Basic Sciences Bldg. 2001 S. Lincoln Ave. They are more active than hamsters and have active periods during both day and night. They are friendlier and more docile than other rodents. And their cage stays cleaner because they are a desert animal that doesn't drink or urinate much.
Gerbils are relatively inexpensive to purchase and feed and require only minimal space and care.
They also make good solitary pets. However, they enjoy interaction, and the more a gerbil is handled, the tamer it will be. Gerbils that are not accustomed to being handled may bite. Most gerbils live three to four years and have few health problems. Like other mammals, gerbils can develop cancers in their later years.