{"id":4182,"date":"2014-10-01T00:00:19","date_gmt":"2014-10-01T00:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lafeber.com\/staging\/vet\/?p=4182"},"modified":"2021-11-07T09:29:47","modified_gmt":"2021-11-07T15:29:47","slug":"basic-information-for-gerbils","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/basic-information-for-gerbils\/","title":{"rendered":"Basic Information Sheet: Gerbil"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gerbil<\/h1>\n
\"Gerbil\"<\/a>

Photo credit: MDL.hu via Flickr Creative Commons<\/small><\/p><\/div>\n

Natural history<\/h2>\n

\nThe Mongolian gerbil or “jird” is a native of the Gobi desert, originating from Mongolia and Northern China.
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Taxonomy<\/h2>\n

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\nClass<\/strong>: Mammalia<\/em><\/p>\n

Order<\/strong>: Rodentia<\/em><\/p>\n

Suborder<\/strong>: Myomorpha<\/em><\/p>\n

Family<\/strong>: Muridae<\/em>-The largest and most diverse family of mammals including Old World rats and mice, and gerbils.<\/p>\n

There are 14 genera of gerbils<\/a>.<\/p>\n

There are 87 known species of gerbil including the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus<\/i>).<\/p>\n

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Physical description<\/h2>\n

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\nIncluding the tail, the Mongolian gerbil is 12-14 cm long. The head is broad and short, and the tail is covered in fur with a small tuft at the end.<\/p>\n

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Diet<\/h2>\n

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\nGerbils are omnivores. In the wild the diet consists of grasses and seeds with small amounts of insects. A captive diet consists of a high-quality pellet supplemented with small amounts of fruits and vegetables.
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Husbandry<\/h2>\n

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\nGerbils are nocturnal, but some daytime activity normally occurs. Gerbils are sociable and generally do not fight when raised together.<\/p>\n

Breeding pairs of gerbils are usually housed together for life.
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Normal physiologic values<\/h2>\n

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Temperature<\/td>\n99.3-100.8 F<\/td>\n37.4-38.2 C<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pulse<\/td>\n260-600<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Respiration<\/td>\n85-160<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Body weight<\/td>\nAdult male<\/td>\n46-131 g<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nAdult female<\/td>\n50-55 g<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mean life span<\/td>\n2-4y<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sexual maturity<\/td>\n10 weeks<\/td>\n9-18 wks (M)<\/td>\n9-12 wks (F)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gestation<\/td>\n22-26 days<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Litter size<\/td>\n3 to 8<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weaning age<\/td>\n21-28 days<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Target environmental temperature:<\/td>\n50-68 F<\/td>\n18-22 C<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Target environmental humidity:<\/td>\n45-55%<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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Anatomy \/ physiology<\/h2>\n

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