How do I... (12 points total!)

Question

How do I get a gerbil to like me? :-]

Answer 1

well, gerbils LOVE games!!!  set up a few games that you and your gerbil can do TOGETHER.  

   Some suggestions would be: find the treat~  hide a treat in some newspapers, boxes, and/or bedding and let him find it...  help them uncover the treats or pick them up and let him have it.

   follow the leader~    put the gerbil in a ball and let them go.  make funny sounds and curiously, your gerbil will come to you.

also, hold him alot...  spend some Quallity time with your pet.  makes sure YOU are the one to feed and water him because food and water are the gift of life.  they will realize you are a friend.

   Hope my answer helps, it did me!!!   Miley <3

Answer 2

Just be patient. they will get to recognize their masters eventually..

Answer 3

give him treats but clasp your hand around the treat and place you hand by the gerbil so he/she can smell you. then asfter a while , when he/she goes off, open your hand and give them the treat. Then keep doing this everyday and he will start to realise that the same person is giving him treats. Then when you go to interact with them they will recongnise your smell and interact back. It works a 'treat' hehehehehehe

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Answer 4

usually the first impression helps with that. go for the one that catches your attention, because that seems (to me) the one that you will grow attached to quickest.

if you don't see any that you just fall for the first time you take a look, put your hand in the cage and temp the critters to come. (if you have to) the one that shows its true self there and appeals to you should be the one you pick, because it must of felt a connection right away :].

good luck finding your special pet

Answer 5

feed them treats to get them to come to you and eventualy they will come to u on their own

Answer 6

Hint: You only get 10 pts.

Maybe give him a treat, pet him, let him get used to you, do things he likes.

Hes probably shy and doesnt know you yet.

I'm sure you two will grow up attached to each other!

Giving a treat and petting are the top 2 animal and human bond!

Hope this helps!

Answer 7

let it smell you and maybe nibble on you then just be patient

Answer 8

Firstly, you give them a few hours to settle into their new home. Then, introduce your hand into their tank and let them sniff. You might find a young pup trying to "taste" you, and find out if you're edible. This should not hurt; just slowly move your hand away. Young gerbils are particularly prone to this as it's part of their "put everything in your mouth" stage. They will outgrow this.

Rest your hand still in the bottom of the tank. The gerbils will cautiously explore your hand for a while. If they appear scared and run away, don't push it. Just put your hand in their cage for several minutes a few times each day. Pick sunflower seeds out of the food mix and set these aside. This is the perfect opportunity to teach you new gerbils that great treats come from your hands. Place a few sunflower seeds or peanuts in your palm and they will soon associate tasty things with your hands.

If you want to pick your gerbils up, try to scoot them into a corner and gently lift them up in two hands. Never pick a gerbil up by their tail, not even the base of the tail. (A gerbil tail is jointed and could break off in the middle). Do not chase them around the cage, and do not swoop down from above. If you can't get them into your hands, then you can start by lifting them up using a tin can or cup. They usually explore these and then you can pick them up once they're inside. Then, take them out and sit them on your arm or shoulder, and let them explore. Gerbils love a good shoulder. Usually they'll run back and forth across your shoulders, down your arm, and perch on your elbow to get a look around. Be careful if they seem jumpy, and you may want to do this sitting down on a chair or bed to keep them from getting hurt if they fall.

After a week or two of doing these exercises, the gerbils will usually happily let you pick them up. You can teach them to sit still on your shoulder or elbow while you walk around. Soon they'll start "signaling" when they want out of their cage. They usually do this by standing on their hind legs and resting their forepaws against the glass and hopping up and down a bit. Some learn to spring straight up in the air when they see you, if they've learned it results in the desired response of getting some out-of-the-tank time.

If despite gentle handling your gerbil nips painfully and then runs away or draws blood it could be a sign of poor temperament or lack of early socialization. You may want to return or exchange such gerbils for ones that are of a gentle and reliable nature, especially if children will be handling these pets.

Hand training can be easy if you move patiently and slowly. Each morning when you feed them remove all the sunflower seeds from their food. Put these aside in a little cup near their tank. Then through out the day put a few sunflower seeds in the palm of your hand. Do not try to catch them or pick them up. Before long they will be use to your hand and see you as a glorified seeds dispenser. After a week slowly raise your hand a few inches each time one of them sit on it. Then slowly lower it back down again.

Once they feel comfortable with your hand moving up and down gently give them a little nose rub. Some gerbils love Tame gerbilsto have their noses and foreheads rubbed. You can create a cave with two hands held against your body, some of them will go to sleep, and others have a silent purr like kittens.

Within two weeks they should be very friendly, and loved to be held. Even though with responsible, gentle children it is recommended they do not handle the gerbils, until you are confident that the gerbils are tame. This avoids a bad early experience, and it is easier and faster to tame gerbils when only one person is working with them. Once they are use to human contact, the children can gradually begin to play with them.