Mongolian Gerbil

Coat and looks how to spot one

Short, dense fur; long furred tail

A slim, upright desert rodent with long hind feet made for hopping and digging, and a tail nearly as long as its body (about 9.5 to 12 cm) covered in fur. The wild colour is agouti: warm golden brown with dark ticking over a pale belly. Its kidneys are very water-efficient, so it produces little waste and has hardly any smell.13

Personality what they are like

Friendly, curious and even-tempered, and seldom bites unless frightened. Gerbils are busy and alert, enjoy the company of their own kind and can become relaxed around people with calm, careful handling.12

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Active in daylight and at dusk with short rests. Needs deep substrate for tunnelling, things to chew and shred, and a solid, axle-free running wheel with a large diameter.126

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Keeps itself clean and needs no coat grooming. Remove stale hoarded food daily, provide cardboard, hay and wooden items to gnaw and shred, and handle gently because gerbils can be hurt by rough handling or falls.267

Home where they are happiest

A gerbilarium (glass tank with a secure mesh lid and solid floor) is recommended over barred cages. Aim for around 50 cm of height and 20 to 30 cm of burrowing substrate so they can build tunnel systems. Keep the room at about 20 to 24 C, dry, draught-free and out of direct sun. Offer ink-free paper, cardboard and hay for nesting.6

Food basics what goes in the bowl

A good gerbil pellet or seed mix as the base, topped up with small amounts of fruit and vegetables such as apple, pear, melon, cucumber, carrot, pumpkin and fennel. Pumpkin seeds make good treats; limit sunflower seeds as they are fatty. Fresh water from a bottle at all times. Scatter food to encourage foraging. Avoid grapes and rhubarb.7

Company who they like around

Very social and should never be kept alone. Same-sex pairs or small groups work well, ideally young littermates or an already settled group. New adults should not be added later; if an introduction is needed, use a split-cage method over about a week and watch closely.82

The story where it all began

Western science first learned of the Mongolian gerbil in 1866, when the French missionary and naturalist Father Armand David sent specimens he called 'yellow rats' from northern China to the natural history museum in Paris. Alphonse Milne-Edwards gave the species its formal name the following year. In 1935 twenty wild-caught pairs were taken to Japan, and in 1954 eleven of their descendants went to Dr Victor Schwentker's Tumblebrook Farm in New York for research. From there gerbils reached the American pet market, and after arriving in the United Kingdom in 1964 they quickly became popular pets. Enthusiast societies followed, including the UK's National Gerbil Society in 1970.19

Recognised by the official bits

IUCN Red List

Wild species assessed as Least Concern1

American Gerbil Society

Publishes exhibition standards for Mongolian gerbil colour varieties (white belly, self, colorpoint and other groups)11

National Gerbil Society (UK)

Founded in 1970 as The National Mongolian Gerbil Society; keeps gerbil show standards and runs exhibitions9