I have been feeding gerbils to my ball python, and my friend has been feeding his BP gerbils he gets from me. I have raised and fed mice, rats, and gerbils. I don't see any real differences between any of them. Gerbils are bigger than mice and so can do more damage than a mouse but gram for gram I don't see any difference. I have never had an issue. Like with all live feeding you have to be attentive and if your snake is not in the mood get the rodent out of the enclosure. I assure you that if your snake is hungry and willing to eat your snake will have no more an issue with a gerbil than it would have with an equivalent size rat or mouse.