Gerbils are highly social burrowing rodents that suffer significantly when housed alone and require deep substrate for digging, paired or group housing and species-appropriate enrichment.
Solitary gerbil housing is a welfare compromise that was standard practice for many years but is now recognised as inadequate. Lone gerbils show higher stress indicators and lower life expectancy than paired animals. Most welfare agencies now recommend a minimum of two compatible gerbils with deep substrate and regular enrichment rotation.