Gerbils breeding and care. Gerbil - how to properly care for a rodent at home. Lifestyle and social organization

So how long do gerbil mice live? As mentioned above, these mice do not differ in longevity. Both in their natural habitat (desert) and in captivity, the lifespan of a gerbil is between 2 and 6 years. There are also individual specimens - centenarians, whose age reaches 7-8 years. On average, gerbils die at 2-3 years of age. In the third year of life, they already begin to show signs of aging.

Many factors influence the lifespan of gerbils. First of all, proper nutrition, lifestyle and stress levels are of great importance. Here are some tips to help make your pet's life as long and comfortable as possible.

Balanced, rich in proteins, vitamins and microelements, nutrition is healthy and brings the age of gerbils to the maximum figure. Be sure to put a mineral-salt stone in the house to your pet (favorite) to make up for the deficiency of salt, and a drinking bowl with plenty of water. Water should always be clean, so it should be checked more often. Feeding formula should not contain many seeds, as gerbils can gain weight and fat quickly. In no case should you give grapes, cabbage and citrus fruits. Because of them, gerbil mice may experience problems with the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract: bloating, flatulence, and as a result, blockage of the esophagus. All this may well lead even to the death of the animal.

How long gerbils live is affected by their lifestyle and the level of stress they receive. For well-being, the animals need sand baths, so it is worth placing a container with sand in the cage. It is necessary to settle gerbils in small groups, as they are social animals and need friends and communication. You also need to give them a lot of different toys (cardboard, tree branches, special toys for birds and rodents), and the cage should not be placed in direct sunlight. As a filler, wood sawdust, wood-based cat litter, as well as special fillers specifically for rodents are suitable. It is necessary to clean the cage once every 2 weeks, and disinfect it once a month. Most importantly, in no case do not hold the gerbil by the tail, by doing this you can damage it and provoke bleeding.

Read also:

A gerbil has a tumor - what to do?

Tumors in gerbils are not so common, with the exception of tumors of the sebaceous gland (smell, marker), located on the stomach of gerbils. Such tumors are found in older gerbils, at risk are rodents older than 3 years.

Gerbil as a pet

Maria Kirilenko answers, knows everything about gerbils and rabbits: feeding, breeding, care

Recently, gerbil pet mice have become extremely popular among rodent lovers. In this article, we will answer questions regarding the maintenance and care of these mice.

Advantages of gerbils
- cleanliness
- unpretentious
- easily tamed
- breed well
- friendly to other small animals
- content with small space

Difficulties:
- can be carriers of tularemia

Dimensions. Body length up to 18 cm, the tail is covered with short hair with a tassel at the end.

Homeland of origin. These small rodents are inhabitants of deserts and semi-deserts. Life in extreme conditions has taught them to be content with little. For example, they have enough water in succulent feed. Most gerbils are not among the pests of agriculture, but they have long been the object of close attention of physicians, because, like humans, they suffer from tularemia and plague.

Conditions of detention. Gerbils are unpretentious and therefore take root well at home. If the animals are regularly released to run, then a small metal cage, 40–50 cm in size, is enough for them. It is advisable to put a running wheel in the cage, as for squirrels and chipmunks. Unlike hamsters and chipmunks, gerbils do not tend to hide. In the corners and look for dark corners, but for the most part they are in sight and easily make contact with people: they come to the call, take food from their hands.

In nature and in captivity, animals tend to stock up on food, they like to pull hay and grass into piles. They carry this forage in bundles, holding the load captured by their teeth with their front paws. Their front legs are mobile, with dexterous fingers. Life expectancy is three to four years.

Feeding. Like all rodents, gerbils are willing to eat bread. They consume legumes, hay and green grass. They like to gnaw branches of soft tree species: willows, lindens, poplars. From grain feeds, gerbils prefer germinated or water-soaked seeds of cultivated cereals. With pleasure, gerbils eat sunflowers, beets, carrots and berries.

Conditions of detention. At home, the range of food for animals can be significantly expanded, since young animals tend to try a wide variety of foods, up to sausages. As a mineral supplement, gerbils should be given chalk, eggshells and glycerophosphate.

Reproduction. The breeding season for gerbils begins in early spring and ends in late autumn. During this time, the female brings up to five litters, each of which has 4 - 5 cubs. Pregnancy lasts about 23 days.

Males can be kept with a female and a brood.

