Gerbil Owners?

[Lexi_Lover]

I know I have been pestering you all about how many pets I am hoping to be getting, but this one I am serious about! LOL! Ok so here it goes! I have been doing LOTS of research lately and I am hoping to get a gerbil soon and I have a couple of questions for the owners out there!

1. Can a gerbil live in a fish-tank, with clear glass and no hood?

2. How often do you need to clean their tanks/cages?

3. Can they live alone or do they need a pal, which is better?

4. How long do they live for generally?

5. I heard of "wet-tail" and my friends gerbil died of it, what EXACTLY happens when this occurs?

Thanks to anybody and everybody who helps me out!

Here (http://www.petwebsite.com/gerbil_care.htm) is the site I went to for info, it helped me A LOT!

[Jods]

If you decide to put them in a tank which is okay I like them for gerbils cuz since they like to burrow you can fill the tank half way with shavings and it won't make a mess make sure you have a lid with ventilation you MUST have a lid gerbils can jump really really high. and are escape artists and FAST. There is medication you can buy for wet tail, i thought only hamsters got that, but nevertheless there is stuff you can get. Buy them in pairs I would say but I dunno. I had two and they lived together for 3 years and were fine until one night and I won't even write what the one did to the other he died during that terrible night. :( I personally do not like gerbils of all the pets I have, I liked them the least, but everyone is different. I quite enjoy hamsters and a lot of people don't like them so to each his own. You really should get a rat they are the cleanest, friendliest creatures you will even own. (small wise) Anyways sorry for rambling good luck with your gerbils can't wait to see pics!!

[Lexi_Lover]

Thats good, I do have the mesh cover as well!

Anybody else?

[My Peanuts]

I owned gerbils for a number of years and I never did things exactly by the book. My gerbils lived to or past expectancy.

1. Can a gerbil live in a fish-tank, with clear glass and no hood?
It's not ideal because of ventilation, but I did it. My gerbils never had respiratory problems, but it doesn't mean yours won't. You should get a top. You'd be amazed how high the little guys can jump sometimes.

2. How often do you need to clean their tanks/cages?
The tank will get pretty stinky. It's been a while since I owned gerbils, but I think I changed them once every 2-3 days. In a tank it will be easy to clean. You can also try removing the wet bedding and adding new bedding to the top between cleanings.

3. Can they live alone or do they need a pal, which is better?
I had some that lived alone, but 2 females will be about the same amount of work and then will have companionship. Two males will fight more, but I had 3 males living together with no problem, but they were brothers that were raised together. (I kept my pairs entire first litter, which was 2 girls and 3 boys. The boys lived together and the girls lived together.)

4. How long do they live for generally?
I think they say 2-3 years and mine lived about that. Usually mine went over expectancy. You can tell when they are getting older. They slow down a lot and get fat.

5. I heard of "wet-tail" and my friends gerbil died of it, what EXACTLY happens when this occurs?
I have no idea. My guys never had it.

Gerbils are a lot of fun.