Finding out the age

[butsam]

What is the best way to find out the age of a gerbil? (If there is any way at all?)

I have heard tail length is the biggest indicator...it makes me think the gerbils I have are between 6 weeks and 1 year old, since the tail is more than 2 inches long, but definitely less than 4 inches long, and I know the tail grows 2 inches in 6 weeks, then continues up to 4 inches after the first year.

I got gerbils from the pet store here, and they said they had just got them from a breeder, so it seems likely they are maybe 2 months old, but it is hard to tell, and the pet store wasn't really sure...they just told me usually they aren't sold until 6 weeks old, and that they had only had the gerbils for a couple of days. This makes me think I have gerbils that are about 2 months old (I have had them for a week and a half).

Any other ways people know of to help determine the age, such as size of the gerbil?

Thanks,

Sam

[Ritzie/Admin]

It is always hard to tell how old the gerbils are when you don't know! Especially when they're mature!

If not the tail lenght and the size of the testicles (with males), and their overall body size would be a good indicator. And of cource the information you've got from the breeder pet shop.

So 2 months sound reasonable accurate!