The eyes and ears of babies open at the age of two weeks, and they begin to eat themselves at the age of 12 days.

Diseases. Same as other rodents.

Little tricks
- Gerbils will quickly get used to you and will be tamed if you give them delicious food from your hand: mealworms, sunflowers, raisins.
- When capturing and transplanting gerbils, it is convenient to take the tail and, lifting it up, substitute the sleeve of the other hand as a support.
- Animals need sand baths to feel good, so be sure to place a container of sand in the cage.

The gerbil is a rodent that lives in the wild. Most often it is found in the steppes and deserts. Recently, this animal often appears in homes as a pet.

Description

The gerbil, the photo of which is presented in the article, looks like an ordinary rat. The body length of the animal reaches twenty centimeters. The tail of the rodent is longer - 24 cm. By the way, it can fall off. Only it does not grow back, as it happens in lizards.

The muzzle of a rodent can be either pointed or blunt. The eyes of the gerbil are large, convex. Her ears are clearly visible.

The color of the upper body is dull, monophonic (usually brown or ocher-sandy). The bottom of the animal is light. On the head, around the eyes and behind the ears, the gerbil has light spots. If we talk about the number of teeth, then this rodent has sixteen of them. Sometimes it happens that they meet even without roots.

Rodents move due to elongated hind limbs. The organs of hearing and vision are especially developed in gerbils.

Mongolian gerbil: description

There are many species of this rodent. The most common is the Mongolian gerbil (clawed). This species is chosen by both lovers of domestic rodents and professional breeders. Because Mongolian gerbils are easily tamed. Often these rodents are confused with jerboas.

The Mongolian gerbil lives in the deserts of North Africa, India, and Asia. The animal is loyal to people. The animal leads a burrowing lifestyle, it is prone to the formation of colonies.

Usually the rodent is active during the daytime. In winter, gerbils hibernate. These rodents are prone to despondency and depression. The gerbil mouse reaches puberty by the tenth to sixteenth week. Life expectancy is three to four years.

In the desert, the gerbil feeds on shrubs and green parts of herbaceous plants.

Gerbils: maintenance and care. Fundamental rules

Before acquiring an animal for a rodent, it is worth creating certain conditions, it is worth buying a cage. Also, a terrarium (aquarium) from fifty liters is suitable for housing.

If a gerbil lives in a cage at home, then it must have a high tray.

The animal should put something for grinding teeth (for example, tree branches) so that it does not gnaw at the cage or the plastic tray.

Arrangement of a room for a new pet. What is needed for a full life of a rodent?

What to do if you have gerbils? The maintenance and care of these animals will be much easier if they are properly equipped with housing. These rodents are very fond of digging. Therefore, for their comfort, it is worth pouring a large layer of sawdust (fifteen centimeters). Hay can also be added. Rodents from it will be able to create nests.

A gerbil must have constant access to water. Use special drinkers for this, which can be attached outside the cage.

What to do to keep gerbils healthy? Keeping and caring for them requires careful grooming. Animals can take sand baths on their own. For these purposes, put a special container with sand in the cage. You need to do this about once a week.

The wheel can also be put in a cage with the animal. It is advisable to choose not plastic. The metal mesh wheel is the safest and most practical model.

All rodents that are kept in captivity, to one degree or another, are deficient in salts. Their source is mineral-salt or chalky stone for rodents. It is sold in pet stores. You can fix the stone on the wall motionless, or it is suspended on a wire.

It is convenient to hang the feeder above the level of sawdust, or place it on the second floor of the cage. Otherwise, gerbils will bury it or turn it over.

Since rodents are quite clean, cleaning should be done only once every two weeks. This is because gerbils practically do not give an unpleasant odor, and liquids emit only four grams per day.

• You need to pay attention to the appearance. The coat of the animal should fit snugly to the body. The ears and nose should be clean, and the eyes should be shiny.
• It is worth buying an animal at the age of one and a half to six months. Note that the older the gerbil becomes, the more difficult it is to tame it. In addition, it is possible to randomly select an already old rodent.
• Pay attention to the parents of the animal in order to understand what it will become when it grows up.
• Now in the Russian Federation there is a wide variety of colors of gerbils. Among them, you can choose the right one for you.
• If the rodent behaves apathetically, then perhaps he is sick. After all, a healthy animal should be active.
• If you do not have time to tame, then take a better tame rodent.
• I would like to note that gerbils are bored one by one. Therefore, it is better to have two males or females at once.
• When buying an animal, ask the seller what he fed him. After all, the transition to a new type of food can provoke a disorder in a rodent.
• Before buying, weigh the pros and cons so that your new pet is a truly desirable animal.
• Where are gerbils sold? At a pet store, at a rodent show, at a pet market, or at a breeder.

