Do gerbils enjoy being in the run around balls?

[ecoa]

I am planing on getting a gerbil. I also was thinking about getting the little plastic balls they can roll around in. My dad says that it would probably just scare the gerbil, being in the ball. I don't know what to do. buy one or not??

[RW]

You have a 50-50 chance. Either your gerbils will like the ball or they won't.

Some of mine have really enjoyed playing in their balls, crawling into them willingly and rolling around everywhere. It's easy to tell when a gerbil doesn't like a ball--it just sits and doesn't do anything.

BTW, you should get two gerbils. Most gerbils are happier having a friend and two gerbils in the same tank are as easy to take care of as one. Just be sure to get two of the same sex, unless you want pups.

RW

[ecoa]

HEY, RW

How do I know what sex they are. People have told me but it just dosn't make sense. Do you have a picture or somthing? I'm confused.

[RW]

Here are a couple of sites with photos to help you sex a gerbil:

www.gerbils.co.uk/gerbils/gender.htm

www.wagerbils.com/sexinggerbils.html

RW

[gerbil]

It's probably better (in my opinion) to let gerbils run around in a closed, safe area. They tend to poop and pee in the balls and it gets all over their fur. yuk!

[AndreaS15]

Usually my gerbils excpet a couple, enjoy the run-about-balls. Sicne I got my play pens though, we havn't used the balls.
I havn't found my gerbils to pee in them (though my old hamster sure did, yuck) but they sure like to drop little presents out the holes onto the carpet.
The only this I don't care for the play pens is gerbils can jump out of them, while in the balls they are pretty safe to roll where these please.