Choosing a rodent as a pet has many advantages: the pet is small, funny, playful, very active and, of course, very cute! Here, you can find out the size of the gerbil , its personality and how to care for the pet!
If you have already made your decision and really want to have a gerbil , keep in mind that, despite being small, it needs special care to maintain its natural habits and stay healthy. Keep reading to become an excellent pet owner!
Gerbil, Mongolian squirrel, gerbil: different names for the same animal
There are several names for this rodent: gerbil, Mongolian squirrel or gerbil. Its scientific name is Meriones unguiculatus . It is an excellent companion!
This cute little toothy dog is not very popular in Brazil, but he is increasingly gaining a place in the hearts of Brazilians. If you do some research, you will see that he is a very beloved mascot in the United States and Europe.
Origin of the gerbil
The name “gerbil” does not refer to its origin, but “Mongolian squirrel” does! In fact, it is native to this region, but not exclusively there. It can be found in other locations, such as China, North Africa, Turkey, India and Central Asia.
After all, what do these places have in common? They are habitats with low relative humidity and high average annual temperatures. This information is important to know how to raise gerbils .
General characteristics of the Mongolian squirrel
Knowing the characteristics of the Mongolian ground squirrel is very interesting. This allows us to understand its diet, habits and much more! It is important to know the size of the gerbil, its behavior, etc.
Proper care is essential for the owner to provide everything that this pet needs to be healthy and have a long life. Next, learn more about your pet!
Physical characteristics
On average, rodents kept as pets are small. The gerbil is only 12 cm long, not counting its tail. Including its tail, it can reach twice that length.
Yes, you understood correctly! The tail can be as long as the gerbil! It is very important for the animal, as it helps it maintain its balance when it stands up to reach what it wants and to kick its feet when there is danger nearby.
It is very light: it weighs around 120 to 130 g when adult. Like all small rodents , it does not have a very long life expectancy, only reaching 3 or 4 years.
The gerbil’s fur is not very dense, but it is quite soft and varies in color: it can be black, white, yellowish, brownish, golden and light brown. Since the animal’s natural habitat is arid, it does not usually bathe in water, preferring sand!
Hygiene habits
Since bathing was mentioned above, now the topic is: gerbil hygiene habits. The Mongolian ground squirrel is a very clean pet. Its body cleaning routine is similar to that of cats.
That’s right! They lick themselves daily to take a bath, spending many hours of the day grooming their fur. Therefore, it is not necessary and not recommended to bathe your gerbil with water. This can cause problems with their skin and respiratory system.
Instead of a wet bath, opt for a powder bath . You can find products for this in stores that specialize in pet products, such as Petz! This powder is specially developed for rodents to “dry shower.” They love to lie down and roll around in it!
Eating habits
Now that you know how big a gerbil grows and how clean it is, how about learning about its eating habits? With the right diet, the Mongolian ground squirrel lives a very healthy life!
Providing a diet appropriate for the species is an act of love towards your pet. This is part of how to care for a gerbil and any other pet. So, check out some tips on feeding your rodent below!
- This rodent is omnivorous, therefore, its diet must be based on products of animal and vegetable origin;
- Grains are part of the gerbil’s diet, but rice, corn, beans and peas should be served cooked;
- Fruits should be served without seeds or pits — these parts contain cyanide and can poison your pet;
- Do not offer processed human foods, sausages, fried foods, savory foods, cheeses, salami, chocolate, snacks, among others;
- Do not give coffee or milk and their derivatives to the gerbil;
- Never give him green potatoes or bananas.