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Molting

Libby Hanna

2020 updates by Cathy Bickel

Gerbils do molt. The molt from pup to adult sheds out their soft, fuzzy baby fur and replaces it with a smooth and sleek coat. Nutmeg gerbils change color dramatically, from a pumpkin-orange to a brown and black ticked coat.

 

After that, gerbils molt periodically throughout their lives. There does not seem to be a seasonal or periodic pattern to the molt. During the molt, a visible molt line appears in the coat and moves as the molt progresses. The colorpoint nutmeg gerbil in this picture has many molt lines.

GerbILARIUMS

Showcase of various custom cages built for gerbils.

Be sure the size and type of cage is manageable and one you can keep clean. It's not all about size. Gerbils need stimulation and ideally time to explore out of the cage: gerbils love to run, climb, dig, nest, take dust baths, tunnel and chew.

© The American Gerbil Society 1998-2024

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