It’s actually a thing. Gerbils do lose their tails… and it’s called gerbil tail slip. It’s not that the whole tail will just fall off… … But with our gerbils, the skin and fur covering the tail can slip off.

Why do gerbils tails fall off?

Pet gerbils lose their tails due to tail slip. This occurs when you pick a gerbil up by its tail, leading to permanent damage. The skin comes away (degloving), and the tail tissue will rot away and die. The gerbil will then chew off its tail or it will need to be amputated by a vet.

Can you hold a gerbil by its tail?

Do not pick up your gerbil by his tail. Gerbils have very thin skin on their tails. If you try to lift him up by his tail, the skin would slip off of his tail, exposing the bones. If the skin comes off, your veterinarian would need to amputate that portion of the tail.