Pippi & Nellie's Letters from August 2006 & Earlier:
 Hi Pippi!!!
I have a question for you... Do gerbils get car sick??? -S.
 Hi S.!,
How are you? :)
I have good news for you. Gerbils travel very well in the car, and we don't get car sick.
You probably shouldn't take us for a drive just for fun, but if you need to move us to a new house or take us to the vet, we'll handle the trip pretty well!
Just take the water bottle out so it doesn't leak onto the bedding. Give us a small piece of carrot to chew on if we get thirsty, because carrots are very watery. When the car stops for a break, put the water bottle back so we can have a drink if we want one. Then take the water bottle back out before you start driving again.
Also, make sure it's not too hot or cold in the car, and keep us out of direct sunlight.
Your furry friend,
- Pippi
Dear Pippi,
I have a gerbil who won't run in his run about ball. I bought him a big one and a small one, too. He just won't run. Please give me some tips on making him run in his ball. Thanks! -D.
Dear D.,
Thanks for writing! It's not unusual to have a gerbil who doesn't like to run in an exercise ball. Some gerbils love the freedom they have to run in a ball. Others feel trapped and don't like being stuck in it.
The first gerbils at Twin Squeaks were Ramona and Audrey. Ramona thought it was fun to run in her ball. Ramona's sister Audrey was scared of being trapped inside the ball and never did like it, though!
If your gerbil doesn't seem scared of being in the ball, make sure his ball is on a smooth surface, like wood, tile, or concrete. It's a lot harder for a gerbil to get a ball rolling on carpet.
If your gerbil just doesn't like running in a ball, try giving him an exercise wheel in his tank or some time outside the tank, maybe in a dry bathtub. This way, he can have fun and get exercise, even if he doesn't like to run in a ball.
Your pal,
- Pippi
Hi Pippi and Nellie,
I've just got new gerbils, Inky and Spice, and I am worried. Their tank has three different levels, and when I open the lid to tame or hold them, I am scared in case one of them jumps out the top. Do you think they would?? Here is a picture of my tank to make it clearer. From, E.
Hi E.,
This is Nellie. That tank looks like so much fun! I know I'd have a lot of fun crawling on the different levels!
 If you're worried that your gerbils will jump out, you could get a hinged tank lid like the one on the tank pictured to the right. A lid like that would let you keep the left side (with the highest shelf) covered while you put your hand in the other side of the tank.
If you can't find a hinged lid, you could also put a large hardcover book or piece of wood over the left side of the tank while you have the lid open.
Good luck with Inky and Spice. Tell them hi and that I'd love to have a tank like theirs. It looks like fun! :)
Your friend,
- Nellie
Dear Pippi and Nellie,
I just got two gerbils yesterday. I am trying to gain their trust with sunflower seeds, but only one comes out to sniff my hand. The other one goes into the nest and hides from me. I am trying to get them used to me, because they are so young, and it's the perfect opportunity. If you could tell me some ways of getting their trust, I will be so happy. -G.B.
Dear G.B.
Thank you for writing. This is Pippi. :)
The things you wrote sound very familiar. When my sister Annika and I came to our home here at Twin Squeaks, I was very scared. When anyone put a hand in the tank, I ran away and hid. But my sister was braver. She'd go sniff at the hand in the tank. She'd take food from the hand, and she'd crawl over it, too. I was scared for a while, but I saw that my sister thought it was fun to go see this hand in the tank. Pretty soon, I wanted to see what Annika was doing, and I got brave enough to take treats from the hand, too. And soon, I was also brave enough to walk across the hand when it was lying still on the bottom of the tank.
You're very lucky that one of your gerbils comes out to sniff your hand. That gerbil will show your other gerbil that it's okay.
Also, you said that your gerbils just came home with you. Don't forget that they're in a new home, and a lot of things have changed for them. They're probably going to be a little bit jumpy for a few days. If they're still scared right now, just watch them for a couple of days and then try to put your hand in the tank again. Once they feel safe and secure in their new home, it will be easier to tame them. (It does take some time to tame your gerbils, so just be patient and keep working with them.)
Your good friend,
- Pippi
Dear Pippi and Nellie,
I tried the bathtub playground, but it didn't work. My gerbil crawled on my legs, but she wouldn't crawl on my arms or my hands. She still does not trust me. Please give me some help.
From,
- K.B.
Dear K.B.
This is Pippi. Thanks for your letter!
It sounds like you're doing everything right! If your gerbil is crawling on your legs, she does trust you. Right now, she feels safer crawling on your legs, but as she gets used to you and used to having playtime in the bathtub, she'll want to explore more.
