Adoption Info

[PinkGerbil]

I breed for a Hobie and for the love of gerbils. I enjoy raising them as pets and spending time with them each day. The ones that I do breed I enjoy being a part of there family and helping them raise there babies. Whenever they do have babies they look so happy and proud, they stand up and look at me with a dopey grin on there face like to say, "Check me out, I am a new Mommy or Daddy".

When I breed I pick out certain gerbils that I think will produce different color varieties: right now my gerbils produce: Nutmeg, Red Fox, Dove, Black, and sometimes they have Himalayan gerbils (but only once and awhile). I will have more color varieties soon!

Before you read the following information please keep in mind that I am not aware of what kind of gerbil experience individuals have. You may have years and years experience or this may be your first gerbils as pets, so this is geared for everyone who may read it. As a breeder it is my responsibility to make sure everyone has some kind of knowledge of gerbils before they adopt from me. I wouldn't be a responsible breeder if I gave them away without giving anyone any information.

Whenever pups are available they will be free to loving homes. Please have everything ready before you adopt gerbils from me. Also gerbils live in pairs, so if you are interested in adopting some you should adopt at least 2 of them of the same sex pair (the gerbils I adopt out now are either brothers and sisters or cousins & all related in some form, so a boy/girl pair will breed and make babies).

Also, I hand tame all the pups that are born in my home. They are very friendly and have never bitten me. However if they are picked up wrong or handled wrong they may feel uncomfortable or frightened they might bite. I have 2 pups so far when people have adopted them from me, when they were picking them up they held them slightly too tight and they got bit slightly.

To pick up a gerbil I usually scoop them up with one or two hands and then let them walk around on me and explore. Gerbils don't like to be held for too long but will run around on you and be very affectionate. If you have small children and are concerned with them getting bit, you may want to consider bringing your children over when they adopt them and I can show them a good way to pick them up so they most likely won't get bit.

Also, if I just have small babies at the time and they are not available for adoption yet. You may arrange a time to come over my home and see all my gerbils with your children and your child can spend time with them and practice picking them up or just learning about them. However, if they visit gerbils in different tanks they will have to clean there hands in between different gerbils (I explain why later) (also wet naps will probably do instead of washing the hands). This is also a good oppurtunity for your children to see the little cute pups and you and them can get a good idea of what colors I have .

Here is a few adoption requirments:

I expect adopters to show up w/ the gerbils housing (a 10 gallon tank or bigger or a metal cage), and carefresh or aspen bedding, and a water bottle and proper food for them. Also, if you adopt multiple pairs from me that are different sexes I expect you to come with different habitats for them (unless you have prior experience with gerbils and are able to sex them later on your own into different habitats), and to also have clean habitats.

Habitats that haven't been cleaned and had different animals in them, there scents will get onto the gerbils you are adopting and will probably result in your new gerbils declaning (fighting and injuring one another). I just post this because I have experienced adopters doing this when they have adopted gerbils from me.

Also if you have cats, I don't find anything wrong with that because I have a cat too, but I expect you to keep your gerbils in a safe area in your home away from your cat or cats. Cats are very smart animals and will find a way to get to your gerbils, I know my cat tried (bad kitty).

I do ask that if you are new to gerbils, please research how to care for them before considering them for pets. If you have any questions about raising them and caring for them please e-mail me at [e-mail]. (Although I do cover alot on this website so if you read information on here that will do, Also the American Gerbil Society gives out oodles and oodles of information and covers alot more information, there link is on the links category on this website).

I just have all these rules because I just want everyone who adopts them to have the best experience with them, and to enjoy there new little friends ;D. I am a very easy going person and most times will work with adopters and try my best to help them out .

I live in the Bartlesville Oklahoma area, if you live close by I may or may not be able to bring the gerbils to you. It depends how far away you are, or if I can get the time off from work.

Thanks for your interest.

[PinkGerbil]

More Information (please read):

1) I would also like to add that if you have any other pets in your house hold that you should wash your hands after handling your other pets before handling your gerbils. For example, say you play and spend time with your cat, the scent of the cat gets on your hands. Gerbils don't rely on seeing other gerbils and recognizing other gerbils as there mates, they rely on there scent, so if there cage mate suddenly smells like a cat, your gerbil will think it is a cat, and will feel threatened and a fight will most likely break out. And once gerbils fight and draw blood on each other they no longer have a bond, and you will have to seperate them. Gerbils love living with other gerbils, so a alone gerbil is a miserable gerbil.

When I was new to gerbils a few years ago, I didn't know this, and I had a few gerbils split up, so I have experienced this first hand.

2) Also when it comes time to clean out your gerbils tank or cage, you can use those tiny plastic carriers to put them in while cleaning there tank. But keep in mind if another animal has been in it you must clean it out first in hot water and bleach to kill the scent of the other animal.

I also have used solid laundry or big storage containors. I think this gives them more room to run around in, and less stress for them while there home gets clean. Also before I clean there tank I empty all there litter from there tank into the storage containor so they have some bedding in there while there tank gets cleaned. Than after I am done cleaning there tank I put a tiny bit of the old litter in with the new litter, so they still have a bit of there scents in there cage or tank (I have read this from another gerbil website about a month ago and thought it to be a good idea so been doing that ever since, but it is optional).

I always clean out there tank or cage in the bath tub, making sure I get all the bedding out (cause it will clog the bath tub). I use scalding hot water and about half a glass of bleach. If you have a small cage or tank you can fill up the bath tub half way to save on water. Bleach is a really inexpensive way to clean the tank, I buy mine for like a dollar at the dollar store and it lasts me for a long time.

I just want to cover everything to help you with your new pets. Usually when someone adopts a gerbil from me they are so excited about getting some new pets and they might forget to ask questions. And sometimes I also forget to mention ideas to new owners, so I thought I would post all this information on here so anyone can refer to it anytime .