In praise of Gerbils, let me say a few words.

Gerbils are desert creatures and are therefore very low urine producers. The outcome is that they have very little odor, and their enclosure requires little maintenance. Mice & rats both stink and are messy. They are illegal in many western (desert) states, for fear of propagation and eco-imbalance.

Gerbils are easy to handle. If raised with human contact, they hardly ever bite. They grow to a decent size (2 1/2 - 3 times an adult mouse).

After reading this thread, I'm beginning to consider a breeding colony for my BP. We have 2 gerbils now (pets) and they're awesome critters to keep (as rodents go) .

Thanks, Steelsack, for raising a good question.

Ken