriones unguiculatus. Gerbils are also called jirds.
2. Wild burrows are huge. The RSPCA says they can go 1.7 m (5.5 ft) deep and stretch 6 to 8 m (20 to 26 ft) sideways, with separate nest and food rooms.
3. They wink when happy. Gerbil Care UK lists winking as a sign of a contented gerbil.
4. They drum. Gerbils thump their long back feet to warn the clan of danger, and the RSPCA notes males also thump after mating.
5. Dads do the childcare too. The RSPCA says gerbil fathers gather nesting material, build the nest and clean the pups, and pups raised with their father open their eyes earlier.
6. They hardly wee. Adapted to dry country, gerbils make small amounts of urine, which is why a good gerbil tank barely smells.
7. They can't climb well. The RSPCA says fur on the soles of their feet makes them poor climbers, even though they are very agile.
8. They talk above your hearing. Gerbil Care UK says gerbil calls range from 500 to 50,000 Hz in 13 types of call, much of it too high for people to hear.
9. Mum teaches the menu. Young gerbils learn which foods to like from their mother and other relatives, according to the RSPCA.
10. Their home swings 80 degrees. The National Gerbil Society notes temperatures in Mongolia can reach about 40°C (104°F) in summer and minus 40°C (minus 40°F) in winter. Deep burrows are how they survive both.

Gerbil body facts

• Size. Gerbil Care UK gives a body of 10 to 12 cm (4 to 4.7 in) plus a tail of 9 to 11 cm (3.5 to 4.3 in). The MSD Veterinary Manual gives a weight of 50 to 90 g (2 to 3 oz), with males slightly bigger.
• A furry tail. Unlike a rat's, a gerbil's tail is covered in fur with a tuft at the tip. The National Gerbil Society warns the tuft can pull off easily, which is why you must never pick a gerbil up by the tail.
• A belly scent gland. Both sexes have an orange-tan, hairless, oval patch on the belly, which the MSD Veterinary Manual says can be mistaken for a tumour. Gerbils rub it on things to mark their territory.
• Yellow teeth are normal. Gerbil front teeth never stop growing. PetMD says yellow-orange enamel is normal, and Wood Green describes healthy teeth as light yellow.
• Long back legs. Built for digging and thumping, says the RSPCA.
• No cheek pouches. Gerbils hoard food, but unlike hamsters they have no pouches to carry it in. The RSPCA notes a Syrian hamster can carry up to half its body weight in its cheeks.

Gerbil behaviour facts

• Not nocturnal. PetMD says gerbils are most active at dawn and dusk, and Gerbil Care UK says they are active through both day and night in bursts.
• Grooming nibbles are a welcome. Gentle, repeated nibbles that don't break the skin mean a gerbil has accepted you into the clan, says Gerbil Care UK.
• Nose touches mean friendship. The RSPCA lists mutual grooming and nose-to-nose contact as signs gerbils are bonding.
• Black gerbils mark more. The RSPCA notes black gerbils scent-mark more than agouti gerbils, and females may prefer males of their own colour.
• They are sand bathers. Gerbils roll in sand to keep their coats clean and stop them going greasy, as Gerbil Care UK explains.
• Young gerbils can have fits. The National Gerbil Society says seizures mostly start around five or six weeks, usually after a fright or too much handling, are nearly always harmless, and are almost always outgrown.

For what every squeak and thump means, see our guide to gerbil behaviour.

Wild gerbil facts

Pet gerbils behave much like their wild cousins, so these facts explain a lot about your tank.

• Family clans. The RSPCA says wild groups are one breeding pair and several generations of their young, usually 2 to 15 animals, and often only the top pair breeds.
• Underground homes. Burrows have tunnels plus separate rooms for food and nests. This is why pet gerbils need 20 to 25 cm (8 to 10 in) of bedding: read our guide to gerbil digging and burrowing.
• Desert and steppe. Gerbil Care UK says pet gerbils come from the Gobi Desert and the Mongolian steppe. Across Africa, India and Asia there are 87 known gerbil species, according to PetMD.
• Heat tolerant, to a point. The National Gerbil Society says gerbils cope with the low 30s°C (high 80s to low 90s°F) but slow down above about 25°C (77°F), and a sunny room can pass 40°C (104°F).

Gerbil history facts

• The first captive gerbils. Gerbil Care UK says 20 pairs were caught in Manchuria in 1935 and taken to Japan.
• Arrival in the US. Eleven pairs went to the United States in 1954, so the pet gerbils of the 1950s came from just a few founding animals.
• A society for gerbils. Britain's National Gerbil Society was founded in 1970, originally as the National Mongolian Gerbil Society, and still runs shows today.
• About 25 colours. From the wild golden agouti, breeders have produced black, white, lilac, Siamese, pied and many more. See them all in our guide to gerbil breeds and colours.
• Spotted genes are tricky. The National Gerbil Society explains that a gerbil with two copies of the spotting gene does not survive, so pairing two spotted gerbils gives 25 percent fewer pups.

Facts about gerbils as pets

The facts that matter most if you are thinking of getting gerbils.

Thinking of getting some? Start with gerbils as pets, then our full gerbil care guide. Our guide to gerbil lifespan explains each stage of life.

Are gerbils friendlier than hamsters?

Many owners find gerbils easier to enjoy day to day. The RSPCA calls hamsters nocturnal and says Syrian and Chinese hamsters are better kept on their own. Gerbils are awake in bursts through the day and live in pairs or groups, so there is almost always something going on in the tank. Both are better watched than cuddled, and both can be tamed with patience.