Rabbits and Gerbils

Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen has less than ten rabbits and gerbils. Both gerbils and rabbits are kept in groups whenever possible. The rabbits are kept on the floor with plenty of space, bedding, hay and straw. They have toys at their disposal, e.g. several houses or digging boxes.

The gerbils are kept in large rat cages, the cage floor is filled with litter to a depth of around 25 to 30 cm. A house and a tunnel are buried in the bedding, allowing the animals to follow their natural behaviour and burrow. They are trained to come to the surface for experiments or veterinary examinations because they know they will be rewarded with sunflower seeds.