Feeding a pet: features of the diet. Useful and harmful food for a rodent

The main diet of the gerbil is seeds and cereals. They make different mixtures for rodents. You can buy them at the pet store. Gerbil food includes oats, millet, greens, sunflower seeds, corn, and legumes. Sometimes cereals, cereals can be added to them. Feed the gerbil twice a day, about one teaspoon per rodent.

If you have a pregnant or lactating domestic gerbil, then increase the feed rate. Soft food should be included in the rodent's diet. Bread and cereals are suitable for gerbils. You can also give cottage cheese and yogurt. Add new food gradually. What else can be given to rodents? Vegetables and fruits (carrots, banana, apples and others). Dried fruits can also please a rodent. Gerbil should not be citrus fruits, cabbage and potatoes. The animal can be given fresh greens, as well as leaves and branches of fruit trees. The gerbil, whose photos are very funny, should eat only fresh food. Fatty, salty, sweet and salty foods are prohibited. Food from the table should not fall into the bowl of the rodent. It is harmful to the animal.

A small conclusion

Now you know who the gerbils are. The maintenance and care of these animals is quite simple. All important aspects of their content are described in the article. We also touched on the topic of care and feeding. We hope that now you will be able to choose a pet for yourself, as well as properly maintain it.

These are amazing animals that willingly communicate with people. They are quite clean, almost do not emit odors. Recently, these creatures have increasingly begun to appear in apartments as pets. In addition, they can often be seen in various zoo corners and zoo circles. The content of these requires a lot of time and certain conditions. Therefore, before starting a gerbil at home, read the rules for keeping and caring for it.

Description and photo

The gerbil, the photo of which is offered in the article, is a small one that lives in the wild. The body weight of the animal varies between 50-200 g.

Among individual individuals, there are completely different body parameters from each other. The length of the body of some representatives of the species can reach 24 cm, while in others it does not exceed 5-6 cm. The length of the tail of a mammal is usually equal to the length of the body - about 20-24 cm.

The forelimbs are noticeably shorter than the hind limbs, due to which the gerbil can move quickly. This structure of the limbs is due to the need to protect themselves from predators in the wild habitat. Fast limbs, as well as brilliant hearing and vision, help the animal hide from impending danger with incredible speed.

The eyes of a mammal are large, convex. The ears are also prominent. The muzzle is pointed, slightly blunted at the end. Each member of this species has 16 teeth.

The upper body is monochromatic, cloudy, light brown or sandy in color with sparse black hairs. In the region of the abdomen, the coat has a light shade. Modern breeders artificially bred more than a dozen gerbils of different colors.

In appearance, the gerbil is very similar to the common rat. However, the gerbil is smaller, its tail is completely covered with fur, and the tip of the tail resembles an artistic brush.

Did you know?capablediscard the tail or tail skin. A similar thing happens when a predator attacks her, grabbing her by the tail. This display of instinctself-preservationincreases the chances of a small animal to survive in the wild. But, unfortunately, the tail does not grow back, as, for example, in.

The nature of the rodent

Speaking about the nature of this mammal, it is worth highlighting his friendliness and curiosity. A gerbil is always the first to make contact with a person. It is not difficult to tame a rodent, since it is initially almost tame.

Treat this beautiful creature with treats from your hands several times, and it will become your devoted friend. If you don't act in a way that threatens the gerbil, it will never bite you. Thanks to such fidelity, the gerbil has won the hearts of rodent lovers around the world.

As for the interaction of this mouse with other animals, it will never be the first to show hostility. If a strife arises, she would rather retreat than take part in the conflict.

Plus, the gerbil is a very energetic animal. The phases of its activity are not related to the time of day, they are simply repeated periodically with short rest breaks. However, if you try to change your pet's daily routine to suit your daily routine and move him to a dark room at night, it is quite possible that he will sleep until morning.

Did you know? The gerbil has the ability to perceive human speech. She can determine the difference in voices and go out only to the voice of the owner.

