Giants turn to write something on my blog!

Today the giants are going to write something on my blog.....

CARING FOR GERBILS 
Gerbils make great pets, especially for children, and are pretty easy to care for. They need a nice house (I recommend the "Qute" Gerbil/Hamster home from Omlet www.omlet.co.uk) that ideally is cleaned out weekly, food/water available 24 x7, a few toys to keep them entertained, a comfy bed area with hay, and some love and attention!

Delgardo and Papi are our two gerbils, and they are very sweet.  It's fun to just sit there watching them run around and play and then curl up asleep together! They get "gerbil food" (they are a bit fussy though they'll pick out the pieces they fancy and leave the rest!) also they get some fresh fruit and veg. You have to watch their weight though - they love to eat treats (such as sunflower seeds) and you don't want them getting overweight! Our two are a little on the chubby side so we have to be careful not to overfeed  them. 

Neither Papi nor Delgardo have ever been to the vet, we've had them since January of this year, and they are very healthy. Keep an eye on your gerbils though and if you are worried they may be sick then take them to see a vet as soon as possible. 

Often people ask us "Why did you get gerbils when you could have got a hamster instead?" Well here's why:

• You can have two gerbils or more, but you can only have one hamster as they fight. We thought it would be sad seeing one hamster by himself, whereas the gerbils would have each other for company

• Gerbils are just so cute and adorable, their tails are longer than their bodies, they are funny and entertaining, and we just like gerbils!

Q & A's on Gerbils

I have a dog, will this matter?

No, so long as you choose a safe secure cage for your gerbils and when you wish to take the gerbils out to cuddle them, put the dog in another room if you don't completely trust them. Our Bernese Mountain dog, Amber, is best friends with the gerbils, they sniff noses and say hello to each other, so it is certainly possible to teach and train your dog to behave well around your gerbils.

What about my cat?

Well, we don't own a cat so I don't have any experiences with this, however, I expect they would be fine,  just again make sure the cage is safe and secure.

Do I need to get two gerbils or can I just have one?

Gerbils love the company of another gerbil, and are sociable creatures so it's essential you get two gerbils. 

Do I need to get two females or two males?

Yes,  unless you want to breed and end up with lots of baby gerbils! We heard that two males get on better than two females, but whether that's true or not who knows. Papi and Delgardo have the odd scrap but as the general rule get on well and are like two peas in a pod.

Where can I get gerbils from?

As gerbils aren't as common as hamsters for example, it is harder to get hold of them. There may be breeders near you, or if not you may end up going to a pet shop. Ask lots of questions on the gerbils and do a basic health test on them (make sure they have a shiny coat, bright eyes etc) before taking them home. 

Remember.....If you are keen to bring gerbils into your family, find out lots more information, including looking online and reading books. I like the book Gerbils - Complete Pet Owners Manual by Engelbert Kotter published by Barrons books.