Gerbil care sheet pdf

Gerbils are actually burrowing rodents that come from african and asia. A runny or sticky nose or eyes, dull coat andor lethargy are signs of ill health and need veterinary advice. It is best to provide the largest habitat possible. Download this care sheet pdf adult size 6 12 inches, including tail life span 2 4 years malefemale differences sexing gerbils is done by eyeing the distance between the urethra and the anus. The information on this care sheet is not a substitute for veterinary care. Muridaethe largest and most diverse family of mammals including old world rats and mice, and gerbils there are 14 genera of gerbils there are 87 known species of gerbil including the mongolian gerbil meriones unguiculatus. With proper health care your gerbil will live to be 3 or 4 years old. A gerbil s habitat should be glass or metal that is escapeproof and has a solid bottom. Pick up a gerbil by placing your hand around its body, just behind the forelegs, and support the hindquarters in your other hand.

Avoid mueslistyle mixes as gerbils will leave the bits packed with fibre and will only eat the sugary parts. Pets and people centers for disease control and prevention. Caring for your hamster or gerbil oxbow animal health. Sprinkle in a few shavings from your hamsters old habitat and your new friend will feel at home right away. Getting a youngster of any age to give needed attention to pets is a classic problem that charts can help. If you can commit to this, then your dwarf hamster should be a happy and healthy. Both hamsters and gerbils commonly hide food throughout their cages. The cards can be distributed to individual students or groups of students. Digestive system rats, mice, gerbils and hamsters have continuously growing elodont incisors, but short crowned. Gerbil care guide everything you need to know to get started. Gerbils are generally diurnal animals active during the day, constructing deep, dark, underground burrows. Malefemale differences sexing gerbils is done by eyeing the. Introduction guide to the care of gerbils scientific name. Hamsters stay clean and rarely need baths, but can be spotcleaned with a damp washcloth or unscented baby wipes if needed.

Care sheet information on all the supplies necessary to care for your gerbil. Offering too many treats can cause your hamster or gerbil to refuse his healthy, essential foods. Although gerbils are native to various countries, the most popular domestic pet is a mongolian gerbil. Rat care guidelines for beginners by sue meredith note many of the products mentioned in this resource are only available in the united states. A complete dwarf hamster care guide, from feeding to housing. Habitat a glass aquarium tank with wire mesh cover, small animal cage, or tube cage like crittertrail can all make an excellent home for gerbils. As all pets and humans, ferrets have sensitive eyes and ears, be sure to stear clear. Oxbow offers this basic care guide to help you keep your pet hamster or gerbil healthy and happy. Jul 28, 2018 you may even want to set up a little gerbil care station that holds all the supplies extra clean water, feed, bedding, nesting material, cardboard, new toys, etc.

Line the habitat with 1 to 2 inches of aspen, pine or recycledpaper. We recommend the all living things 24inch wire cage sold through small angels or the my first home for rats. Gerbils are of the rodent family, are about 400grams in weight, are about four inches long, with a tail of about the same length, and come in various colors. By hooking up a timer to your fullspectrum uv light and heat lamp you will allow for a much needed regular light schedule. Apr 22, 2020 to care for gerbils, keep them in a large glass tank filled a third of the way with a substrate the gerbils can dig in. Gerbils stay clean and rarely need baths, but can be spotcleaned with a damp washcloth or unscented baby wipes if needed. Whether its walking a dog or feeding the fish, cleaning a litter box or brushing a horse, our charts can help track the behaviors. Sep 01, 2005 oh, and either join a 4h rodent club andor a gerbil care and support facebook group, the advice of longterm gerbil owners is invaluable in the middle of the night when your gerbil does something wonky and youre thinking of taking them to the vet.

