For ages: 8 & up, with adult supervision
Pet lifespan: up to 3 years
Pet size: approximately 4" (10 cm) body plus an equal length tail
Nutrition
Choose a fortified diet appropriate for gerbils. Fill the bowl approximately 3/4 full.
Treat your gerbil to one teaspoon of chopped apples or carrots twice a week. Take care not to overfeed these fresh foods. They contain a lot of moisture and too much can cause an upset stomach.
These hard and crunchy treats keep your gerbil's front teeth trimmed -- always keep one in the habitat.
Water
Change and fill your gerbil's water bottle with clean water every day.
Health
Signs of a healthy gerbil:
* Clean, bright eyes
* Soft fur with no bare patches
* Curious, active behavior
* Eats and drinks normally
* Well-formed droppings with no diarrhea
Things to watch for:
* Overgrown front teeth
* Bare patches in the fur
* Diarrhea or discolored droppings for longer than two days
* Lethargic behavior
* Weight loss; not eating or drinking normally
* Sneezing; discharge from the eyes, nose or mouth
