Burmese

Burmese is a colorpoint variety of the Mongolian gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus. It has a dark sepia to seal-brown coat with the nose, ears, feet, and tail often appearing deeper than the body. Young Burmese gerbils may look lighter and then darken through molts, and temperature can influence how strongly the points develop. The variety is part of the domestic color palette created by selective breeding, not a separate species or a true breed in the livestock sense.

Care is the same as for other Mongolian gerbils, with attention to stable companions and housing that supports natural digging behavior. A deep, dry bedding layer, nest box, sand bath, and chewable materials are more important to welfare than cage ornaments. Breeders working with Burmese or related colorpoint lines should keep notes on pairings because similar-looking youngsters may mature into different shades such as Siamese or darker Burmese. Pet buyers should judge health and temperament first, since colorpoint intensity changes with age.

Colors: Dark Sepia, Light Sepia, Medium Sepia