Mongolian Gerbil Care
Behavior
Gerbils are friendly and generally docile pets and come in a variety of colors. Gerbils can sometimes be kept together if they were raised together and the same gender, however some will still fight and will need to be separated. Males should not be kept with females unless they are neutered because they breed readily and have large amounts of babies. Use caution when picking up gerbils because if you hold the end of the tail the skin may come off!
Housing
Gerbils need a solid bottom cage with a lot of ventilation. The cage must be escape proof as gerbils are master escape artists! The plastic bottomed cages with wire tops work very well. Aquarium style cages are not appropriate due to poor ventilation. Gerbils urinate and defecate a lot so their cage should be cleaned frequently (at least 1-2 times weekly) to reduce waste odor and contamination. Carefresh (recycled shredded paper) bedding is the best option to use at the bottom of the cage at least 1-2” deep. Gerbils will nest in the bedding and will shred paper if offered to line their nest. Toilet paper rolls offer great hiding places and gerbils enjoy destroying them as well. Cardboard, wooden chews, grass hay, newspaper, and other destructible toys (avoid plastic) provide good chewing opportunities.
They will chew wood and plastic so only ceramic or metal dishes should be used. Water bowls and water bottles attached to the side of the cage should be used. Make sure that fresh water is available at all times. Periodically check the corners and edges of the cage to ensure that they have not started chewing any holes that may lead to escape. A solid sided exercise wheel in the cage should be available for exercise. Time outside of the cage to explore a safe area is great enrichment.
Diet and Nutrition
Gerbils should be fed a complete pellet and many companies such as Oxbow and Selective Diets make them. There are many varieties of gerbil food mixes which will generally have a blend of fruits, vegetables and seeds and grains and these can be offered as a small part of the diet. You can offer vegetables, small amounts of fruits, nuts, and low sugar cereals as treats.
Epilepsy in Gerbils
Gerbil Epilepsy, sometimes called fits, is a common condition seen in 20-40% of all gerbils. It is believed to be inherited and therefore strongly associated with certain breeds of gerbils. In fact, lines have been bred to be seizure-resistant and seizure-prone for use in clinical research on human epilepsy. The seizure-prone gerbils spend less time performing social activities, such as scent gland marking. The seizure activity is due to a deficiency in a brain enzyme, cerebral glutamine synthetase, and is classified as “spontaneous epileptiform seizures.”
Gerbil seizures are triggered by sudden stress or an introduction of a novel toy in to the environment. Excessive handling, new toys, or a new habitat can stimulate seizure episodes.
Gerbil seizures range from mild hypnotic state to full grand mal episodes. During hypnotic/cataleptic seizures, the gerbil freezes and twitches the ears and whiskers. If the gerbil is picked up during a hypnotic seizure, he may appear limp. Grand mal seizures are characterized by violent muscle contractions and rigidity. Most seizures are very short and last less than a minute. These short seizures do not cause permanent damage. Rarely, seizures last more than a minute and can be a sign of serious brain injury. Death from seizures is uncommon, with fewer than 1% of gerbils dying after a seizure episode. After the seizure the gerbil may take up to ten minutes to recover to normal function. Researchers have noted that some gerbils appear more active in the days following a seizure.
Seizure activity in gerbils generally begins at two months of age. The seizures often increase in severity until six months of age. With advancing age, the tendency to seize reduces in almost all gerbils. There is evidence to suggest frequent handling in the first three weeks of life can significantly reduce the frequency and severity of seizures.
Treatment of gerbil seizures is not usually recommended due to the brief episode and lack of lasting effect. However, if your gerbil suffers from grand mal seizures or seizures lasting longer than a minute, anticonvulsant medication may be prescribed. The most common anticonvulsants used are Phenobarbitol and Dipheyldydontoin.
Unfortunately, there is very little you can do for your gerbil during and after a seizure episode. If your gerbil seizes, place him in a dark, quiet area and check in on him periodically until he fully recovers. Please contact a veterinarian if your gerbil does not recover from a seizure for an excessive amount of time, has grand mal seizures lasting more than one minute, or repeated (cluster) seizures without a period of normal rest.
Further Reading