Some gerbils start crawling all over people right away, and other gerbils take things slower. Buster (one of the gerbils here) would only crawl on legs the first couple of times that he played in the bathtub, but the more often he got to play in the tub, the braver and more trusting he got.
I think if you keep giving your gerbil some playtime in the tub, she'll get braver. In the meantime, have fun watching your gerbil crawl on your legs. It's really neat to see one of us gerbils use your legs as a giant jungle gym, isn't it? :)
If you keep giving your gerbil playtime in the tub, and she doesn't get braver, let me or Nellie know. But we both think your gerbil will. She just needs a little bit more time. :)
Your pal,
- Pippi
Dear Pippi and Nellie,
Hi, I am S., and I have a serious question. My gerbil is slightly bleeding at the top of his nose, and I just brought him in from outside, and I'm guessing that he might have cut himself on something, but I have absolutely no idea. How do I tell that he is healthy? -S.
Dear S.
This is Nellie. Thanks for writing. :)
I think your gerbil probably had an allergy to something outside. When a gerbil's nose runs, it is red. (A gerbil's tears are also red!) So sometimes, it's hard to tell if a gerbil has a runny nose or a bloody nose.
The answer is probably to either find a new place for your gerbil to play or to look for things your gerbil might have been allergic to when he was out.
If your gerbil's nose doesn't get better, and he starts to lose fur off of his nose, too, you might try to put a little dab of Neosporin on his nose, because this will help it heal. Also, if he did cut his nose, the Neosporin will help with that, too. Your gerbil probably won't like the Neosporin very much, though. ;)
I hope that helps, and I hope that your gerbil's nose is feeling better!
Your buddy,
- Nellie
Hello Pippi. Hello Nellie.
I'm S., and I'm a proud owner of two twin gerbils, Stela and Sarah! They are two months old and alive and healthy. I take them out of the tank almost every day. They love it outside the tank, and I love to play with them! I like to clean the cage, too. But I have one question. I use cedar chips from the store. They are made for gerbils and hamsters. Is that bad, though? People say it's not healthy. I can use other stuff, but I don't know if I should.
Please respond,
- S.
Dear S.
It sounds like Stela and Sarah are very lucky girls, because you love them so much and spend so much time with them! They must be so happy. :)
Yes, you should switch to a different type of bedding. Don't worry; your girls should be fine as long as they go to a different type of bedding the next time you clean their tank. It doesn't sound like they've been living on cedar for very long.
If you want to continue using wood shavings, you can try aspen instead of cedar. Aspen is safe for gerbils.
If you want to try something other than wood, you could also use Carefresh, Carefresh Ultra, or corncob. (You can find corncob in the bird section of the pet shop.)
All of those beddings are good for gerbils, so you can choose which one to get for Stela and Sarah.
Please tell Stela and Sarah hi for us. We're so glad that you're all having so much fun together. :)
Your friends,
- Pippi & Nellie
Dear Pippi,
My gerbil keeps thumping his back feet at night.
I read a how to care for your gerbil book, and it said that he is doing it as an alert or mating.
He hasn't got a mate, so it must be for an alert... Is this true??? -S.T.
Dear S.T.
The book you read is right! Gerbnils do thump their feet to warn other gerbils of possible danger. Your gerbil might do this if you come around a corner and startle him. He might do it if a noise scares him. And, if your gerbil is still pretty young, he might just stomp his feet to practice! Young gerbils often practice thumping so they can do it if they ever need to.
Thanks for writing. Say hi to your gerbil for me. :)
Your buddy,
- Pippi
Dear Nellie,
I am N.W.Z. I am 11 years old and live in Rome, Italy.
I am planning on getting two male gerbils. I was wondering, how do I know that they are not sick or diseased??? And I was wondering what kind of bedding was best?
Thank you for your time, Nellie. -N.W.Z.
Dear N.W.Z.
Thanks for writing! Your letter is the first one I've gotten from Rome!
There are several things that you should look for to see if a gerbil is healthy. First, make sure that the gerbil's eyes are wide open and bright. When a gerbil's eyes aren't wide open, it usually means that he doesn't feel well.
Next, look at the gerbil's coat. Is it soft and sleek? That's how it should ljook. If the fur is ruffled or puffed up, the gerbil is probably sick. Also make sure that you don't see any areas of missing fur.
Listen to the gerbil. If you hear a clicking sound when he breathes, he is probably sick.
Make sure you don't see any small red dots moving on the gerbil or in the tank. These are mites, and if you see them, you should go somewhere else to adopt your gerbils.
Look for any scabs or other signs of injury. Also make sure that you don't see any blood around the eyes or nose.
