how long do you think they can live?

[gerbillover2000]

WELL... my gerbies are (roughly) 3 yrs old... and healthy as ever! then run and dig and chew like they always have. Flicka is in perfect health, as far as i can tell, and Jackie is looking a little undrweight, but she has always looked a bit skinny. The do sleep alot more though, but they still let me hold them, though i think it might cause a bit of discomfort for Jacie, so i try to interact with her in other ways. i just wondere how long you think they can live?

[RitzieAnn]

That's a good question! I'm not sure how much longer they'll live, but as far as Jackie goes... you can feed her crickets. They're high in protine.

[meganb52]

I've heard from some of my friends that they can live 5+ years in some circumstances...

-Megan

[doomgerbiluk]

One of the interesting things about gerbils is in captivity they can live for a surprisingly long time. My forst gerbils are now pushing 4 but I have heard of gerbils commonly reaching 5, some 6 or 7 and one making the grand age of 8!!! (unconfirmed).
in the wild the eldest gerbil recorded was 1 year old, but of course predation, sickness and diet will all play their part. Even genetics its seems, as some lines seem to live longer.
So the question 'how long will my gerbil live?' is rather like how long is piece of a string?, we don't know.
I would say that between 2 and 5 is normal.

[paws]

My friend had some that lived for 6 yrs, so 3 is good! They will probably live for a long while more!

[gerbillover2000]

oh, this makes me very happy! i've usualy only had them 4 3 yrs though, but they were never as healthy as these are now in there old age. also, the other ones i had here never used a wheel, except peter, who ran noight and day. maybe that has an effect on them? peter outlived most of his children, even though we think his children were inbred.

[AndreaS15]

My cousin had a gerbil live to 6 yrs.
My Pet Store stock gerbils live between 3-4 yrs.
I think 3-4 is pretty normal for life expectancy.

[rnltred]

Luana who has kept gerbils since the only color availble in the US was agouti (a long time) had a gerbil who lived to be 8 years and was deaf as a stone at the end. He was an exception though.
Keith & Luana
Green Mt. Gerbils
AGS members

[sandy]

Wow he should go in the Guinness book of records!

[rnltred]

rnltred said:

Luana who has kept gerbils since the only color availble in the US was agouti (a long time) had a gerbil who lived to be 8 years and was deaf as a stone at the end. He was an exception though.
Keith & Luana
Green Mt. Gerbils
AGS members

I must post a correction. I was thinking about this statement and realized it did seem incredible. I checked with Luana when she got home from work, and I was wrong. He lived to be about 6, not 8. I remembered incorrectly and apologize for any confusion my comments may have caused.
Keith

[RitzieAnn]

Still that's old! My 2 girls from my first litter (Little B and Honey Dew) just turned one year old on the 14th! Neela will be one on the 19th of February.

[maiziecat17]

My oldest is just over four and has just produced his first litter of pups!

[blackie]

My oldest gerbil Matilda is now 3 1/2 -4. I don't know exactly when she was born becasue she was born and bred in a pet shop in Haugesund, Norway, then she was a birthday present for my brother until I adopted her. Now she is a happy senior gerbil.
She looks really grey and she has lost some muscle mass because she is a lot less active, but she seems healthy. I guess you ahve to prepare yorself for losing them eventually. But it's really sad everytime.