...gratefully received.

Many thanks in advance.

They love to dig, fill the tank up to 2/3 full, put paper tubes etc to start the tunnels off.

Oh and rocks, they love rocks to sent mark in (especially if they are male).

Never clean the full tank out at one, do part changes (about a third) as a full change stresses them as there are no familiar smells (same for mice, who get agressive when stressed)

2/3 full? They also like jumping and climbing so I would think that would depend on the size of the tank and how secure the lid is

With the jumping and climbing - if you can safely put in different level they will love it.

They also LOVE chewing - I think they actually need to chew to keep their teeth in order. Cardboard tubes/boxes are OK but suitable chew toys from the pet shop may last longer. But not much

They LOVE hiding - cleaned out jam/coffee jars half buried or plant pots (terracotta ones - not plastic - gerbils kill plastic)

Get a good quality food and don't over do the sunflower seeds no matter how cute they look eating them

Did I mention the chewing?

Thanks both, especially for the tips regarding toys and chewing. I know I've only had them a few hours but they haven't touched any food or water? Is that ok? Both sleeping right now.

Im glad you got a pair as they are very sociable animals and don't like being alone. You will get endless pleasure from them as pets. If you Google 'gerbil care' or something similar, you will find lots of websites devoted to gerbies. Its how I learnt. Heres just one:

http://www.gerbilcare.org/

Enjoy them! I called mine Starsky and Hutch, what have you called yours???

Lol yes sorry. All gerbil cages/tanks need kids

But the do need to dig, a lot of major stereotypical behaviours are related to not being able to dig (these include aggression to others)

Thanks. I still haven't named them. They're currently 'the grey one' and 'the other one'!!

Oh yeah - and if the 2/3 deep still leaves adequate room to keep the gerbils from mounting an escape but gives climbing and jumping room, then perfect

With the not eating - they could be a bit stressed in a new environment. Do they have somewhere they can hide? If not, do you have a shoe box or cereal box you could make a hide out of until you can provide adequate hiding spaces? Added bonus - they get something to chew.

Bubble and squeak?

I had two gerbils called exactly this when I was a child!

Gerbils are great little pets

Can't add much to what already been said, only don't ever pick them up by the tail, any part of it.

My first pets were gerbils, my bro and I used to spend hours making them 'playgrounds' in the living room for them to run about in!

Doubt I'm exactly up to date to offer advice re feeding etc. will hve a quick Google

Thanks loads...

I did think that regarding the eating. They have been chewing on the bedding a bit though. The bedding's fairly deep and both have found places they can sleep. I have thrown a box in there for them to play with. It is currently lightly covered with gerbil poo.

Ta! Maybe. Feel like I need to see a bit more of them before naming them.

Definitely give em something to scent, it'll keep them busy and you entertained watching them. Just a largish stone from the garden (washed in hot water and dried/cooled first) will do

Second only to chewing is pooping and peeing - they LOVE to poop and pee

Got to name them Salt and Pepa Especially if one is grey. I think it's compulsory

I used to have a salt and pepper!

Mine had two fishtanks. One was about half full of peat which they would dig underground tunnels in and have a nest hidden away to sleep in! That tank was connected via tubes to another one which had sawdust and lots of things to chew along with toilet roll tubes. That had another tube leading to a little pod thing that had two compartments. When they went in the large compartment i could scoop them out to pick them up. The little compartment salt (he outlived pepper) would use as a litter tray. Every night i emptied it of wees and poos so the tank never got that dirty!