Finally, watch the gerbil play. He should be very active and curious when he's awake. When he's asleep, he should be sleeping with the other gerbils in the tank and not off by himself.
I'm not sure what types of bedding you have in Italy, but you shouldn't use cedar. It's bad for gerbils. Some good bedding types include aspen, Carefresh (made of paper), and corncob (in the bird section of the pet shop).
Good luck choosing your new gerbils. When you adopt them, please tell them that Nellie says hi! :)
Your pal,
- Nellie
Dear Pippi,
I have two gerbils called Sandy and Emma, and I would like to know how to train them well and what tricks they can learn. Also, I would like to know what food I can give them for special treats.
From,
M. and A.
Dear M. and A.
Thanks for your letter! There are some tricks that you can teach Sandy and Emma. One of the easiest is how to beg.
Sunflower seeds or plain Puffed Kashi cereal work great for teaching this trick. Start by placing your hand in the tank with the treat between your first finger and thumb. Once your gerbils get used to taking the treat from you, try holding the treat up a little bit higher. They will stand up tall, looking for the treat. Once they stand up tall for a few seconds, reward them with the treat.
Once your gerbils are very good at standing up tall and begging when you hold the treat up above their heads, you can get them to beg without the treat. If you want to show someone how your gerbils are trained to beg, just open the tank lid and hold your hand up above your gerbils as if you were holding the treat. They'll see your fingers as a cue and stand up tall and beg. :)
If Sandy and Emma are already pretty tame and trusting and if you don't have other pets around who might startle your gerbils, you might also want to teach Sandy and Emma to sit on your shoulder. Put one of them on your shoulder, and if she starts to climb down, put her back in her tank right away. Gerbils love to play outside the tank, so they will learn that crawling down from your shoulder means that they go home. Soon, they should stay perched on your shoulder and enjoy the view. :)
You might come up with your own tricks, too. Treats work as rewards, but an even better way to reward your gerbils when they do a trick is to give them some playtime outside the tank. For instance, you might let them have some playtime in the bathtub. It's a relatively safe place for gerbils to play and explore.
If you want some ideas for good treats to give your gerbils, you should read my letter to S.B.
Thanks again for writing! Please tell Sandy and Emma that Pippi says hello ! :)
Your good pal,
- Pippi
Dear Pippi and Nellie,
I have a gerbil. His name's Jumper, and he won't stop nibbling and biting me. Do you have any suggestions?
Sincerely,
D. and Jumper
Dear D.
Thank you for your letter! I'm sorry that Jumper's been so nippy!
First, make sure that you wash your hands with a soap that doesn't have any strong smells. If Jumper smells something fruity or flowery on your hands, he might try to taste it!
Sometimes, you can make a gerbil more comfortable with your hands if you rub them in his bedding first so that your hands smell like the rest of the things in his tank. (If you do this, make sure you wash your hands after you're done playing with Jumper. That's always a good idea anyway!)
If Jumper's still nibbling and biting, just blow a puff of air in his face when he does it. Blow the puff of air just like you were blowing out one last candle on a birthday cake. We gerbils don't like puffs of air in the face, and it won't take Jumper long to figure out that every time he puts your skin in his mouth, he gets a quick puff of air. This won't hurt him, but it will help him learn not to bite you.
I hope those tips help! Please tell Jumper hi for us!
Your friends,
- Pippi & Nellie
Hi Pippi!
We just adopted two adorable male gerbils yesterday -- Mozart and Beethoven. We love them very much and are excited to care for them. Beethoven is very friendly, but Mozart seems quite scared. They came from the same cage initially and are brothers. Do you think Mozart will adapt in time and loosen up? Also, they seem to push the Carefresh Ultra bedding away from the floor of the tank they're in and also cover their food dish with it. Will they find the food? Will they be OK without covering on parts of the floor and what can we do about it?? Thanks so much for your reply!! I'm looking forward to hearing the answers. -Z.
Hi Z.!
Thanks for writing! I'm glad that you're enjoying your new pets Beethoven and Mozart! They have great names! :)
Mozart will probably calm down over time. In fact, Beethoven should teach Mozart that it's OK to trust you. When I first came to Twin Squeaks, my sister was very friendly, but I was really scared. I watched my sister take sunflower seeds from human hands, though, and gradually, I learned to trust people, too. A lot of things have changed in Mozart's life this week, so he probably will be scared for a little while. Give him some time, and he should get braver.
Don't worry too much about your gerbils pushing the bedding away from part of the tank floor. We gerbils like to dig, and sometimes we'll move all the bedding away from the floor. We usually put it back again later, and even if we don't, it won't hurt anything. (That part of the tank will just get stinky faster if there's no bedding.)
