Pet gerbils are descended from wild Mongolian gerbils. Wild gerbils are social creatures and live in large burrows made up of several individuals.

What is the best type of gerbil for a pet?

Mongolian gerbils come from - you guessed it - Mongolia. These little critters live in very arid areas, and they love spending hours creating complex tunnels for their family to live in. This species is the most popular of the two currently kept as pets, and so they are far easier to find at the moment.

Is it better to have 1 or 2 gerbils?

Gerbils are social animals and need the constant company of their own kind. The only exception to this is the Fat-tailed gerbil, as females of this species can be kept alone, and will often fight with other females. ... In general, it's best to keep between two and four gerbils.