Choose a Healthy Gerbil

Here's How:

1. Look at the overall body condition - gerbils should be neither fat nor skinny, with no swellings.
2. Gerbils should be bright and curious in attitude, and not lethargic. This can be a bit hard to judge in a sleepy gerbil, but with attention (and perhaps some very gentle prodding) gerbils should wake up and be inquisitive about what is happening.
3. A gerbil's coat should be well groomed (fluffy and smooth looking), with no bare patches. Especially check for soiling around the rear end, as this may indicate a problem with diarrhea. The skin should be free of scratches or sores.
4. The eyes, nose and ears should be clean and free from discharge. Check the fur around the eyes and nose for signs of wetness, staining or crusts. Discharge from the eyes and nose will appear red in gerbils due to the pigment porphyrin.
5. Try to get a look at the teeth, they should not be overgrown and should be well-aligned. Also check for wet or matted fur on the chin (overgrown or misaligned teeth can cause drooling).
6. Observe the gerbils' breathing, which should be quiet and not labored, with no wheezing, clicking or gurgling noises.
7. Watch the gerbils move around - they should have no signs of lameness, stiffness, or reluctance to move around.
8. Look at the gerbils' surroundings. The cage should be clean, with good access to fresh food and water, and not overcrowded. Gerbils kept under good conditions will be less stressed and have less exposure to disease.
9. Observe how the gerbils reacts to people -- most will be skittish at first but ideally try to pick gerbils that are relatively calm about being approached and okay with being handled.

Tips:

1. Since gerbils are so social, adopt a same sex pair (litter mates are a good choice, or gerbils that have been raised together from a very young age). Try to find out the age of the gerbils, and adopt gerbils that is as young as possible (around 6 weeks old is best).
2. If any of the gerbils in the same cage (or even at the same store) seem ill, resist the temptation to adopt from there (if it is contagious your gerbil may be next and there may be possible heartbreak ahead).
3. Make sure the store separates males and females. Familiarize yourself with the differences between males and females, and if the store doesn't separate them or seems unsure about the gender of the gerbils, move on to another store. It is best to avoid the possibility of surprise litters, especially in very young gerbils (they can become pregnant by as early as about 9-12 weeks old, but this is very hard on the gerbils).
4. If the shop will not let you handle the gerbils before you buy, it is best to move on as it is definitely worth trying to handle a potential pet to assess its temperament.
5. If you find a breeder, make sure they are breeding for specific goals such as temperament and health.