Also, it's perfectly normal for gerbils to bury their food dish. I do it, Nellie does it, and every gerbil I've ever known has buried his or her food. It's something we do to hide our food from others so that they don't take it. And trust me, a gerbil never forgets where the food is buried. Your gerbils won't starve if they can't see the food. When Mozart and Beethoven get hungry, they'll dig the food dish out from under the bedding. After they have a snack, they'll probably bury the bowl again. It's OK if they do that.
Thanks again for your letter. Please tell Beethoven and Mozart that Pippi says hi! :)
Your pocket-pet pal,
- Pippi
Dear Pippi and Nellie,
How long does a gerbil live? -N.
Dear N.,
Thanks for writing to us. This is Nellie. :)
Just like people, some gerbils live longer than others. You can't predict how long any one gerbil will live, but most gerbils live to be between 2 1/2 and 3 years old. Some gerbils live even longer, though. Did you know that there are two gerbils at Twin Squeaks who are over 3 1/2 years old? (They are Samantha and my friend Pippi who helps me answer letters.)
Thanks for writing. Pippi and I were really excited to get your letter!
Your furry friend,
- Nellie
Dear Pippi and Nellie,
Are gerbils good for traveling in the car? -B.
Dear B.,
This is Nellie. Thanks for writing to me and Pippi. :)
Gerbils can travel very well if they need to. For example, if you're moving, or if you need to take your gerbils out of town to see a vet, they can handle car trips as long as you're careful.
Take the water bottle out of the tank so that it doesn't leak during the drive. You should either put the water bottle back in the tank for a few minutes when you take a break from driving or you can give your gerbils a little piece of carrot. The carrot has water in it so they don't get thirsty. Take the carrot out when you give them their water bottle back.
Make sure that your gerbils aren't in direct sunlight, and make sure that the inside of the car is a comfortable temperature before you take your gerbils to the car. You never want your gerbils to get too hot or too cold.
Your gerbils can travel with you if they need to, but it's not something you should do just for fun. But if you need to take your gerbils with you in the car, just do the things in this letter to keep them safe and healthy.
Your friend,
- Nellie
Hey Pippi!
I was wondering, my brother's gerbil, Minnie, is a female black gerbil that we have had for a couple of months. Is it possible to buy another gerbil for her friend even though she is used to living alone? Please email me back! Thank you, Pippi!
From,
- W.
Hi W.,
Yes, it is possible to bring a friend home for Minnie.
However, you can't just put them together right away. Gerbils who don't know each other will fight and hurt each other.
To help Minnie and her new friend meet, you will need to use the split-cage method, which you can read a lot about in the split-cage section of our Tips page. You will need an adult's help to do this safely, so make sure your family will help before youa dopt a new gerbil.
Thanks for writing! Please tell Minnie hi for me. :)
From your buddy,
- Pippi
Dear Pippi & Nellie,
Are there any types of extra foods that gerbils like? -S.B.
Dear S.B.,
This is Pippi. Thanks for writing to me and Nellie!
There are a lot of types of foods gerbils like. My favorite treat in the world is a Cheerio. If you give your gerbils Cheerios, make sure that they are the plain kind and not the kind that taste like honey.
Most gerbils also love Kashi cereal. Just make sure you buy the Kashi 7 Whole Grain Puffs and not the Kashi Honey Puffs. Just hand your gerbils a piece of Kashi cereal, and they'll munch on it like it's popcorn. :)
Your gerbils may also like to have a little piece of a fresh vegetable sometimes. Don't give them vegetables very often, though, and don't give them too much, or it can make them sick. Some veggies that gerbils like include endive (a type of lettuce) and baby carrots. Always take any vegetables out of the tank after several minutes so your gerbils don't eat too much and so the veggies don't get moldy in the tank.
Your pal,
- Pippi
To Pippi and Nellie!
I have a gerbil that keeps scratching its eye and making it bleed. What should I do?
From, B.H.
Hi B.H.!
We're sorry to hear that your gerbil's eye is having trouble. There are several things that can make a gerbil's eye turn red.
Are you sure that your gerbil is scratching its eye? Are there actual scratches? We ask, because our tears are actually red, so if your gerbil has a cold or allergies, its eyes might water. Because the tears are red, it would look like blood.
If it doesn't look like there are cuts near the eye, you might try using a different type of bedding. Maybe your gerbil is allergic to the bedding, and it's making your gerbil's eyes water.
If you can, take your gerbil to the vet so you can find out for sure what's causing the red eye. We hope your gerbil feels better soon!
