Once known as desert rats, the gerbil subfamily includes about 110 species of African, Indian, and Asian rodents, including sand rats and jirds, all of which are adapted to arid habitats. However, only two species are kept as pets.

Because their teeth continue to grow throughout their lives, gerbils need to gnaw daily. In the wild, a gerbil will gnaw away at a branch of a pine tree, stripping off all the pines before moving on to the branch itself.

Most hamsters are strictly solitary. If housed together, acute stress may occur, and they may fight, sometimes fatally. Gerbils, on the other hand, are social animals, and live in groups in the wild.

Gerbil epilepsy, sometimes called fits, is a common condition seen in 20% to 40% of all gerbils. The seizures are thought to be caused by fright, handling, or a new environment.

Burrowing is a very important behavior for gerbils. Wild gerbils live in dry climates, in large, deep burrows that they dig to protect themselves from predators and extreme weather.

If a gerbil litter is too large, the mother may make the litter more "manageable" by killing one or two. This means that the mother can safely feed all the remaining babies.

Most gerbils are active during the day, making them diurnal. However, some species are crepuscular, which means they are most active around dawn and dusk.

Gerbils communicate in a number of ways, including body language, scents, and vocalizations. Using their scent gland, they will mark their territory and their young to warn away rival gerbils, and they will thump their rear feet on the ground to warn the rest of the community of danger. Gerbil vocalizations include squeaking, purring, clicking, and chirping.

Gerbils live in family groups called clans. Most gerbil families reside together, and they recognize each other by smell. To build that smell, they lick other gerbils in their clan and coat their family in a layer of saliva.

Instead of bathing in water, gerbils prefer sand baths. They roll around in the sand to remove dirt and parasites.