Gerbils (pronounced jur-bulls) are rodents that are about the same size as a hamster—halfway between the size of a mouse and a rat. They are also known as jirds, sand rats, and desert rats when they are in the wild.
There are around 40 different kinds of gerbils found in the wild throughout Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe. However, the most common pet is the Mongolian gerbil, and for the purposes of this website, the word “gerbil” will refer to the Mongolian gerbil unless otherwise stated.
Gerbils were only discovered in the early 1900’s, and little is known about their life in the wild. They are burrowing animals who live in desert-like regions where water is relatively scarce. In the wild, they obtain most of their water from their food: seeds, grains, grasses, roots, and other desert plants.
Gerbils are different in appearance from hamsters, rats, and mice. They have fur on their entire body, head, and tail. In length, they are about 4 inches, weighing 2 to 4 ounces. The head is broader and shorter than rats and mice, and they have less prominent ears. Their eyes are large and dark, bulging slightly. Their hind legs are long, ideal for jumping, and their forelegs are relatively short. Each of the gerbil’s feet has five toes that have long, thin nails. Some gerbil tails end in a tuft. Their build reflects their lives in the wild, which require them to be adept at leaping, standing, burrowing, sitting, scurrying, and hopping.
Gerbils come in dozens of different colors. Though their natural colors are agouti (a brown, white, and black mix), selective breeding by humans has lead to many other shades, from black to orange, gold, cream, and patterns.
Gerbils are very social animals, preferring to live in small groups or in pairs. A single gerbil is prone to being nervous and skittish.
Overall, they are fascinating, entertaining pets that require only minimal care. They create very little odor, and their homes take up very little space.
