Gerbil Cost

• Gerbils cost between $5 and $10. There's a small variation depending on whether the pet is bought from a store or a breeder and how many pups are on hand at the moment. Gerbils are productive breeders, so prices are typically low.
• Many times, gerbils are sold in pairs. This is because they're social creatures. Experts highly advise having more than one gerbil for this reason.

• Gerbils live to be about three years old. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals provides a fact sheet with details on gerbil husbandry. Twinsqueaks.com, a nonprofit advice column for gerbil owners, answers frequently asked questions about gerbils.
• Gerbils range in color from snowy white to black, with a variety of brown tones in between, and have deep black or ruby red eyes. The American Gerbil Society provides a detailed explanation of color variations.

• A cage costs about $35. Avoid completely wire cages since gerbils can get their tiny feet stuck in them.
• Nesting and bedding materials cost around $15 per bag. Bedding will need to be replaced about once every week or two. A bag should last approximately four to six weeks, depending on the cage size and how often it's cleaned. Do not use pine or cedar bedding as this can give the gerbil respiratory problems.
• Food accoutrements include a water bottle at $4 to $10 and a food container at $8 to 15; Gerbils eat between 5 and 8 grams of food a day. A 2-pound bag of food costs between $5 and $12, so feeding a gerbil for one month will cost between $2.50 and $6.
• Toys range in price from $2 to $20 and include balls to bat and exercise balls for a gerbil to run around the house in. Things like toilet paper rolls, wood pieces and cardboard make suitable playthings as well.
• Gerbils can be susceptible to everything from respiratory infections to bacterial infections, but are generally healthy and in their short life may never be ill. A veterinary visit typically costs around $40.

• The American Gerbil Society maintains a list of member breeders.
• Whether bought from a breeder or a pet store, observe the pet's personality and body. Make sure the gerbil's eyes are bright and shiny, its tail is fully furred and its coat is soft, not rumpled. Also, make sure no animals in the same cage look ill.
• The gerbils should not show fear or hostility toward humans or resist handling.
• Check the local newspaper classifieds for adoptable gerbils in the area. Also, on PetFinder.com's home page, there's a search feature on the left side of the page. Enter "gerbil" and a zip code to find adoptable gerbils nearby.
• Note that it is illegal to own gerbils in California, since they can harm the indigenous species there.

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