An Overview of 5 Gerbil Breeds

Globally, there are 87 species of Gerbils and 14 genera. All of them are members of the mammal family Gerbillinae. They were previously called desert rats. These tiny creatures are mostly native to Asia, Africa, and India.

Today, almost every pet shop will sell gerbils, with the exception of California where it is illegal to buy or keep them as pets. There are only two types of gerbils that you can keep as pets, despite the fact that there are many gerbils all over the globe.

The last three gerbils on this list might be great pets, but they are not native to their home country.

Continue reading to discover which type of Gerbil is right for you.

1. Mongolian Gerbils

The Mongolian gerbil, the most commonly found gerbil in pet shops, is the most popular. Their appearance is very similar, with large black eyes and a medium-length, thin tail.

Mongolian gerbils can be found in the Steppe region, of Mongolia. In 1954, Dr. Victor Schwentker brought them to the USA for research. They became popular small mammals and were quickly adopted into the pet trade. They were not introduced to the UK or the rest of Europe until 1960.

Because Mongolian gerbils have become so popular, it has been possible to selectively breed them with different coat colors. They only have the golden agouti color in the wild.

These gerbils can come in:

• Black
• Burmese
• Light red Fox
• Schimmel
• Silver nutmeg
• Ivory cream
• Grey agouti
• Pink-eyed white
• Polar fox
• Honey with red-eyed and darker eyes
• Saffron
• Lilac
• Dove
• Sapphire

Because they prefer to live in groups, Mongolian gerbils often are kept in large to medium-sized enclosures. Although they are social animals, they will often enjoy the company of other gerbils. A group of Mongolian Gerbils that includes two males and two women from the same litter is ideal. They will not accept a new pair if they are introduced to another gerbil at maturity.

These gerbils have a friendly attitude toward humans. They are curious, non-aggressive, and quirky. They are confident and easy to manage, both inside and outside their enclosure.

The average length of a Mongolian gerbil is between 6 and 8 inches from its nose to its tail. Their tails are approximately 2/3 their body length. They live an average of 3-5 years. However, they can live much longer if taken care of properly.

2. Fat-tailed Gerbils

Fat-tailed Gerbils are the only other species of gerbil that can be kept as pets outside their home country. They are just starting to be popular in pet shops across North America, Europe, and elsewhere.

This gerbil is easy to distinguish from the Mongolian gerbils purely based on its tail width. Their name is a result of their short, club-shaped tail. It only measures 2 inches in length but is very thick and club-shaped. Because this species of Gerbil stores fats and water in its tails, they are very unique. A happy fat-tailed Gerbil will have a nice, round tail.

Unfortunately, fat-tailed gerbils are not popular enough to be selectively bred at this time. They are only available in one type of coat. They have thick, soft, fluffy fur with a mottled yellow-gray pattern on the top that fades to white underneath. They can live up to 5-7 years and grow to 4 inches from their nose to their tail base.

The fat-tailed Gerbil is a native of northern Africa’s desert regions. Fernand Lataste, a French zoologist, discovered them and documented them for the first time in Algeria in 1880.

Because they can be social but also happy to live on their own, fat-tailed gerbils are great pets. They don’t bite and are very friendly. They are known for being the most gentle species in the gerbil family.

3. Pallid Gerbils

We know very little about Shaw’s jird, great gerbil, and pallid gerbil. They are rarely kept as pets, except in their home countries. These gerbils are some of the most well-known and they have been added to our list.

Pallid gerbils (or Gerbillus perpallidus) hail from Egypt. Although they are similar in size, shape, and color to the Mongolian Gerbil, their bodies and tails are shorter and more streamlined. Their skin is covered with a thin layer of pale orange fur which fades to white at their midsection. Due to their hotter habitats, they have shorter coats than the Mongolian.

It is very easy to care for the pallid gerbil in a similar manner to the Mongolian. They require the same care to be properly fed, cleaned, and handled. If they get proper treatment, pallid Gerbils will live to about five years.

4. Great Gerbils

Rhombomys, also known as the great gerbil or Rhombomys, is the largest species of the gerbil subfamily. Their name says it all. Because they are more aggressive than other species and have an appetite that is almost unbearable, they are rarely kept as pets.

The great gerbil’s adorable, mouse-like appearance is not a good thing. It’s larger than most rats, and more like a Midwestern prairie dog.

A rumor is also being circulated in the scientific community that great gerbils are responsible for the Black Death, not rats as many believed at the time.

The great gerbil can be found in parts of Central Asia. Because they can accumulate incredible amounts of grain in their destructive burrows, Western China communities have problems with them.

5. Shaw’s Jirds

The Shaw’s Jird is another alternative to the much-loved and well-known great gerbil. Although the Shaw’s Jird (or Meriones Shawi) is a larger breed of a gerbil, it has maintained its cuteness and small size. They have a long tail that is covered with skin. Instead of having a covered tail, they are covered in fine, short hairs. This gives them a more attractive appearance than other hairless gerbils.

Shaw’s Jird is a common pet gerbil in North African countries. They are less friendly than the other three gerbils, and the females can be aggressive toward each other. Two male Shaw’s jirds should be kept together, or one male and one female.

Shaw’s jirds can have a black or tan coat on the top, which fades to white beneath. They are very friendly with humans and can be handled well. They rarely bite. These gerbils are more friendly to humans than any other species.