GERBILS IN SINGAPORE

Gerbils are not well known in Singapore. Mention the word "gerbil" to any person here and you'll probably get this reply:"What's a gerbil?" Whereas mice and rats are well known in literature and media, and hamsters have been commonly kept as pets, gerbils are hardly known here.

HAMSTERS, MICE, & RATS

The hamster is probably the most popular small rodent pet. Most pet stores carry them, while it is harder to find a gerbil at a pet store. Dwarf hamsters are especially likeable because of their petite size and appearance. Discussion forums and sites on gerbils are also few and far between, as compared to those of hamsters.

I would certainly like to see more gerbil owners in Singapore. On the other hand, gerbil owners can be proud to be able to appreciate a less commonly known pet.

Mice and rats (especially rats) are even less common as pets. Rats for the obvious reason of having that infamous reputation. Rats are however reportedly the most intelligent of these rodent pets.

OTHER PETS

Ornamental fish, especially the arowana and luohan, are common too. Singapore is reportedly the largest exporter of ornamental fish. Ornamental fish aquariums are often kept in the living room to lend a decorative elegance. They are popular among adult pet keepers.

Many animal species are prohibited as pets here. There is demand for exotic pets such as snakes, sugar gliders and star tortoises. Some underground market activity seem to exist despite the prohibition.

WHERE TO GET GERBILS IN SINGAPORE

Gerbils are not commonly sold in pet stores here. If you want to own some, I would recommend getting them from a breeder. Or getting them from people who are putting gerbils up for adoption, often for free, or a small adoption fee. It would probably cost less than getting them from pet stores.

So, where to find a breeder? You can try the classified sections of the search engine and directory sites (eg. Yahoo! Classifieds Singapore). Or try a Singapore pet forum (see the Links page) to see if anyone is offering gerbils for adoption.

You can also try asking pet stores if they are carrying gerbils, even if you don't see any on display. There might be a chance they could have them, too.

If you've never owned gerbils before, do take a little time to read up a little on them before getting some. One important point to note is that you should not put unfamiliar gerbils together, or they will fight. For more information, check out the various links to other gerbils sites on the Links page.

More questions about how to get gerbils? Feel free to contact the webmaster.

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