Gerbils are found across Asia, Africa and India, with over 90 breeds existing. These gerbils range in size and shape — the smallest is the pouched gerbil, measuring only 1.5 to 3 inches long, and the largest is the great gerbil, which can reach up to 8 inches in length.
Gerbils are commonly kept as pets all over the world. They are very popular across the US, apart from in the state of California where it is illegal to own a gerbil. Despite the large number of breeds in the wild, only two are commonly kept as pets: the Mongolian gerbil and the fat-tailed gerbil.
Mongolian gerbils have been kept as pets for a long time, and have been bred to have lots of different coat colors. Fat-tailed gerbils, on the other hand, are new to the pet trade and can be more tricky to find.
Mongolian Gerbils: An Overview
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.
Learn more about the Mongolian gerbil here.
Fat-Tailed Gerbils: An Overview
The fat-tailed gerbil (Pachyuromys duprasi), also called the duprasi gerbil or doop, is a gerbil that is native to the Northern Sahara (North-western Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, and Algeria). They are relatively new to the pet trade and can be hard to find, but are becoming more and more popular as a pet.
These little animals get their name because of their fat, club-shaped tail in which they store fat. Fat-tailed gerbils are often kept on their own instead of in pairs as they can show aggression towards other gerbils. With their owners, they are known for being a docile pet that is easily handled.
Learn more about the fat-tailed gerbil here.
The Differences Between Mongolian And Fat-Tailed Gerbils
Mongolian and fat-tailed gerbils belong to the same subfamily of rodents, Gerbillinae. This means they are quite similar, with similar care requirements and a similar appearance.
However, there are quite a few differences between these two breeds. Keep reading on to find out which breed is right for you.
Appearance
Mongolian gerbils are generally larger than fat-tailed gerbils. They have a body size measuring between 11—13.5 cm (4.25–5.25 inches) and a weight between 60–130 g (2—4.5 oz). Fat-tailed gerbils have a body length of around 10 cm (3.9 in), and usually weigh between 55 to 82 grams (1.9 to 2.9 oz).
The Mongolian gerbil has a tail measuring between 9.5–12 cm (3.75—4.75 in), whereas the fat-tailed gerbil has a much smaller tail, measuring only 5 cm. The fat-tailed gerbil is known for its tail — it is thick, almost bald and club-shaped. They store fat in their tail, much like a camel stores fat in its hump.
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 colors can 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
The fat-tailed gerbil, on the other hand, is relatively new to the pet trade, so they have not been selectively bred to have lots of different coat colors.
They only come in one color, which is the same color they are in the wild. This is a mottled yellow-gray pattern on their back and head, which fades to white on their underside.
Life Expectancy
Unfortunately, gerbils do not live for very long. The Mongolian gerbil tends to live for between two to five years on average. The fat-tailed gerbil has a longer average lifespan, living for up to seven years as a pet, although more commonly they live for around four years.
Temperament
Both Mongolian and fat-tailed gerbils are gentle, friendly gerbils that can build trusting relationships with their owners. This is one of the reasons they make such great pets. These gerbils won’t mind being picked up, and will rarely bite unless unprovoked.
Mongolian gerbils are more active out of the two breeds and like to run on their exercise wheel and spend time digging. Fat-tailed gerbils, on the other hand, are slightly lazier and will have periods of sleep and activity throughout the day. They are commonly most active at dusk and dawn.
Housing
Mongolian gerbils are social gerbils that live in groups in the wild. In captivity, they should not be housed alone. On the other hand, fat-tailed gerbils should be housed alone. Fat-tailed gerbils are commonly kept on their own because they can show aggression towards their housemates.
Both Mongolian and fat-tailed gerbils like to dig, but Mongolian’s more so. These animals need a large space because of their digging habits. We recommend 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.
We recommend you provide your gerbils with plenty of toys to keep them entertained, especially ceramic or wooden toys. An exercise wheel with a minimum size of 8 in (200 mm) is particularly important for gerbils because of how active they are.
Sand baths, also known as dust baths, are very important for both breeds of gerbil. This is a bowl of sand that they can roll around in to keep their fur clean and keep them from appearing greasy.
You can learn how to setup your gerbil cage here.
Health
Both gerbil breeds are not particularly susceptible to any type of illness, or any breed-specific illnesses. However, there are some health problems that have been known to occur within pet gerbils. These include:
- Teeth Issues: Like many small pets, 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.
Availability and Price
Mongolian gerbils are much more widely available in the pet market than fat-tailed gerbils. Mongolian’s have been around for many years, and most pet shops that sell gerbils will sell this breed.
If you go to a pet store and see a gerbil for sale but the breed isn’t specified, it is almost certainly a Mongolian gerbil. Because this breed is so commonly the only breed available in shops, many places do not specify the breed and they are simply called “gerbils”.
Mongolian gerbils 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.
Fat-tailed gerbils are fairly rare in the pet market and their availability can be sparse. In some countries, they are not available at all, but they can be found in Germany, France, Denmark, the US and the UK, although not all pet shops will have them. In the Netherlands, fat-tailed gerbils are quite common.
Because of their rarity, fat-tailed gerbils can sell for over $100.
Which Breed Is Right For Me?
Now you now the difference between Mongolian and fat-tailed gerbils, it is up to you to decide which breed is going to be right for you.
Mongolian gerbils must be housed in pairs, while fat-tailed gerbils should be housed alone. Both breeds have similar daily care requirements, and neither breed has any significant health issues. However, fat-tailed gerbils have longer life spans.
Mongolian gerbils are much more widely available in pet shops, and much more commonly kept as pets. This means vets will generally know more about Mongolian gerbils. However, fat-tailed gerbils are becoming more popular, and their unique appearance is a selling point for some.
