Who doesn’t wish to share his or her home with a cage full of “Furry Mongolian Friends” aka gerbils!? Author Susan Anastasi certain does! She describes these irresistible critters as “quiet, clean, friendly, curious, active, and easy-to-please.” In deciding whether the gerbil is for you, Anastasi offers this advice: “If you are looking for a seemingly limitless cache of cuteness—from their long, fanning whiskers and large almond-shaped eyes to heir bunnylike hind legs and tufted tail tips—then gerbils are for you!” Clearly bitten by the gerbil bug, the author begins by providing some basic natural history about gerbils, their origins on the Mongolian range, and an overview of their behaviors. Anastasi defends her favorite pocket pet and asserts that the gentle gerbil does not deserve its Latin name (Meriones ungiculatus), which translates as “clawed warrior.” Filled with terrific color photographs, Gerbils summarizes the basic needs of these adorable rodents, specifically addressing their housing requirements, the cost and commitment involved, and their interactions with children and other pets. The following are devoted to purchasing a healthy gerbil from a pet shop, hobby breeder, or shelter; introducing the gerbil to the home; housing and feeding; taming and handling the pet gerbil; health considerations and potential household hazards; breeding and raising the young; and exhibiting gerbils at shows. The discussion on housing covers the selection of the ideal enclosure, basic housing setup, accessories, safety, and a guide to cleaning the tank. The chapter “Taming and Handling Your Gerbils” offers a step-by-step socialization process to acclimate the gerbil to its new handler and surroundings plus instructions for handling the gerbil and discouraging nipping. All keepers will be interested in the chapter on keeping gerbils healthy through smart preventative care; topics covered include allergies; broken limbs and head injury; teeth, tail, and ear problems; dehydration; diarrhea; heat stroke; hypothermia; mites, and more. Gerbil enthusiasts who are looking to become gerbil midwives will find complete instructions for breeding and raising pups (baby gerbils) in the chapter about reproduction. It covers planning a litter, setting up a breeding tank, mating, caring for the pregnant mom, birthing, fostering, growth cycles, weaning, handling pups, and more. The chapter “Fun with Gerbils” offers ideas for games, art projects, photographing, and training gerbils to do seven fun tricks. Resources include lists of publications, clubs, organizations, and websites. Glossary of terms and index included.

Sound pet-care advice written specifically for children. This new title presents information on the right kind of cage, the proper food, how to keep gerbils healthy, and many other things that gerbil-owning children need to know. Full-color photographs.

Titles in the Pets' Guides series teach young readers how to care responsibly for their chosen pet. However, in a unique spin, each book is written from the point of view of one of the animals themselves, thus also allowing the books to be used to teach perspective. In this book, Giggle the Gerbil reveals how readers should go about choosing pet gerbils, what supplies they will need, how to make a new pet gerbil feel at home, and how to properly care for pet gerbils, including feeding, exercising, and keeping a gerbil cage clean. Text in the book is accompanied by clear, labelled photographs to further reinforce key concepts.

Provides tips on how to choose, house, and feed a gerbil.

In this book, Giggle the Gerbil reveals how readers should go about choosing pet gerbils, what supplies they will need, how to make a new pet gerbil feel at home, and how to properly care for pet gerbils, including feeding, exercising, and keeping a gerbil cage clean. Text is accompanied by clear, labeled photographs to further reinforce key concepts, and the use of an animal narrator also allows the book to be used to teach perspective.

Provides tips on how to choose, house, and feed a gerbil.

What age is the right age to have your first pet? Everything a youngster needs to know about owning and caring for a new gerbil is explained in this book including easy-to-understand instructions about daily care, cleaning, feeding and maintaining for one of most popular pets in North America.

Includes information on selecting, feeding, and caring for gerbils with instructions on setting up a cage and breeding and caring for the young.

Describes caring for a pet gerbil, including feeding and cleaning suggestions, plus provides information on the health, safety, and aging of a gerbil.

Gerbils are inquisitive, inexpensive pets that are particularly popular with young children. This guide will provide everything the new owner needs to care for pet gerbils, as well as insight into (and great photos of) the many varieties of gerbil available.