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A small mammal belonging to the Gerbillinae subfamily, this omnivorous rodent grows to be 6-12 inches in length, with the tail making up approximately half of its total length. The most common spontaneous tumors that form in gerbils are ovarian tumors and skin carcinomas of the ears, feet, mid-abdomen, and tail base. The average gestational period of the gerbil embryo is 35 days and the gerbil has a life span of 3-4 years. Gerbils are docile, social creatures and can be housed as pairs or in groups of three.
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