How Much Does a Gerbil Cost? 2025 Price Guide

A gerbil is a cute little rodent that is easy to care for and fun to watch. They make an excellent first-time pet and is often the first animal that a child takes care of. You can get one at just about any pet store, and they’re quite affordable for a small pet.

In fact, when you see that price tag at the pet shop, you might think that bringing home this rodent will be cheap! While gerbil ownership is not as expensive as owning many other pets, there are less obvious costs that you will need to consider. That $10 gerbil can cost several times more once you factor in things like their cage, food, and bedding.

If you’re looking to add a gerbil to your family, you should be aware of these expenses so you can get a fair idea of the true cost of purchasing and caring for this critter. Here, we explore all these costs so there are no surprises when you commit to a gerbil as a pet.

Bringing Home a New Gerbil: One-Time Costs

There are various one-time costs to consider when purchasing a new gerbil, starting with the animal themselves. You’ll also need quite a few items to care for them. For instance, a cage is a requirement, and it’ll need to be large enough for your gerbil to run around in and burrow through the bedding or substrate, which is another cost that you’ll have to account for. Overall, you can expect to pay about $150 to $250 to get your gerbil and everything necessary to care for them.

Free

If you scroll Craigslist or other classified ads, you’re likely to find several gerbils that you can pick up for free. Many people purchase these pets but find themselves unable to care for them. You might even be lucky enough to find a free gerbil that comes with a cage and other necessities.

Adoption

• $5–$50

You might be surprised to find that shelters sometimes have gerbils that you can adopt. Every shelter will have different adoption policies and prices, but generally, it’s a more affordable way to get this pet. They’ll often come with cages and basic accessories too, which is really where you’re saving money when adopting a gerbil.

Breeder

• $10–$100

Breeders are the experts on gerbils. If you find a reputable breeder, you’ll have a good selection of critters to choose from and a knowledgeable source for the information you need. You can expect your gerbil to cost $10 to $100. Make sure the breeder you choose is in good standing. You want to see healthy babies in a clean environment. If possible, ask to see the mother. She should be healthy and happy in a clean cage. Avoid breeders with dirty cages or animals that look sick or lethargic and those who don’t want to show you their facilities.

Gerbil Breeds

There are more than 80 different types of gerbils. However, most are not kept as pets. Of all the different gerbil breeds available, only two are commonly kept as pets.

Mongolian Gerbil

• $5–$15

Mongolian gerbils are the most common and popular to keep as pets. They’re found natively across Mongolia and are often called desert rats. They live for about 3 to 5 years and can reach nearly 6 inches in length. Being so common, these are affordable pets, with average prices falling between $5 and $15.

Fat-Tailed Gerbil

• Up to $100

Also known as the duprasi gerbil or beer mat gerbil, this little rodent is a bit smaller than the Mongolian variety. They reach a max length of around 4 inches, with a lifespan of 5–7 years. These are the most docile gerbils around, and they’re native to Africa. They are quite rare compared to Mongolian gerbils, and their pricing reflects that, with some specimens costing as much as $100.

Supplies

• $80–$200

Your gerbil is going to require several supplies for their safety and good health. A wheel is necessary so they can exercise, keeping them healthy and preventing boredom. Remember that gerbil wheels are different from hamster wheels, so you can’t interchange them. You’ll also need a water dispenser and plenty of food. Of course, a cage and substrate are the most important supplies, since your gerbil will be housed in the cage and living on the substrate.

List of Gerbil Care Supplies & Cost

Annual Expenses

• $100–$500 per year

When considering annual expenses, you have to factor in anything that’s a recurring cost. For instance, the substrate will need to be replaced regularly. Food will have to be purchased whenever it runs low. Healthcare is necessary anytime your gerbil starts to display poor health or strange behaviors. At the very least, you should expect to spend $100 each year on food and substrate.

Health Care

• $0–$200 per year

Gerbils aren’t like dogs or cats, but they still can get ill. Your pet will typically only require minimal medical attention, but if they start to display signs of poor health, you’ll need to do something about it. While basic medication and checkups aren’t too expensive, if your gerbil needs surgery or specialized care, the cost can climb quickly.

Check-Ups

• $40–$80 per year

A vet checkup for a gerbil will generally cost around $40 each time. It’s recommended that you take your pet in for at least one checkup annually, and it can be a great way to ensure that there are no underlying problems that you’re not aware of. Older gerbils should see the vet twice a year. If you take your gerbil for two checkups annually, you’ll probably spend about $80 a year.

Vaccinations

• $0 per year

Although gerbils should have regular health checkups by a professional veterinarian, they don’t require any vaccinations.

Dental

• $20–$50 per year

Gerbils constantly need something to chew on because their incisors never stop growing. They have to chew to keep them worn down to the right length. If your gerbil’s teeth are allowed to grow too long, it can result in many problems, including weight loss due to lack of appetite. Luckily, you don’t need a vet’s help to keep your gerbil’s teeth in great shape. Just ensure that you keep plenty of gnawing toys around, and your gerbil will take care of this on its own.