Your friends,
- Pippi & Nellie
Hello Nellie!
I have a question for you about gerbils. I only have one male gerbil (Carl), and I want to know if it is true that only females can live together with more than one and not males. Please email me back! Thanks!
From,
- W.
Hi W.!
Thanks for writing. It was great to get your letter about Carl!
Male gerbils can live with a friend. In fact, one of the gerbils here is a male named Buster, and he plans to meet a new friend named Herman sometime this month!
If you decide that Carl should have a roommate, though, you'll need to help him meet his friend using the split-cage method. You'll probably need a parent's help with this. It's very important for gerbils to meet this way so that they get along. (Gerbils fight with strangers.)
Also, if you get a friend for Carl, make sure that you get a male gerbil. Make sure the person you adopt your gerbil from knows how to tell a male from a female.
Thanks again for writing. Please Carl hello for me!
Your whiskered friend,
- Nellie
Dear Pippi and Nellie,
How can I get my gerbil to get on his exercise wheel? All he does is hide behind it! Thank you!
Your friend,
V.D.
Dear V.D.,
This is Nellie. :)
It was great to get your letter! We're sorry to hear that your gerbil hasn't figured out how to run in his exercise wheel yet.
Most gerbils love to run in an exercise wheel, but there are a few gerbils who don't like exercise wheels. I suppose it's like how most kids like to ride bikes, but some would rather hang upside-down from the monkey bars at the playground. Your gerbil just might like other activities better than the running in the wheel. We knew a pair of gerbils once named Peek and Trixie, and they never learned to run in an exercise wheel.
On the other hand, maybe your gerbil just hasn't figured out the wheel yet. Pippi didn't run in an exercise wheel for the first two months that she was at Twin Squeaks. But once she figured it out, wow! She really liked to run in her wheel! Pippi doesn't know why it took her so long to learn how to run in the wheel, but she wants you to know that your gerbil might just need some time to figure it out.
Other gerbils know how to run in a wheel right away. When I got to my new home, the first thing I did was start running in the exercise wheel. But I had a wheel in my last home, so I already knew how exercise wheels work.
Give your gerbil some time. He will probably figure out how to run in it one day. In the meantime, give him lots of toilet paper tubes to chew and other things to do. :)
Your friend,
- Nellie
Dear Pippi,
My gerbil sheds a lot of fur. Is this a natural stage for my pet? -S.
Dear S.,
Thanks for writing! It's hard for me to say for sure if your gerbil's fur loss is normal, because I haven't seen your gerbil.
Unless your gerbil's losing a lot of fur, it's probably okay. Some gerbils shed more than others. Some of the gerbils here leave some fur behind on humans' shirts when they hold them. Some of the gerbils don't. It's not unusual for a gerbil to shed a little bit of fur, just like any other pet would.
However, if your gerbil is losing more fur than he or she used to, it could be a sign that your gerbil isn't feeling well. If your gerbil's started shedding more fur, have your vet give your gerbil a check-up to make sure things are okay.
You should also be concerned if you can see bare spots on your gerbil where there used to be fur. That can be a sign of an illness, mites, or skin problems. It can also just be that your gerbil has groomed himself or herself too much.
If your gerbil's just shedding a little bit, don't worry, but if it seems like more than usual, ask your vet to see your gerbil.
Your pal,
- Pippi
Hi,
My cousin has made my gerbils afraid of people. Even me. What can I do to help calm them down again? -A.B.
Hello A.B.,
This is Pippi. Thanks for writing to me and Nellie. I'm sorry to hear that your cousin made your gerbils so scared of people. Sometimes a couple of days is all it takes for us to get over whatever scares us. Other times, you may need to help us feel safe and tame again.
Do you remember how you treated your gerbils when they first came home? You gave them a little bit of space to get used to having people around. And you were very patient with them as they learned to trust you. Try to do some of these things again. Give your gerbils treats from your hand. Spend some time with your hand in the tank. Don't do anything. Just let your hand lie on the floor of the tank, with your palm up. After a while, your gerbils should get curious and come walk across your hand. Don't try to pick them up. Just give them time to explore your hand and feel safe. Find more ideas in the Hand-Tame Your Gerbils tip.
Once that your gerbils aren't quite so jumpy anymore, you might also help them learn to trust you again by letting them play in a dry bathtub with you. (Only do this if your parents say it's okay!)
I think if you give your gerbils time to calm down, they will learn to trust you again. Just take your time and be patient.
Your gerbil buddy,
- Pippi
Hi Pippi & Nellie,
What kind of toys do gerbils like, and what bedding is safe for gerbils? Also, how long does it take for a gerbil to get comfortable in a new home? -M.W.
