Gerbils make an amazing addition to the family.Children love these tiny little animals and can play with them for hours. When we talk about rodents, gerbils are friendly ones that can play for hours too.The tiny teeth of gerbils dig into their food and toys but fear not, their teeth are not a threat to us if they are comfortable. These pets are not likely to dig their pointy little teeth into your skin. So what are they like as pet animals? How is their behavior? Let’s find out.After reading about having gerbils as pets, also check out our fascinating gerbils facts and German vs American cockroach facts.Do gerbils stink?Pet owners are often concerned about having pets that are smelly. It is typical to have this concern when you are considering having gerbils as pets. So, is there any cause for concern when it comes to the smell factor? As pets, would gerbils be smelly, or would they not?To relieve you from your concern, the simple answer is, no, gerbils are not smelly animals unless you don’t take good care of the gerbil’s cage. The reason that a gerbil is not smelly is due to the region that it naturally lives in. Mongolian gerbils live naturally in desert areas and consume only a little water. Due to this, they produce a smaller amount of urine and their feces are generally little too.Due to the lack of water in their bodies, they have little to no smell. What can cause a smell when keeping gerbils is their cage. The cage may have remnants of food and bacteria buildup that can cause the smell so be sure to keep their cage clean; it will be more pleasant and hygienic for both you and your pet this way.If pet owners fail to clean the cage, the smell can increase and become very unpleasant.Apart from this, gerbils do also have the practice of scent marking. They use the scent glands on their stomachs to mark their territory. The toys, bedding, the food they hide, and the cages they live in can all smell differently due to their territory marking. Other than that, the gerbil is not a particularly smelly pet to own. The cage and bedding should be cleaned daily just in case they start marking their territory.If they have any health issues like diarrhea, the cage will smell too. Diarrhea can also make them weak and it is recommended to consult a vet in such situations.Is a hamster or a gerbil a better pet?If you were to compare both hamsters and gerbils, which would make a better pet? Which one is the better choice? Both of these animals are rodents. So what makes them different?Gerbils and hamsters are both rodents and also small pets. Compared to the hamster, the gerbil is a bit larger in terms of size. The length of the tail of the gerlifebil is also longer compared to hamsters. You can barely see a tail in a hamster. Owning either of them can be fun because they are active species once comfortable, and they are also easy to maintain.Gerbils, however, need a companion, unlike hamsters. They need to have company and extra resources and are likely more expensive than hamsters.A hamster is a pet that prefers its own company. All they want to do is chew toys. They also like having a climbing frame in their cage. When it comes to hygiene, however, gerbils are a better option. Gerbils are not smelly at all but hamsters can be smelly due to the urine and feces in their cage. A gerbil’s cage is usually not as smelly and dirty as a hamster’s.If you prefer having a pet that is low maintenance in terms of hygiene, gerbils are a good choice but if you want only a single pet, then a hamster would be good for you.Another important factor is their lifestyle. Hamsters are nocturnal in nature and are more active during the night. This might cause some discomfort to the owner. On the other hand, gerbils are not nocturnal. They are awake more during the day compared to the night.This puts having gerbils as pets at an advantage compared to hamsters. You can play with the pets when they are active and you can sleep peacefully during the night.What is the lifespan of a gerbil?How long will a gerbil live? Gerbils are cute little animals that can be the perfect pet but what is their life expectancy?For a Mongolian gerbil, the average lifespan is between two and five years but for some other species of gerbils, the lifespan can be a bit longer. As an example, fat-tailed gerbils have a lifespan of five to seven years. Depending on the species of the gerbil, the lifespan can be different.Gerbils need a natural environment to show their wild behavior. If they are unable to show their true wild self, these animals will have a hard time. The housing of these animals should be similar to their natural habitat to ensure that they are happy and healthy. If you care for gerbils properly, they will have a longer life.The health of the gerbil is closely connected to their housing. If the care of gerbils is not done in a healthy manner, it can cause them to fall ill. It is also necessary to ensure that young children do to cause too much exhaustion to gerbils. Children can sometimes play with animals quite aggressively so it is important to make sure that your gerbils are not too stressed by any interactions with children.The cages that they are commonly kept in should also be comfortable enough for their health. To have a healthy and happy pet means to have a longer life with them.How long can gerbils be left alone?Is it safe to keep your gerbil home alone? How long can a gerbil stay at home alone? What are the preparations needed to keep gerbils alone in the house?Gerbils can be kept in the house alone for up to a week with proper preparations. If you plan to go on a vacation, you can prepare well and keep the gerbil inside the house itself. The gerbil’s diet needs to be taken care of. Gerbils need food and water so that they have a healthy diet even when you’re not around. The toys that they will chew on in your absence should be of safe material, with nothing breakable that they can potentially choke on.The bedding of the animal should be properly cleaned for sleeping. Since the family will be away, the bedding for their sleeping and their food should be properly taken care of. Gerbils also need to be kept in a warm climate. While you are away, make sure to take the necessary steps to keep them warm.This animal can stay alone for a week at least, but it is advisable to have someone watch them every 2-3 days just to be safe.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! 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Gerbils make an amazing addition to the family.