Life in the wild

In the wild, these rodents are common in deserts, semi-deserts and steppes, where a sandy landscape prevails. Mice live in large friendly families. In their native territories, they feed mainly on plant foods: leaves, flowers, plant shoots, herbaceous shrubs, berries and rhizomes.

However, in the deserts, vegetation is very sparse. Therefore, as soon as the territory occupied by rodents becomes deficient in the necessary food, the entire colony immigrates to more productive territories. Having found such lands, they hastily settle down, dig new dwellings, or adapt other people's empty minks.

Houses of gerbils are complex structures, which they constantly improve and repair. In a permanent mink, many passages are connected to the surface of the earth. A place for winter recreation is usually located at the very depths. For the winter, the animals store branches of saxaul or other sandy plants, camel thorn.

In addition to permanent housing, these little hard workers always have several temporary shallow burrows equipped with just one exit. They require such temporary housing to protect them from potential danger while searching for food. When a predator approaches, the gerbil quickly hides in the nearest burrow.
In freedom, the phase of activity of the animals falls at night. During the daytime, they prefer sleep.

How to choose a gerbil for your home

When choosing a pet, carefully look at the appearance of individuals. Pure wool should tightly clasp the body. The ears and nose should look dry and clean, and the eyes clear and shiny.

A healthy animal is also calculated by the degree of activity. If an individual behaves lazily, this is a sign of poor health.

By age, the purchased animal should be no older than six months, because the older it is, the more difficult it is to tame. In addition, you can be deceived and purposely sell the old animal.

In pet stores there is a wide variety of colors of these amazing creatures. Among them, you can choose the one you like.

Having chosen a small representative of the fauna, it will not be superfluous to obtain information about the parents in order to have an idea of ​​\u200b\u200bwhat it will become in the future.

Important!A sudden change in food can cause upset in a gerbil, so be sure to ask the seller what he fed the animal.

Features of care

The gerbil is a rather unpretentious and hardy creature, it is content with little. However, certain care rules still need to be followed.

Requirements and arrangement of the cell

Unlike other members of the hamster family, the gerbil is undesirable to be placed in. Of course, a three-dimensional cage with bars is acceptable, but this is not the best solution for a gerbil. These creatures have very sharp teeth, with which they easily break the bars of the cage.

In addition, the animal loves to rub its face against the bars, which often causes bald patches and wounds. Therefore, as a house for them, choose a glass aquarium or a capacious plastic box.

The lid of the house must close tightly. This is due to the fact that the gerbil is able to jump quite high and overcome a height of 30 centimeters. At the same time, make sure that the lid by all means passes air.

Equip the bottom of the dwelling with metal material, since the mouse also gradually gnaws through the plastic.

The dwelling should be spacious, especially if there are several pets. Put a thick layer of sawdust on the bottom of the house.

Accessories

An excellent adaptation for the dwelling of rodents can be a special drinker, which is increasingly used instead of conventional water containers. To do this, hang a plastic bottle with a metal ball in the corner of the house.

As a toilet, install a container with filler: hay, sawdust, paper, napkins or cardboard.

So that your pet does not get bored, install a running wheel for him. At the same time, make sure that the front legs of the pet do not fall between its bars, as this can lead to serious injury to the animal.

On sale you can also find walking balls, all kinds of playgrounds and other toys for hamsters.

Important! In order for the mouse to always be in good health, sheregularlyit is necessary to take the so-called« sand baths» . Therefore, it is imperative to place a container with sand in the animal's dwelling.

How to care for a pet

The answer to the question of how long a domestic mouse lives depends on the conditions of detention, diet, lifestyle, and so on. Also, don't forget that gerbils get bored when they're alone. Therefore, it is advisable to immediately purchase two pets (of the same or different sex).

Approximately once every 3-4 weeks, change the sawdust in the house. In this case, pets need to be temporarily placed in another container.

The filler is usually rarely changed, since these representatives of the fauna emit little liquid and almost no smell. Therefore, do not change the filler until it becomes wet. Do not miss this moment, as the animals do not tolerate a humid environment and can quickly fall ill.

What to feed a gerbil

Gerbils kept at home should be as simple as possible. The menu is made up of a mixture for hamsters with the addition of vegetables or neutral fruits. As already noted, you can not put a drinker at all, since these animals are adapted to desert conditions and get the necessary moisture from fruits and vegetables.

