Whiskey is now officially the longest resident in our Briarhill small animal unit, having spent an incredible 314 days in our care. Whiskey originally arrived alongside his family and, over the past year, we’ve made several careful attempts to pair him with other gerbils. Unfortunately, despite slow introductions and monitoring Whiskey has made it very clear that he does not enjoy sharing his space with other males. While his Dad, siblings and former companions have all gone off to loving homes, Whiskey remains here on his own waiting for the right person to see just how special he is.

Although he may not want gerbil roommates, Whiskey absolutely adores human company.
He is a bright, inquisitive little character who loves to watch the hustle and bustle of the small animal unit. He enjoys interacting with volunteers and has even become known for following people around while they clean nearby enclosures, always curious about what is happening next. Gerbils are intelligent, active animals that need plenty of stimulation and space to express natural behaviour such as digging, tunnelling, climbing and chewing.

Whiskey needs a home that understands his needs and is willing to invest in an appropriate enclosure setup to keep him happy and healthy. Many habitats marketed for gerbils are unfortunately too small or unsuitable, without significant modification.

Whiskey needs:
• A large, well-ventilated enclosure with plenty of height
• At least 20cm of suitable bedding for burrowing and tunnel building
• Enough open space for a 27cm exercise wheel that won't get covered and blocked by bedding.
• Lots of enrichment including chew toys, hides and opportunities to forage and explore
Like all gerbils, Whiskey can be busy and occasionally noisy, especially when he discovers a favourite corner to dig or something exciting to chew.

However, one of the lovely things about gerbils is how adaptable they are to human routines. Unlike hamsters, which are primarily nocturnal, gerbils are often active throughout the day and commonly adjust their sleep patterns to spend more time awake when their people are around.

After 314 days, we would love nothing more than to finally see Whiskey find a home where his curious personality and love of human interaction can truly shine.
Could you be the person he has been waiting for?
In compliance with DAFM legislation, the GalwaySPCA unique certificate number is GPT200022C.

** February 2026**
Whiskey is a male Gerbil ready to find his forever home.

Gerbils are sweet, curious and sociable. They genuinely enjoy human interaction.
Unlike hamsters, gerbils tend to adapt to their owner’s schedule, making them active during the day and with patience and bonding, they usually tolerate handling well. Gerbils can live up to 7 years with the right care.

As with all our animals, we do have minimum housing standards as, sadly, most pet shop cages and kits are far too small.
Gerbils need:
- A tank-style enclosure with a secure wire topper for ventilation
- At least 100cm x 50cm floor space (about 40 gallons) for a pair of gerbils – bigger is always better!
- Deep bedding (20cm/8" minimum) to allow for proper burrowing, which is essential for their wellbeing
- Enough room for tunnels, large wheels, chews and enrichment items.

If you can offer a safe, loving home with the space and setup that they need, please get in touch to learn more about adopting one (or two!) of these wonderful boys.

In compliance with DAFM legislation, the GalwaySPCA unique certificate number is GPT200022C.