• See Also: Do Gerbils Bite?

Treatments for Parasites

• $0–$50 per year

Although gerbils don’t get any vaccinations, they are susceptible to parasites known as blood lice. These little bugs feed on your gerbil’s blood and are transferred from unsterilized bedding. Fortunately, you can get a treatment from a pet store that will cure this condition. Treatment is only necessary when an infection occurs, so you won’t have to spend money on this every year. You might never have to if you’re lucky.

Emergencies

• $0–$250 per year

We always hope to avoid emergencies, but they can happen all the same. If an emergency arises with your gerbil, you’ll need to get them immediate medical attention. While a standard checkup is only about $40, if your gerbil needs surgery, you should expect a bill that’s closer to $200. Luckily, you won’t have to pay for this often or hopefully, never.

Medications for Ongoing Conditions

• $0–$100 per year

Naturally, if your gerbil has no ongoing conditions, you won’t have to spend money on medications. Thankfully, these aren’t that expensive, anyway. Rodent medicines are quite affordable, often costing $10 or less per package. If your gerbil needs ongoing medication, it likely won’t cost more than $100 each year.

Insurance

• $60–$150 per year

Insurance is there to help whenever the unexpected occurs. Emergency visits can be much cheaper if you’re paying with insurance. Since gerbils are such tiny creatures with inexpensive healthcare costs, insuring one is rather affordable. You should expect to spend about $60 to insure a single gerbil and about $100–$150 to insure two or more.

Food

• $50–$100 per year

There are lots of options when it comes to feeding your gerbil. You can feed them foods that you purchase from the grocery store, such as fruits, vegetables, and seeds. Alternatively, you can purchase pre-formulated gerbil foods that provide all the nutrition that your little furry friend needs. These are more convenient and come in large quantities to make things simple.

Environment Maintenance

• $70–$100 per year

The number-one thing you’ll need to do to upkeep your gerbil’s environment is to change their substrate. You can spot-clean the areas with waste to make it last longer, but you’ll still need to change it all out regularly.

Gerbils aren’t overly smelly rodents, so you might not experience any odor issues. If you do, don’t spray your gerbil’s cage, as it can mask their natural scent markings. But you can spray in the room around the cage to prevent smells from permeating throughout the space.

If your gerbil becomes smelly, you’ll want to bathe them. However, gerbils don’t use water. You’ll need to give your gerbil a sand bath. Reptile sand is the best choice for this, as it’s sterile, safe, and readily available at pet stores.

Entertainment

• $20–$100 per year

Truthfully, you could spend as much as you’d like on toys and entertainment for your gerbil, though it’s not really necessary. They definitely need a running wheel and some chewing/gnawing toys to wear down their teeth. These chewing toys will require regular replacement as they get worn out. Any other toys are nice extras, and you can provide as many as you like, so long as your gerbil still has plenty of free space in their cage.

Total Annual Cost of Owning a Gerbil

• $140–$500+ per year

At the very least, you’ll need to continually supply food, substrate, and chew toys for your gerbil. These will add up to at least $100 each year, along with the cost of a regular vet checkup. If any health concerns arise, the cost of caring for your gerbil increases exponentially.

Owning a Gerbil on a Budget

If you’re looking to purchase a gerbil because you expected them to be a cheap pet to keep, you might be disappointed at how expensive caring for one can be. Don’t despair, though! There are plenty of ways to own a gerbil without spending much.

Look on classified ads like Craigslist. Many people are giving away gerbils with their cages, water bottles, and more. You can find these for free or for a modest rehoming fee, saving you loads of money and time that you’d have to spend purchasing and setting up your gerbil’s environment.

Also, remember to check at the local animal shelter if you’re having trouble finding a gerbil. Adoption can save you loads of money and might include the necessities like a cage.

Saving Money on Gerbil Care

There are many hidden expenses associated with keeping a gerbil. But there are also ways to save money and reduce the cost of caring for these rodents.

One way to save money is to spot-clean the substrate rather than always replace it all. When you see waste, remove that bit of substrate. You’ll still need to replace all the substrate eventually, but it will last several times longer with proper spot cleaning.

You can also choose to feed your gerbil some of your own food, though being careful not to provide anything toxic or unhealthy for these animals. This can help you save money each year compared to solely serving pre-formulated gerbil food.

Summary

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that a $10 gerbil costs just $10 to bring home. You’ll also have to spend $30–$90 on an appropriate cage, along with food, a wheel for them to run in, substrate to fill the cage, and a water bottle to keep them hydrated. Don’t forget about the chew toys needed to keep their teeth in check!

There are care costs to be accounted for too. Those yearly vet visits will cost about $40 each time. If an emergency occurs, you might have to shell out a few hundred! Of course, a good insurance plan can keep your gerbil protected for just a few bucks a month, but that’s still another cost to figure into your budget.

Related Reads:

• Do Gerbils Make Good Pets?
• Gerbil Sounds and Their Meanings

Featured Image Credit: PublicDomainPictures, Pixabay