1. Chapter Twenty
Gerbils

2. ALAT Presentations Study Tips
If viewing this in PowerPoint, use the icon to run the show (bottom left of screen).
Mac users go to “Slide Show > View Show” in menu bar
Click on the Audio icon: when it appears on the left of the slide to hear the narration.
From “File > Print” in the menu bar, choose “notes pages”, “slides 3 per page” or “outline view” for taking notes as you listen and watch the presentation.
Start your own notebook with a 3 ring binder, for later study!

3. Gerbils
Known for its handling, temperament, environmental changes & low occurrence of natural diseases.
Gerbils = “jird” or “desert rat”
Native to Mongolia & northeastern China.
Used to study stroke & epilepsy.

4. Handling & Restraint Gently grasp base of tail & lift from cage.
Do not pick up by tip of the tail! Skin may tear off & expose vertebrae.
Cup both hands under & gently lift from cage.
Restraint is similar to restraint used for a mouse.
Grasp loose skin at back of neck w/ thumb & index finger of other hand.
With back of gerbil in palm of your hand, grasp tail with little finger.

5. Physiological Data Body temperature: 96.3°- 102.7°F
 Heart rate: / min
 Respiratory rate: / min
 Weight: adult gm; newborn 3 gm
 Water consumption: ml / day or ml / 100 gm body weight daily
 Food consumption: 47 gm / day or gm per 100 gm body weight daily
 Feces/Urine: similar to mouse
 Life span: years

6. Sexing & Breeding Form monogamous pairs
Attempts to separate pairs to mate with another animal are unsuccessful & can result in fighting & death.
Establish breeding pairs before reach maturity.
ID sex by anogenital distance, longer in male.
Have a postpartum estrus.
Sexual maturity: days
Estrous cycle: polyestrus (every days)
Gestation: days
Litter size:
Weaning: 21 days

7. Behavior Clean, docile and curious
Desert animal & adapted to efficient use of water.
Little odor compared to other rodents.
“Cyclic activity” or intermittent periods of high-level activity followed by periods of rest or sleep.
Male and female have ventral marking gland.
Foot stomping is a commonly heard sound.
integral part of the sex ritual
also a means of communicating danger
Approximately 20% have epileptic seizures.
usually result of handling, loud noises or excitement
appear to freeze, twitch or kick

8. Husbandry Diet Housed in shoebox cages w/ contact bedding.
Single & group housing systems both used.
Also housed in suspended wire-bottom cages.
Shoebox cages should be changed 1x/ wk.
Shelving & cage racks should be sanitized at least 1x/ 2 wks, & pans cleaned at least 2x/ wk.
Diet
Fed same rodent diet suitable for rats & mice.
Drink very little water, but always provide.

9. Additional Reading
Anderson, R.S. and A.T.B Edney. Practical Animal Handling. Pergamon Press, Oxford, UK
Field, Karl, and Amber Sibold. The Laboratory Hamster and Gerbil. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL
Harkness, J.E. and J.E. Wagner. The Biology and Medicine of Rabbits and Rodents. Williams and Wilkins
Hrapkiewicz, Karen, Leticia Medina, and Donald D. Holmes. Clinical Laboratory Animal Medicine: An Introduction, 2nd Ed. Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA
Laber-Laird, K., M.M. Swindle, P. Flecknell, Handbook of Rodent and Rabbit Medicine. Pergamon Press, Oxford, UK