Germinated cereals are very useful for the health of mice. It is also recommended to give them boiled eggs. Sometimes rodents can be pampered with nuts, sunflower seeds, raisins, or special store-bought treats.

Important! Gerbils should not be fed citrus fruits or other foods that have a strong flavor. Also, veterinarians do not advise giving mice bitter, sweet or salty foods.

reproduction

During the reproductive period, mammals accumulate in small settlements. There are from one to three females per male in such a colony. Together with each female, all her matured offspring live. The inhabitants of each colony guard their possessions and do not allow other mice there. Sometimes they arrange demonstrative fights.

That is why, if you breed these rodents at home, try not to keep more than two specimens of different sexes in one aquarium.

Female rodents bring from 3 to 7 broods per year. After a month of gestation, 3-7 babies are born in females. The whole settlement, even males, takes care of the common brood.

The life expectancy of these mammals is short. In freedom, they usually live 3-4 months. For those who are interested in the question of how long gerbils live at home, we will answer that the life of animals in captivity can last 2-3 years.

Possible diseases

Gerbils can suffer from the following pathological conditions:

• Cryptosporidiosis (Tizzer's disease)- an ailment that manifests itself in impaired blood circulation, necrosis of liver tissue and inflammatory processes in the small intestine. The first symptom of the disease is an increase in the abdomen. The disease proceeds in an acute form and often ends in death. Young or pregnant animals are most susceptible to Tizzer's disease. The cause of the disease is contaminated food. Prevention consists in periodically cleaning the cage and feeding the pet with proven food.
• Epilepsy- a fairly common disease that is inherited. Pathology is manifested by regular convulsions. Therapy and administration of anticonvulsants is not practiced.
• Injuries. It is not uncommon for mice to have leg injuries or tail torn off. The best preventive measure is thoughtful care and a well-designed house for your pet.

As you can see, monitoring the life of a gerbil mouse is very entertaining. And keeping and caring for her is quite simple. Get yourself this furry friend - and you won't regret it!

Origin and native land of the rodent, behavior in the wild, breeding of gerbils, advice on keeping, diseases, correct purchase of an animal and its price.

The content of the article:

For many people, pets are not just animals that live with them under the same roof, but full members of their families. Sometimes a person with great responsibility approaches the issue of choosing a friend of his smaller one. If not so long ago, when choosing a pet, people could focus only on those representatives of the world fauna that are not difficult to buy, then in the era of our modernity, everything is much more complicated. These difficulties do not lie in the fact that there is no way to find or acquire this or that little animal, the problem most often lies precisely in the choice.

For the reason that today you can afford to bring into your house the most extraordinary pupil, it all depends on you, your tastes, preferences, and of course your financial situation. After all, not everyone can afford to buy a chimpanzee or a white tiger, firstly, they are very expensive, and secondly, it is necessary to have a fairly large living area for these elite pets to feel cozy and comfortable. But here is a small original rodent, which will not be like all its relatives - almost anyone can easily afford it.

For example, pay your attention to such a miracle of nature as a gerbil - this is a small animal that will become a reliable friend and comrade for you without any problems. In addition, these little animals are very modest and unpretentious, they will never require a large and spacious cage for themselves, they will not run away from you at the first opportunity to the most secluded corners of your apartment, and most importantly, these pretty rodents are very clean. Why not the perfect pet?

If you still opted for a gerbil, then in order to avoid unnecessary problems and unpleasant situations, you should get to know this animal better.

Origin and home territories of the gerbil

The gerbil is an animal that outwardly bears some resemblance to the jerboa and the common mouse. Scientists who studied the pedigree of this pretty little representative of the fauna classified it into the class of mammals, the order of rodents, the hamster family, the subfamily of the gerbil and the genus of the fat-tailed gerbil.

If we talk about the native lands of this little animal, then we can say that the area of ​​\u200b\u200bits natural distribution is quite wide. This specimen of a large animal kingdom lives both in Europe and Asia, and is even found on the African continent. Based on the name of this rodent, we can already conclude that it lives where there is sand, namely in desert and semi-desert regions, but if they get to locations with clay or gravelly soil, then this craftsman is able to settle well there, the main thing to have something to eat.

