Caring for your new Gerbil

Short & sweet... here’s what gerbils need:

• Gerbil food & water daily (rough guide: 1/2 tbsp per gerbil per day; there should always be a little food in tank)
• Fresh veggies or hay every day or a few times a week. Remove uneaten veggies at next meal.
  
• Change water every 2-3 days.
• Clean the water bottle weekly.
• Clean tank every 2 weeks with warm water & a small amount of hand-dishwashing soap or bleach; rinse well. If litter gets wet (from leaking water bottle, or gerbils piling litter against it), remove litter and clean tank.
  
• Occasionally or when your gerbils’ fur looks greasy, give them a sand bath. Place a little chinchilla dust or sand in small plastic container and they will roll in it. Remove it when they are bored or begin to chew container.
• Keep temperature 65-80°F. Avoid drafts (window, A/C) and direct sun.
• Give them something to chew (box, tube) every other day.
• Handle them as much as possible - they love attention!
• If your gerbil seems lethargic, moves awkwardly, won’t eat, has diarrhea, suddenly becomes nippy, or acts or looks strangely in any way - he or she is sick - see a vet.