Do Gerbils Have Tails? | About Gerbils | Gerbils | Guide

Yes, pet gerbils have quite long tails that, depending on the species, can be covered with a thin layer of fur or be relatively hairless. The two gerbil species kept as pets, the Mongolian and the fat-tailed gerbil, lie on either end of this spectrum, with one species having a furred tail and the other a bald.

Mongolian gerbils have long, furry tails that make them a very appealing pet, particularly for owners that have a bit of a squeamish reaction to the bald tails of mice and rats. The less well-known fat-tailed gerbils possess relatively shorter, fatter tails that have very little hair on them, especially when compared to the rest of the animal’s body.

Gerbil species that are kept as pets have long tails, whether these are bald or furry

Gerbils can use their tails in different ways to other species. For some species, one of it’s uses is to warn family members of approaching peril. If a keen-eyed gerbil spots a predator, such as a large bird or a snake, it will move its tail up and down and beat it against the ground, sending out vibrations that send its family scrabbling and scurrying for cover. For other species, such as the fat-tailed gerbil, another purpose of the tail is as a fat-storage appendage. These animals have bald tails that are capable of drastically increasing in size in order to store fat for when times are scarce.

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