Features of living gerbil in open nature

The period of activity for these animals falls at night, but during the day they prefer to sleep off, carefully hiding in their personal dwellings. These little hard workers spend almost all their free time building their house, it would be more correct to say houses. Usually gerbils dig burrows of complex layout, which are constantly improved and repaired, and sometimes even transferred to the next generations. They always have several temporary apartments, which are located in different locations, they are usually not deep, do not have a nesting chamber and are equipped with only one exit, the little animals almost never spend a lot of time in them. Most often, they need such temporary housing so that the animals can feel calm when they go out in search of food. After all, when any danger approaches, gerbils always run away to the nearest hole and can sit there until they are sure that they have nothing to fear.

A permanent home for rodents is like family mansions, they have a rather complex layout. In a permanent hole, there must necessarily be many passages that connect their house with the surface of the earth, there are also always several burrows, one of them is used by the animal as a latrine, and all the rest, as utility rooms in which food is stored, they store it for winter. The place for winter rest is usually located at the deepest depth, where even the most ferocious cold cannot reach, there gerbils pull off a lot of dry grass and foliage, from which I construct a soft and warm sleeping place for myself.

These little builders are very social and friendly animals, they are used to living in large colonies in their native areas, in which peace and harmony always reign.

Nature did not endow these peace-loving rodents with a large, stocky and strong body, sharp claws or huge fangs, therefore, their means of protection from all kinds of predators who intend to eat miniature animals are their excellent hearing and vision, as well as quick paws that carry away with amazing speed gerbils from approaching danger to a safe place.

In the wild, they are also not very whimsical and are used to getting by with everything that is nearby. So rodents may well live if there is no reservoir near their place of residence, these mammals have enough fluid that they receive when eating succulent plants. As for their diet, these hamsters usually eat plant foods that grow in their territories, these are leaves, flowers, plant shoots, and even berries and rhizomes. In the event that there is a shortage of food products in the area they occupy, then the whole large friendly family of gerbils begins to “pack their bags” and move to more fertile lands. Having found such places, they quickly begin to equip themselves with the necessary conditions for life, build new burrows, or make major repairs in dwellings dug by other animals.

Continuation of the genus of a mammal

The beginning of the mating season in these animals falls at the beginning of spring, then they form small groups, which include one male and several female gerbils, as well as their offspring. Such separate colonies occupy a small area and diligently protect their territory from their other relatives, if suddenly someone else decides to join such a family, then these seemingly very cute animals can resort to aggression and even use force, but such battles are very rare end in bloodshed.

The period of bearing babies in females lasts about a month, at the end of this period, from 3 to 7 cubs are born. The maturation of the boys is quite rapid, at the age of 2-3 months, such "kids" are already becoming sexually mature. After the end of the reproductive season, all representatives of the genus of gerbils again unite into one large social group and all together raise offspring and take care of them, regardless of who their biological parents are.

During one year, an adult and healthy female can get offspring from 4 to 7 times.

Features of the external appearance of the gerbil

The parameters of the body of this rodent are different, the body length of some individuals can reach up to 20 cm, and some specimens do not grow more than 5–6 cm. The tail process is most often equal to the length of the body of the animal. The body weight of these mammals ranges from 50 to 200 grams.

In appearance, these animals are very similar to ordinary mice, the most characteristic distinguishing feature of their appearance is their tail, which is wrapped in fur along its entire length and ends with a beautiful tassel formed by a thick tuft of long hair.

Their muzzle is usually slightly blunt. The hind limbs are much longer than the front, which helps gerbils to move very quickly.

The color of these animals does not always correspond to their name, mammals that live in the wild are usually painted in sandy-brown shades or in a solid brown color, only the abdominal area is noticeably lighter. Due to the fact that now these rodents are increasingly being brought in as pets, people have learned to earn good money on them. Namely, they began to artificially breed animals with a wide variety of body colors, so if you don’t like sandy tones, then you can easily pick up a pet in the color that you like best.

Gerbils are, I'm not afraid of this word, the most ideal pets of all rodents, they are happy to make contact with a person, they are very playful. It will not be difficult to tame this comrade, he will not be afraid of you anyway and will begin to play and go into your arms, and if you treat him with some yummy from your hands several times, then the adaptation process will be much faster and more pleasant for your pet.

The only thing that sometimes scares people when buying such an exotic is its nighttime activity, but you should not worry about this. Gerbil is an animal that can be easily accustomed to your daily routine, the first time you live with this friend under the same roof you will notice that he never sleeps all day, most likely he rests from time to time, he also does at night - he will play a little and runs and goes to recuperate. But if you want him to sleep all night, then you should put his house in some kind of dark room, where, most likely, he will sleep all night.