Hi M.W.!
Thanks for your letter! We gerbils like a lot of toys, and many of them don't even cost anything! Make sure you give us lots of toilet paper tubes. We love run through toilet paper tubes, but more than anything, we like to chew toilet paper tubes into shreds. (We use the soft pieces of shredded cardboard to build a fluffy nest.)
Another great toy is a plain glass jar. Make sure you clean it out well with hot water, and then let it completely dry before giving it to your gerbils. Then put it in the tank, and your gerbils will have a lot of fun. Gerbils like to dig inside the jar, eat snacks inside the jar, and sometimes even sleep inside the jar. I will warn you that your gerbils will probably also use the jar as a bathroom. Just take the jar out every day or two, rinse it out really well with hot water, let it dry, and then you can give it back to your gerbils again. If your gerbils use the jar as a bathroom, though, it keeps the rest of the tank clean longer!
All of the gerbils at Twin Squeaks also like plain brown paper lunch sacks. We can crawl inside them, dig inside in the corners, chew them up, hide in them, stash our favorite treats in them, and hop on them.
 Most gerbils also like exercise wheels. You can read about some safe wheels in our old Gerbil-Safe Wheels tip. There are also newer wheels available now (like the one Hope's standing on in the photo to the left) that have a wire mesh running surface. The wire mesh wheels are safe. It's just the wheels that have rungs like ladders that aren't safe.
You can read more about safe types of bedding in our old gerbil bedding tip. Our favorite type of bedding here is corncob, but a lot of gerbils also like beddings such as Carefresh or aspen.
It shouldn't take your gerbil too long to get used to a new home. It's just a good idea not to disrupt or chase gerbils too much when you first bring them home. Give them a day or so to get settled. Then you can start taming them slowly. You'll find several taming tips on the Tip Of The Month page.
Thanks again for writing to us!
Your furry friends,
- Pippi & Nellie
Dear Pippi & Nellie,
How do you show a gerbil you love it? -G.
Hello G.,
This is Nellie writing. :)
I'm so glad that you asked us how to tell a gerbil that you love him or her. Your gerbil is lucky that you care so much!
There are several ways to show your gerbils how you feel. One of the simplest is to give them fun things to do. For example, we love to chew up toilet paper tubes.
You can also hand-feed us treats. Gerbils love sunflower seeds, so you can pick the sunflower seeds out of your gerbil's food before you put it in the tank. Then, later, you can hand your gerbil one of the sunflower seeds as a snack! Just be careful not to feed your gerbil too many sunflower seeds. They are very fattening!
Some other treats that gerbils like are plain (not honey-flavored!!) Cheerios and Kashi 7 Whole Grain Puffs cereal. Pippi's favorite treats are Cheerios, but my favorite snack is Kashi cereal.
If your parents approve, you can let your gerbil play in a dry bathtub for some fun time outside the tank. You can read more about this in our Use Your Bathtub As A Gerbil Playground tip.
You'll also find a lot of great ideas for fun things to do with gerbils in our letter to R..
Finally, don't forget that one of the best ways to show your gerbil how you feel is to take good care of him or her. Clean the tank regularly, make sure there's always enough food and water, and make sure that he or she is healthy.
If you do these things, your gerbil should know how much you care. :)
Your pal,
- Nellie
Dear Pippi & Nellie,
I want to know what I can do with my gerbil in my spare time. I have nothing to do with him! All I do is hold him.
Your friend,
- V.D.
Hi R.,
Thanks for writing to us. :)
It's great that you want to find more ways to make your gerbil happy and have fun with him! We have some ideas for things that you can do with your gerbil.
First, you can build fun things for your gerbil to play with. For example, see our old Homemade Gerbil Furnishings tip, which shows how you can use plain Elmer's All-Purpose Non-Toxic Glue (the same type you use in school) to glue wooden gerbil toys together in fun ways so that your gerbil has an interesting place to climb and play. Just make sure that the glue is completely dry before you give the new toy to your gerbil.
You can also let your gerbil take a sandbath. This is fun for your gerbil, but it's also fun you watch your gerbil roll in the sand!
Your gerbil can also entertain you by making paper snowflakes. This is one of our favorite things to do. :)
If you have a chore that you don't want to do, you can make things much more fun for yourself and your gerbil. Just give your gerbil a toilet-paper tube and then have a race to see if he can finish shredding the tube before you finish your chore!
If you want more ways to play with your gerbil, if your parents say it's okay, you can let your gerbil have playtime in a dry bathtub. You can even sit in the tub with your gerbil and let him crawl over your feet and sit in your lap.