This care guide from oxbow animal health will teach you everything you need to know about keeping your pet hamster or gerbil healthy and happy. A gerbils environment should be placed in an area that maintains average household temperatures and that is away from direct sunlight or drafts. Consult with a veterinarian if a gerbils teeth seem too long. The best diet for your gerbils will be one thats as close as possible to this natural diet. Ask a store partner about petcos selection of books on gerbils and the variety of private brand. A light cycle of 12 hour nights and 12 hour days is. Guide to care and treatment of rats, mice, gerbils and. Hamsters are nocturnal and care should be taken if awaking a hamster to handle them. Known as desert rats, many types of gerbil range across the arid lands of africa to asia, but it is the mongolian gerbil or clawed jird. These qualities make the gerbil an ideal pet as well as laboratory rodent. Hamster care sheet always wash your hands after handling your hamster or its housing to help maintain sanitary conditions. There are also advantages for the family as a whole. A complete dwarf hamster care guide, from feeding to. Choose a habitat with a solid bottom or go for a glass aquarium tank with a wellventilated wire mesh top.

Hamster care sheet as with any pet, keeping a hamster requires a commitment to care for it during its life which could be 23 years or longer. Taxonomy class mammalia order rodentia suborder myomorpha family cricetidae. Wodent wheels are made especially for rats, and come in multiple sizes, depending on the size of the rat. Gerbils love to burrow and play in tubes and boxes, so the largest habitat possible is recommended in order to provide plenty of room for activity. All while the girl who sold me the gerbil was telling me that boys are more agressive and need to be kept alone and girls can be kept in pairs. Carefresh is an excellent source of bedding for your hamster or gerbil. If they decide to lay eggs and do not have a proper nesting box, it can be deadly for the iguana. To care for gerbils, keep them in a large glass tank filled a third of the way with a substrate the gerbils can dig in. Gerbils are social animals with bold and curious personalities. Gerbils are easy to care for, take up very little room, and supplying a home and food is relatively inexpensive. Proper bedding includes hardwood shavings or pelleted or recycled product.

Do not use shavings, such as cedar or pine, as these may cause upper respiratory diseases in your pet. Hamster and gerbil behavior hamsters and gerbils both love to chew on everything. A gerbils habitat should be glass or metal that is escape. The commitment required includes not only routine feeding, care and time spent with the hamster but also the provision of veterinary treatment if the hamster becomes ill which can be costly. Gerbils are often kept by young children, because they have a great deal of. Integument mammary tumours are extremely common, especially in female rats. A gerbil is a small rodent that originates from the desert. Start by placing your hand in the tank so the gerbils can sniff and get used to you, then gently stroke them. Gerbils are popular pets and, like hamsters, are small, inexpensive, and easy to care for. The whole gerbil is covered in hair, including the tail. The mongolian gerbil is 1214 cm long including its tail which. Also, gerbils thump their hind legs as a danger signal to all other gerbils.

As with any pet, good quality food and clean, fresh water must be provided at all. Gerbils naturally live in a group, so its not fair to keep one on its own. Feed your gerbils a commercially produced gerbil food that you sprinkle across the substrate daily, and supplement their diet with fresh fruits and vegetables like pears, apples, carrots, and pumpkins. Gerbils may live for up to 34 years, although some may live longer. Aquariums are the preferred source of housing, rather than wire cages. Gerbil mix, made up of pellets, grains, seeds and dried veggies, should be available to your pets at all times. Gerbils are burrowing, social animals which are active both day and night. However, a gerbil is capable of making large amounts of noise when it chews, scratches, and digs. Gerbil care the american society for the prevention of cruelty to animals national headquarters 424 east 92nd street, new york, ny 101286804 2128767700. They go through several sleepactive cycles throughout the day and night. Habitat should be glass or metal and escape proof with solid bottom.

Lisle, il 60532 630 7371281 the mongolian gerbil meriones unguiculatus is a small rodent native to the desert regions of mongolia and northeastern china. Gerbils love to burrow and play in tubes and boxes. This gerbil care guide gives an overview all of the gerbil care information you need, and links to our more indepth articles on specific topics from gerbil care supplies to food and treats, habitat and toys, health care and even baby gerbils, you will learn what you need to know to provide topnotch gerbil pet care. Having all the items a gerbil will need for his home will help ensure you have a happy and healthy pet. This care sheet will guide you in having everything you need. Hairless hamsters benefit from a small amount of nontoxic aloebased lotion rubbed into their skin to keep it soft. If your pet were a wild animal, he would consume other small animals whole.

