The Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) is the most common gerbil species kept as a house pet. These gerbils, as their name suggests, originally come from Mongolia, and live in arid areas in small groups.
Mongolian gerbils make very popular pets because they are small, gentle animals that rarely bite. They have been selectively bred to have various different coat colors and have a domestic lifespan of between two to five years.
These gerbils are one of two breeds kept as house pets. The other, less common, breed of pet gerbil is the fat-tailed gerbil.
Mongolian Gerbil History
Mongolian gerbils were first known of in around 1866, however they only became popular in the English-speaking world after 1954. 20 males and 26 females were brought from eastern Mongolia to the United States for scientific testing, and almost all Mongolian gerbil pets nowadays are descended from these ones. Mongolian gerbils were brought to the UK from the US in 1964.
Mongolian gerbils were originally used in scientific testing in the US. They have been used in research involving brain development, epilepsy and infectious diseases, amongst other biomedical research.
Nowadays, Mongolian gerbils are less favorable in scientific research, with mice being more commonly used.
Mongolian Gerbil Overview
Appearance
Mongolian gerbils are small, with a body size measuring between 110—135 mm (4.25–5.25 inches). Males are usually bigger than females. They have a tail measuring between 95–120 mm (3.75—4.75 in) and a body weight of between 60–130 g (2—4.5 oz).
Colors
In the wild, Mongolian gerbils are a golden agouti color. However, pet Mongolian gerbils come in about 40 different colors, which are mostly down to selective breeding.
These other color combinations include:
- Cream
- Black
- Lilac
- Dove
- Cinnamon
- Cream Argente
- Golden Argente
- Sapphire
- Polar Fox
- Silver Nutmeg
- Burmese
- Himalayan
- Siamese
- White Ruby Eyed
- Topaz
- Pearl
- Schimmel
- Honey Dark Eyed
Lifespan
Unfortunately, Mongolian gerbils do not have a very long lifespan. These gerbils tend to live for between two to five years on average.
Temperament
Mongolian gerbils are social animals that live in groups in the wild. This also means that they typically don’t mind being handled by humans. They are very gentle animals that do not tend to bite unless provoked or stressed.
These gerbils are active and like to run on their exercise wheel. They are also inquisitive and love to dig. They’ll spend a lot of time sand bathing to keep their fur healthy and remove any excess oil.
Mongolian gerbils can be territorial and don’t like new smells in their tank. You should take extra care to keep your gerbilarium your pet’s safe space so they don’t become stressed.
Housing
Because Mongolian gerbils are not solitary animals, they should not be housed alone. We recommend you purchase two Mongolian gerbils of the same sex from the same litter, because this will reduce the chance of them fighting.
Mongolian gerbils need a large space to live in because they love to dig. We suggest a gerbilarium with at least 10 gallons of space per gerbil, and 5 to 6 inches of substrate at the bottom for digging. You can then attach a cage on top of this substrate to store their food and water dish.
Houses designed for hamsters and mice are not acceptable for gerbils. They are not big enough, and the common plastic items inside of hamster and mouse cages are inappropriate for gerbils due to their ability to gnaw through it very quickly.
Read more about how to house your gerbil correctly here.
Mongolian gerbils should be fed on a diet based on multiple seeds, with only small amounts of fresh vegetables to prevent diarrhea. Their water should be provided with a drip-feed system, as this helps to to prevent any build-up of harmful mold in their tank. Learn what you should feed your gerbil in our article.
Fortunately, because Mongolian gerbils have adapted their kidneys to produce a minimum of waste to conserve body fluids, this makes them very clean pets with little odor.
Mongolian Gerbil Health Issues
- Teeth Issues: Like many small pets, Mongolian gerbils have teeth that constantly grow. These pets need to chew and gnaw to file down their every-growing teeth. We recommend cardboard items and chew toys to help do this. You may find your gerbil needs to have their teeth clipped by the vet.
- Parasites: Common parasites in gerbils are ringworm, mites and fleas. These can mostly be treated at home with medication.
- Epilepsy: Between 20% and 50% of pet gerbils have epilepsy. Their seizures can be caused by fright, handling, or a new environment, but they are rarely fatal. It is recommended you don’t blow in their face, as this can trigger seizures.
- Trauma: Many gerbil health issues come from being dropped, not handled properly, or being inside unsafe toys, such as a hamster ball. These toys can cause broken limbs or a broken spine, which cannot be cured.
- Neglect: Another big cause of gerbil health problems come from neglect. If the owner doesn’t feed them, give them fresh water and clean them out regularly, they can develop many issues.
- Tumors: Tumors are common in pet gerbils. They mostly affect females and are on the ovaries, although tumors on the scent gland, ears, feet, midabdomen, and base of the tail are also common. Tumors can be both benign and malignant and can be operated on.
Mongolian Gerbil Availability And Price
Mongolian gerbils have been bred as pets for a very long time, so these animals are widely available in most pet stores. You will be able to find breeders in almost every state, and occasionally Mongolian gerbils are also up for adoption.
These gerbils usually cost between $10 and $20 each, but many breeders or pet shops will only allow you to buy two or more. This is so the gerbils don’t become lonely. Some unique color variations of the Mongolian gerbil may be more expensive.
It is currently illegal to purchase, import, or keep a gerbil as a pet in the U.S. state of California due to the threat they pose to indigenous ecosystems. It is also illegal to import gerbils into New Zealand.
Mongolian Gerbils In The Wild
Location
In the wild, Mongolian gerbils can be found in Mongolia, China and Russia. They inhabit grassland, shrubland and desert where it is dry and sandy and temperatures can reach up to 122 °F (50 °C).
Mongolian gerbils live in groups, usually consisting of one parental pair, the most recent litter, and a few older pups. Sometimes the dominant female’s sister also lives with them. They live in large burrows, with between 10 and 20 exits. These burrows also have deeper burrows if they need to escape from predators. These burrows can be connected to other gerbil burrows.
Reproduction
In a group of Mongolian gerbils that live together, only the dominant female will produce pups. Mongolian gerbils are mostly monogamous and mate for life, although there are exceptions. If a male loses their mate they will seek out another, although females will rarely seek another mate if they lose theirs.
In the wild, Mongolian gerbils breed during the months of February and October. An average litter contains 4-8 pups, with males becoming sexually mature between 70–80 days old and females between 33–50 days old.
Population
Mongolian gerbils are not considered to be threatened and are currently listed as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List. The total population size of these animals is unknown.
If you are unsure whether a Mongolian gerbil is right for you, check out our article about the differences between a Mongolian gerbil and a fat-tailed gerbil.
