Gerbils were first introduced to the pet industry in 1964. These were the Mongolian gerbils. Their value as pets was soon appreciated and they are now found in pet shops all over the UK and USA. It is illegal to purchase, import, or keep a gerbil as a pet in the U.S. state of California.
Having gerbils as pets is quite common amongs america,canada and many many other countries.
The fact is a gerbil being your pet can have rewards.
So gerbils as a pet is not a bad idea.