As a personal home for such a pet, you can, of course, purchase a cage, but due to the fact that this rodent is used to sharpening its teeth, the bars of the cage will be destroyed very quickly. For this reason, it is best to house your lodger in a spacious aquarium with a tight-fitting lid, but with good ventilation. The lid is needed so that this jumper simply does not jump over the side of her house and does not run away for a walk around your apartment. Unlike hamsters, these little animals will not climb into the most unexpected places where they are not only impossible to find, but also difficult to get out of there.

But the fact that they can do various pranks is another matter. They can easily gnaw on furniture, wallpaper and even wires.

You can use sawdust, hay, special rodent litter, and even ordinary napkins or paper as flooring for your new buddy. It is not necessary to change it very often, as these little animals emit very little liquid, so cleaning in an aquarium with a gerbil should be done as the filler gets wet, as they do not tolerate a humid environment very well.

The thickness of the filler layer in the personal dwelling of a rodent should be at least 10-15 cm so that this worker can dig at least a small mink for himself.

You can think of a place to sleep for your pupil yourself, but it would be better to bring him some hay, dry leaves, napkins or plain toilet paper and he will do everything with his “crazy” paws and to his liking.

In order for your pet's living conditions to be comfortable for him, it is necessary to equip his house with a variety of entertainment, such as a running wheel, walking balls and other interesting things for rodents. Not only will this keep your gerbil from getting bored when you are not around, but it will also keep her small body in constant shape.

In addition, always bring her some twigs or snags as a gift, as she has something to gnaw at the level of instinct, and if the animal does not have suitable attributes, it will begin to sharpen its teeth on everything that is in its house.

Be sure this funny rodent should have a private pool, but only it needs to be filled not with water, but with sand, where your friend will relax, take his sand baths and clean his beautiful coat.

The fact that your pet has even the most comfortable living conditions in a cage or aquarium does not mean that he should be there all the time. When you return home, try to let this active friend out for a walk. During these trips around your home, keep a close eye on your gerbil to make sure it doesn't mess things up. If this cunning creature climbed under the sofa or hid behind the closet, do not panic, she will skip to you at the first call, and if the rodent does not respond, beckon him with some kind of treat, then he certainly will not resist.

And of course, if a cat lives in your house, make sure that your exotic hamster does not become a delicious dinner for her.

Feeding a gerbil at home is not difficult at all. It is impossible to single out any favorite dish of this mammal; at home, it is usually fed with germinated grain, green grass, plant shoots, sometimes they can afford to eat some sunflower seeds. In addition, they are happy to eat bread, legumes, various berries, carrots, apples, beets and even cabbage.

From time to time, you can spoil your furry friend with delicacies such as small insects, such as locusts or mealworms. With pleasure they eat cottage cheese. Sometimes kind owners treat gerbils to food from their dining table, they certainly will not refuse sausages or some other similar goodies, but it is still not recommended to do this, since eating such unusual food for them can adversely affect your health. pet.

Do not forget about the vitamins and minerals that you need to feed your friend, his body will thank you very much for the extra calcium, which is contained, for example, in an eggshell or a piece of chalk.

Common Gerbil Diseases

Like all living creatures, these mammals are subject to a number of pathological conditions.

1. Tizzer's disease (cryptosporidium). This disease in these cute little rodents is manifested by liver necrosis, enteritis, the first sign of the disease is that the animal increases in size, due to the accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity. The onset of this pathology is acute and usually ends in the death of the animal. Young individuals and pregnant females are especially susceptible to cryptosporidium. The onset of the disease is associated with eating contaminated food. The best prevention is regular cleaning of cages, feeding the rodent with proven products.
2. Epilepsy. A fairly common pathology among these animals, most often is hereditary. Manifested by periodic seizures. Treatment and use of anticonvulsants is not required.
3. Injuries. Very often, gerbils injure their limbs or tear off their tail, so the best prevention for such conditions is careful care and proper housing for your friend.

Purchase and price of a gerbil

If you buy a rodent from breeders, do not hesitate to ask them to provide you with all the documents, since an animal brought from the wild and not examined by a doctor can be deadly for you and your family, since these animals are carriers of plague and tularemia. The average price for one individual of this little animal ranges from 1,500 to 2,500 rubles.

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