Gerbils are social animals and are happiest when they are kept in pairs; they don’t thrive well being alone in their enclosure. Studies have shown that gerbils raised alone tend to have shorter life spans and are more difficult to tame. These lone gerbils are also less friendly.

When gerbils are housed together, they enjoy the same activities and may even groom each other. It is best to house them together while they are still young, so they will get along well regardless of sex.

However, if you don’t want more gerbils, avoid housing the same sex together. Gerbils are monogamists, thus they chose one mate for life. They are usually aggressive with newcomers especially if they are not given enough time to adjust to each other’s presence.

When picking out two or more gerbils, it is best to bring them home at the same time, at about 5-8 weeks old.

Know more about how to take care of your gerbil’s needs by visiting your Northeast Kingdom vet.  Click here to find out more.