Gerbils make excellent pets, as they are very easy to maintain, requiring minimal grooming care in the form of the occasional brushing and checking of teeth. Keeping your gerbil's living environment clean is also simple: daily scooping of the area he uses to relieve himself, and a weekly change of his bedding and a sterile washing of his cage. By performing these easy and simple grooming and cleaning tasks, you can keep your gerbil not only looking good but also healthy.

Grooming Routine

A full grooming session with your gerbil should include:

• Combing and brushing of fur: Gerbils require little grooming, being meticulous self-groomers. Also, coming originally from desert regions, they excrete very little urine. However, your gerbil does need to be brushed occasionally to remove wood shavings, food and dirt from his coat. Special combs and small bristle brushes are available, or you can use a soft, fine toothbrush. Be very gentle when brushing or combing, as your gerbil is easily stressed.

• Checking paws and trimming nails: Gerbils don't usually need to have their claws trimmed. Because your gerbil is an inveterate burrower, he can normally keep his sharp, slender nails from overgrowing. However, if your gerbil is scratching himself during self-grooming or his nails are starting to curl beneath his paws, schedule a trip to your exotic animal veterinarian to have his claws trimmed.

• Checking teeth: As with all rodents, your gerbil's incisor teeth never stop growing, so it's important to provide him with something to chew on. Wooden toys, calcium blocks, chew sticks and small tree branches will help keep your gerbil's teeth in good shape. If his teeth have become overgrown, schedule a trip to your exotic animal veterinarian to get his teeth trimmed. Additionally, if you notice that your gerbil has a broken or chipped tooth, take him to the vet as soon as possible.

• Bathing your gerbil: Your gerbil will rarely need to be bathed; however, they do enjoy an occasional sand or dust bath; provide him with a bowl filled with sand or chinchilla dust - both of which can be purchased at your local PETCO. If necessary, you can spot clean your gerbil with a damp washcloth or unscented baby wipes.

General Cleanliness

Your gerbil will spend most of his life in his cage. Here he will eat, play, sleep, burrow and relieve himself. It's important to keep his home as clean as possible. A general cleanliness regimen for your gerbil includes:

• Changing wet shavings: Your gerbil will tend to urinate in one or two corners of his cage. Scoop out these damp clumps and replace them with fresh shavings every day. A spoon or cat litter scoop works well.

• Changing of bedding: Change your gerbil's bedding once a week to keep both him and his surroundings smelling clean and free of any bacteria that may harm him. You should also remove any food that your gerbil may have spilled on the floor of the cage. If you give him small amounts of fruit or vegetables, remove any uneaten portions within 24 hours. Wash any toys, exercise wheels and other cage accessories.

• Cleaning his cage: Clean your gerbil's cage completely once a week, when you change the bedding. Wash the cage using mild soap and water, rinse and allow to completely dry to minimize fumes before placing your gerbil back into his habitat. Avoid ammonia-based products and be sure to rinse thoroughly with water afterwards.

• Pest control: Fleas don't normally attack gerbils or use them as hosts. However, if there's a heavy infestation in the house, some might bite your gerbil. If your gerbil has fleas, a special flea powder is available that can be placed in your gerbil's bedding material and eventually will make its way into his fur; consult your exotic animal veterinarian for guidance on flea control.