Gerbil Book Reviews

In my time as a gerbil owner, I've read a few books (only a few because I can't seem to find many). Some were good, and some were not so good. Here are the ones that I happen to own, there are 1 or 2 more that I saw at the library and read, but for the most part they were boring, little kid's first pet type things that didn't have much info. BTW these reviews are solely my opinion or those of the guest reviewers. However, I trust that said reviewers have accurate knowledge of gerbils, or I would not post the review.

I'd like to thank the folks from Critters USA magazine for listing this page in their annual magazine. However, c'mon guys, couldn't you link the main page? ;) For those who aren't aware this page is part of my MUCH larger gerbil-oriented website, The Dani Clan.

Gerbils: A Complete Pet Owner's Manual by Raymond Gudas (published by Barrons, I believe; ISBN 0-8120-3725-1) - This is a pretty decent book. It has some black and white drawings & several color photos. I found it to be fairly accurate. It even has a whole chapter devoted to breeding (yippeee!). I think it passed my common trip-ups in that it doesn't recommend cedar bedding, cages, and makes no committment whatsoever I think on the keeping more than 2 females together issue and it doesn't say that males can't be kept together (BTW, those are things it should not say, I use those as my good book, bad book guides).
Stars (out of four): ***

A Step-By-Step Book About Gerbils by Patrick Bradley & Heather Pence (T.F.H. Publications, Inc.; ISBN ???) - This book isn't very good. Plenty of the info is inaccurate, and I found that its breeding section at least left something to be desired. It was published in 1995, so they can't say they weren't aware of their inaccuracies which are very well-known if they had just bothered to research it a bit. For example, this book says that cedar bedding is fine for gerbils, that cages are best (ventilation, PAH). It also claims that black gerbils are rare (perhaps in some small areas, but many people have complained to me that all they have are blacks and agoutis!) And newsflash folks, gerbils can have more than one litter every year! I was also shocked by their estimate of gerbils having 2-3 litters per year (Missy, my original female, had 4 in 4 months). It's only saving grace is its beautiful pictures (I'm a sap for pictures--especially since the pair on their breeding section looks just like Phoebe and Ciaran = )
Stars: **

Gerbils: All About Them (by Dr. Alvin and Virginia B. Silverstein; J.B. Lippincott Company; ISBN 0-297-31660-7 & 0-397-31661-5 I have no idea why there are two) - This book was a savior to me. I'd say, it's extremely acccurate, but very out of date. At the time of its publishing (1976) there were only agouti, black and spotted gerbils. There aren't any color photos, but there are tons of great black and white ones. I can't think of a time where it lacked anything, except maybe in the beginning, where I don't think it stresses enough how picky females can be of their cagepartners and how dangerous it can be sometimes introducing them. Other than that, it's great. My favorite part is of course the breeding section, which has a full-page growth chart of baby gerbils.

Stars: ****

Gerbils as a New Pet by Anmarie Barrie (T.F.H. Publications, Inc.; ISBN ???) - Again, this is not a fabulous book. Of course, it has the usual glossy pictures, etc. but it doesn't give you any really accurate information. It was amusing reading this book, because the book not only contradicted a lot of scientific information, it contradicted itself! Sometimes I felt like it was written by 5 different people who'd never spoken to each other (or owned gerbils) and just slapped together the sections they wrote without checking any of it over. The most confusing thing for the poor new gerbil owner is probably their color descriptions. Over and over they get it wrong! For example, they have a picture of what is clearly a dove, and lable it grey agouti! Later in the book, true grey agoutis, as they are described in the text, even, are labled as "argentes", while earlier argentes were described as the "cinnamon" argente goldens I know and love. Another thing I find outrageous is its suggested breeding method. Placing a single male in a cage with a group of females, allowing him to mate, separate him, then reintroduce him to them once their litters ar grown. What do they mean to do, kill all the baby gerbils in the world? Given, it works sometimes, but I would NEVER, EVER suggest to a *beginner* to try it (nor would I attempt such a thing myself). So basically, this book is bad . . . but it's a laugh to read.
Stars: *

One of the best books on gerbils I've ever read isn't really a book. It's my *textbook*, from school of all places, for my course called Animal Science. The book is not in my possession--we don't take them home--so I can't get the title, author just yet (they're $60 anyway!!) But the 3-4 pages on gerbils are almost faultless. I was floored ;)

From guest reviewer Jessica Dell:

A Beginner's Guide to Gerbils by Douglas Keats 1986 T.F.H. Publications, Inc. - This is a short, rather vague, "chatty" book with few hard facts. Furthermore, some of the things they suggested I disagreed with. One point they made was that it is better to keep gerbils alone as pets, because when deprived of gerbil company they will become more dependent on humans for companionship. Now this may be true for birds or certain other animals, but, IMHO, not for highly social animals like gerbils. They also suggested making a homemade cage from wood and wire and said that gerbils don't gnaw too much. Yeah right! My gerbils would chew right out of there pronto! Another thing which I found odd was they suggested feeding only cat food and sunflower seeds. What kind of diet is that for a gerbil? On the other hand, the book's good points are its accurate, yet short breeding section, and the pictures.

Stars: **

I hope that gives you a good idea of what's out there = ) Do you have a book you'd like to review? Let me know.