gerbils compared to hamsters

Question
I recently found out that a Gerbil is not the same as a hamster.  I am considering buying two Gerbils of the same sex.  In the pet store they looked pretty hyper.  Are they as easy to tame as my teddy bear hamsters that are very friendly?  Do they usually live as long as a hamster?  Would you recommend a certain kind of cage?  Do they like to run in a wheel.

Answer
Hello! Well I certainly think you should read up on gerbils as they are really different but they need the same requirements as a teddy bear hamster. Two gerbils would need a nice size cage. A crittertrail 2 or 3 is nice and big for two. You want to make sure you get the gerbils from the same habitat so they will already be familiar with each other. Gerbils love to go on wheels and they are very friendly and nice. They are generally less bitey than the hamsters and they also produce less odor as well. However, the one difference is the tail. You can not grab the gerbil by the tail. It will lose its tail and it will not grow back. The tail has a very thin layer of skin and grabbing the tail can cause the skin to come off, so never do that. Gerbils live the same as a hamster, 2-4 yeas. They are very curious creatures and they will actually thump the cage to signal danger or just for fun. That's really normal. I like gerbils and hamsters a lot. Good luck with your gerbils. If you have anymore questions just ask :-)