By admin 
If you want to have a pet, you want it to live a long time with its human family, right? So, come and learn all about the life expectancy of a gerbil and incredible tips for raising it!
Knowing the life expectancy of a gerbil is important to know how to care for your pet throughout its life! Are you curious? Then keep reading to learn all about this graceful rodent!
Why is the rodent called a gerbil?
Before you know the life expectancy of a gerbil, do you know why it is called that? This name comes from its subfamily, Gerbillinae , which includes around 110 different species of small rodents. In addition to this name, the rodent is also known as the Mongolian squirrel or gerbil.
A gerbil’s life expectancy is influenced by the care its owner provides. A diet appropriate for the species, regular visits to the vet, environmental enrichment, socialization and environmental cleanliness management are factors that determine the rodent’s longevity.
Gerbil life expectancy
Knowing how long a Mongolian squirrel lives is important for the owner to plan ahead. The responsibility of having a pet is a commitment that lasts for several years!
So, what is the life expectancy of a gerbil ? The little rodent can live for 3 to 4 years. However, the Guinness Book of Records records a female named Sahara who lived for 8 years, 4 months and 15 days. She passed away in 1981.
Gerbil Behavior and Personality
Now that you’ve discovered how long a gerbil lives , you need to learn more about this beautiful and funny pet, starting with its behavior and personality.
Knowing these factors will help the owner decide whether they really want to have a Mongolian squirrel as a pet. After all, their personalities need to be similar for the relationship to work!
The gerbil’s behavior is very similar to that of a dog. Yes! It becomes attached to the human who cares for it and feeds it. Therefore, it is a great animal for those who want company and don’t have much space.
In addition, the Mongolian squirrel is fun, loves to play, is very affectionate, sociable and peaceful. The female is the dominant one in the group.
Gerbil house
Gerbils, despite being small rodents , need plenty of space to exercise and keep their minds occupied. Therefore, their house should be at least 40 cm long and 30 cm wide and high.
To make your cat feel at home throughout its life, choose to imitate the animal’s natural environment, which is arid. To do this, line the space with sifted cat litter (to remove excess dust) and without odor. You can also use cellulose granules, also without odor.
Some breeders use shredded paper or toilet paper, as well as cardboard. The problem with these substrates is that the gerbil gets its own bedding very dirty by chewing and shredding the paper. Therefore, in this case, the cage must be cleaned more frequently.
Never use sawdust of any weight as flooring for your gerbil ‘s house . It can cause respiratory and skin problems for your pet. In addition, there is a risk of splinters getting into your pet’s delicate paws.
Toys and accessories
This is one of the most important aspects of environmental enrichment, a practice that creates an extremely attractive habitat for animals. Gerbils need a space that stimulates them to exercise their natural behavior.
You can use objects, scents, food, and more. These items entertain your pet while keeping their mind occupied. This results in physical and emotional well-being.
In the case of the gerbil, its environment should have a running wheel, tunnels, burrows, straw, hay or dry grass for it to chew, chew toys and a little house for it to hide in. Food should be “hidden” in the different areas of the cage for it to find.
Gerbil feeding
The gerbil is an omnivorous rodent , meaning it can eat fruits, vegetables, grains, greens, small insects and boiled eggs. In addition, there are specific foods for the species, which should be the basis of its diet.
Avoid giving processed, salty or sugary human foods . Therefore, do not offer milk and dairy products, chocolate and other sweets, snacks, sausages or coffee.