You can also consider building a gerbil playground for your gerbil. Just get a large, clean plastic storage tub and fill it with some type of bedding material. Then place cereal boxes, gerbil toys, cardboard tubes, and other fun (and safe) items in the tub for your gerbil to explore. While your gerbil's having fun exploring the plastic tub, you'll need to sit next to the tub and make sure he doesn't jump out. Your gerbil will really have fun playing for a while outside of his tank, though!
If you have more ideas for other ways to have fun and play with your gerbils, please let us know!
Your friends,
- Pippi & Nellie
Dear Pippi & Nellie,
Is it true that gerbils take sandbaths? Should I put a bowl of sand in there each week? -R.
Hello R.,
This is Nellie. Thanks for your letter. :)
Yes, gerbils love to take sandbaths! This is how we keep our fur clean. In the wild, gerbils live in the desert, where there isn't much water, so we can't take a bath in water. Instead, we roll in the sand, and this dusts off our fur and removes the oil from it. After a sandbath, we feel much better, and our fur is nice and soft and shiny.
Your pet gerbils can take a sandbath, too. Just get a small, shallow dish or bowl (cat bowls work great, and so do butter trays or small loaf pans). Then buy some Chinchilla sand, such as Super-Pet Chinchilla Bath Sand. Make sure you buy Chinchilla sand and not Chinchilla dust. The sand isn't as dusty, so your gerbils won't look powdery after their baths. Also, the Chinchilla dust is a little bit harder on your gerbils' lungs, because it's so fine and dusty.
You don't need to put much sand in the dish. Just a small layer is enough. Then place the dish in your gerbils' tank and wait for the fun to begin!
Sometimes, it takes a little while for gerbils to figure out what to do if it's their first time in the sand. Don't be surprised if they spend some time digging in the sand or even munching on the sand. (Don't worry. It won't hurt them if they eat a little bit of it.) Eventually, though, they figure out to flop onto their backs and roll in the sand.
You can read more about sandbaths in our Sandbaths For Gerbils tip. There is also a movie clip there of Suzie taking a sandbath. :)
If you read this letter before July 20th, 2006, take a minute to vote in this weeks' Gerbil Poll, because this week's question is about sandbaths!
I'm so glad that you took the time to write. Pippi and I were so happy to get your letter. :)
Your buddy,
- Nellie
Dear Pippi & Nellie,
What is the best food and bedding material that you can buy for gerbils? -M.
Hi M.,,
It was great to hear from you! Thanks for writing. :)
Gerbils who live in the wild eat a lot of seeds as well as some plant leaves. Wild gerbils also like to eat insects.
Because your gerbils are pets, they don't have to search the desert for seeds, plants, and insects. They're lucky, because you can make sure that they have food available whenever they need it and that they have the right balance of foods.
 Most gerbil/hamster mixes in pet stores are very good, because they have the right mix of seeds, vegetables, and protein.. The bag of food should list the nutrient content. The American Gerbil Society suggests that you feed your gerbils a food mix that is approximately 12% protein and 7% fat. If your gerbils are more than 2 years old, they need a special diet. The American Gerbil Society suggests that these older gerbils get about 10.5% protein and only about 4% fat. To the right, you can see a photo of Tidy Tuft Gerbils' Spike eating from a gerbil food mix.
Here at Twin Squeaks, we get just a little bit of uncooked Kashi Pilaf or uncooked Red River Cereal mixed in with the store-bought gerbil food our owners buy.
Sunflower seeds are very fattening, but we gerbils love them. Almost all gerbil foods include sunflower seeds. It's a great idea to pick the sunflower seeds out of the food before you give it to your gerbils. Place the sunflower seeds in a small cup next to your gerbils' tank, and you can hand them a couple of sunflower seeds each day as a special treat. :)
Other great treats to feed your gerbils by hand include Cheerios (plain not Honey Nut), Kashi 7 Whole Grain Puffs Cereal (formerly called Puffed Kashi), pumpkin seeds, and unsweetened raisins.
You can find more information about gerbil foods in Twin Squeaks' Gerbil Food tip.
We also have a link with some information about types of gerbil bedding. In case you're curious, all of us here at Twin Squeaks live on corncob bedding. None of us are allergic to it, and we all have a lot of fun digging in it and kicking it around. We get lots of toilet paper tubes and plain white toilet paper to shred into soft fluff for nests. In the past, some gerbils at Twin Squeaks have lived on aspen, Carefresh, and Carefresh Ultra beddings.
Your pet pals,
- Pippi & Nellie
Dear Pippi,
What if you are looking for a breeder, and you can't find one? Will gerbils from pet stores be just as good and healthy?