A petsmart grant is redeemable only at your local petsmart store for specific items to support your classroom pet. Provide hay, a wood block or an empty toilet paper roll to satisfy this natural behavior. At least 24 inches long, 18 inches wide, 16 inches high. Gerbils have poor eyesight but good hearing and a good sense of smell. If you buy two or more baby gerbils of the same sex from the same litter or harmonious group they should get on well. Gerbils are usually friendly and happy to be handled although some can be timid. You should have at least a ten gallon tank or cage for a pair of gerbils. Gerbil care is easy and rewarding once you learn the basics. The only sound a gerbil can make is a plaintive squeaking noise, exclusively made when the gerbil is under some sort of stress.

Logo usage 2 color logo 1 color logo logo files will be supplied upon request by aspca creative services see page 14. There was one thing i disagreed with, and that was the bathing. Muridaethe largest and most diverse family of mammals including old world rats and mice, and gerbils there are 14 genera of gerbils. You can buy suitable gerbil food at pet shops or on our online pet store. Pet gerbils are a lively animal available in a wide variety of colours, they are very active and quite fast so are probably better to be kept by older children and adults. Gerbils live 35 years, with females often living longer than males. Hamster care guide pet ownership has many benefits for children, from teaching them responsibility, to developing language skills and providing support in times of stress. Gerbil care information gerbils are active and curious animals. Care of gerbils ness exotic wellness center 1007 maple ave. Gerbil natural history the mongolian gerbil or jird is a native of the gobi desert, originating from mongolia and northern china. Learn how to take care of your small animal with these great care sheets. We recommend the all living things 24inch wire cage sold through.

Due to technical difficulties it will have to wait until future time. Read below to learn what to feed your hamster or gerbil, as well as other important facts that will make you a confident pet owner. Jan 30, 2020 try limit proper baths for once every quarter or less and use a soft easy going shampoo such as natural animal solutions shampoo or biogroom ferret shampoo and conditioner. Their wild counterparts the black footed ferret, weasel, stoat and. Pet degus live, on average, 69 years with proper care and nutrition. Its important to remember that not all treats are created equal.

Like other rodents, gerbils have upper incisor teeth that continue to grow throughout their lives. I hope to include a pdf version of this in the future. Distribute prized pet cards and ask students to name their pets. Hamsters and gerbils may get their feet, limbs or heads caught between the wire bars. These are very gentle shampoos and do not strip all those lovely oils from their skin. Overview the gerbil is an energetic, daytime active rodent with a long tail ending in a brushy plume. Remember, gerbils are chewers so choose his supplies accordingly. Unlike many other rodents such as hamsters and chinchillas that are active at night, degus are active during the day and sleep at night, making them more suitable as pets. However, adult gerbils ie over ten weeks old can be aggressive towards any newcomers to the group. Free printable pet care charts for kids acn latitudes. They need feeding with complete hamster mix once a day, as well as fresh water daily. Its important to feed your pet correctly to keep him from getting overweight and. They need handling with care and cleaning out at least once a week. A healthy gerbil has bright eyes, a glossy coat and is alert and lively except in the daytime when sleepy.

Care of ferrets by randy belair ferret aid society 4162514333. They go through several sleepactive cycles throughout the. Handlingbehavior hamsters and gerbils vary in their behaviors when being handled. Care of the habitat includes removing wet spots daily. Adult males weigh 65100g, and adult females weigh 5585g. Check out our gerbil care sheet to find the supplies you need to keep your pocket pet healthy, including housing, bedding, toys and food. Dwarf hamsters need a cage with plenty of space, appropriate bedding and fun toys. Petsmart is currently offering the following pets limited numbers available if the pet is not offered as a selection on the application, that means all of those particular pet grants have been awarded for this school year. Take a look at our pet search page to find gerbils up for rehoming. A couple pet gerbils in your home can be very fun and enjoyable.

Females are very difficult to deal with during their breeding season, and they produc e eggs ev ery y ear whether they mate or not like c hickens. Sections of the gerbil fact sheet were adapted with permission of manitoba. The mammary tissue is extensive in rodents, therefore mammary tumours can be found anywhere from the shoulder to the perianal area figure 5. They will have brown or red eyes, and are very social animals. If you need additional information, refer to the sources section or contact your veterinarian as appropriate.