I don't even know what gerbils are, but you should know that good old Ratus Ratus got a bad rap. He's innocent!

 Don't blame the rats.

"I don't even know what gerbils are" == protesting too much.  :)

A gerbil is just another rodent. The difference between them and rats is minimal, right?

If you discount the urban legends.

I'm going to choose not to think about that.

Oh, I think I get gerbils mixed up with guinea pigs...