Also, I was wondering if it would be better to get a pair of male or female gerbils? I love gerbils so I don't want them to fight. Will two females fight over spots if they are overprotective? My cousin has two males, and they get along great, so I'm wondering if females are OK or not. All the pet stores only have females for some odd reason!!
Your friend,
- C.N.B.
Hi C.N.B.!,
Thanks for writing to me! I'll try to help you choose a great pair of gerbils. :)
First, if you still want to adopt from a breeder, you might be able to find one through the American Gerbil Society's breeder listings.
If you can't find a breeder in your area, you could also check for gerbils at a shelter. You can find shelter gerbils in your area at PetFinder.com or the Open Directory Project's list of shelters.
There are both healthy and unhealthy gerbils who come from pet shops. For example, there was a gerbil here at Twin Squeaks named Lindsay who came from a pet shop, and she was sick and didn't live long at all. On the other hand, I came from a pet shop, and I'm over 3 1/2 years old now. That's a very good age for a gerbil, so as you can see, you can find a healthy gerbil at a pet shop if there aren't breeders in your area!
Nellie wrote a letter in May about how to tell if a gerbil is healthy. Here is a link to the letter about choosing a healthy gerbil.
 You also asked about whether a pair of female gerbils will get along. You can never be sure that a pair of gerbils, either male or female, will get along forever. But if you adopt a pair of females who are already living together, they will probably get along just fine. Here at Twin Squeaks, Audrey and Ramona were sisters who lived their entire lives together and never fought. We included a photo of them with this letter. They were curled up, sleeping together. You can see how well they got along. :)
I lived with my sister Annika. And Hope and her sister Faith always got along, too.
Make sure that you only adopt two gerbils, because groups of three or more females often eventually fight.
You can help your pair of gerbils get along by always washing your hands before you put your hands in the tank and by using soap that doesn't smell. (Strange smells sometimes make gerbils fight.) If you do those things, there's a really good chance that a pair of females will get along great.
Your furry friend,
- Pippi
Hi Pippi!!! Hi Nellie!!!
I really like your Web site. O.K. Here it is!! My gerbil keeps peeling the hairs off her nose. I wonder why she's doing that? -N.
Hello N.!,
Thanks for writing to us! We're sorry that we couldn't write back sooner. We were home with a gerbil-sitter while the humans here were on vacation. We couldn't use the computer while they were away! We're very happy to have a chance to write to you now, though!
There are a couple of things that could cause your gerbil to lose the fur from her nose. First, does she live in a wire cage? If so, when she chews on the bars of the cage, the bars might be rubbing the fur off her nose. If you think this is what's happening, you can move her from a wire cage to a glass tank (a 10-gallon fish tank makes a great gerbil home).
Second, what type of bedding does your gerbil live on? If she's allergic to the bedding, she may get a sore nose (just like you do if you have a bad cold) and rub the fur off her nose. We knew a gerbil named Peek who used to have a sore nose whenever she lived on aspen bedding. After she switched to Carefresh (a paper-based bedding), her nose wasn't sore anymore!
Some bedding types to try are corncob (which you can find in the bird aisle of your pet shop), Carefresh, or Carefresh Ultra. Most gerbils aren't allergic to these bedding types, but you might have to experiment to find one that works for your gerbil. You can also use plain white shredded paper, but it will get stinky faster, so you'll have to clean the tank much more often if you use plain white paper.
We hope one of these suggestions will help your gerbil grow the fur back on her nose! Thanks again for writing to us. Tell your gerbil hi for us!
Your pals,
- Pippi & Nellie
Dear Pippi & Nellie,
In your own opinion, are female gerbils better than male, or are male gerbils better than female?? - C.N.
Hi C.N.,
Thanks for writing. Sorry that it took me a few days to get back to you. Things have been very busy at Twin Squeaks lately!
Both male and female gerbils are friendly and make nice pets, but there are some differences between them. Some people find that males are a little bit more mellow compared to females, who are very curious and always very active. However, there are plenty of calm females, and there are also plenty of very busy, active males.
Really, you should like either males or females. Both are a lot of fun to have as pets. The only really important difference is that if something ever happens to one of your gerbils, and you want to find a new friend for the other gerbil, it is easier to help a male gerbil make a new friend. Female gerbils are a little bit trickier to introduce.
Whether you decide to adopt male or female gerbils, though, I'm sure you'll love your pets! Thanks again for writing!
Your buddy,
- Pippi
Click the Ask A Question button below to send Nellie & Herman your own gerbil question. Or click the Read Letters button to read older letters from Pippi & Nellie.
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