Taming with and playing with gerbils!

Question

How is it done?

Answer 1

hi!

the way we tamed our gerbils was a gradual, slow progress of about 3 weeks. EVERY SINGLE DAY, i would stick my hand into the cage and let the gerbils crawl all over it (they're tentative at first - just don't try to grab them). you can tempt them with fresh food (esp. apples seemed to work) and that'll get them on your hand as well. once they're on your hand, slowly bring down the other hand so you have one under the belly and one at the base of the tail (NEVER the end of tail). pet them and support their feet. Soon they'll let you take them out, and you can purchase a little enclosure/fence for them to run around and get used to you.

biggest rule of all is never suddenly swoop your hand down over top the gerbils, this mimics birds swooping and scooping them up and it freaks them out. this is a way to get rid of all trust built.

keep putting your hand in and letting them crawl all over!

Answer 2

Just keep doing it is the main thing.  Start out gentle and work your way up.  Don't act afraid of them, and keep trying to play with them.  At first, just hold them securely, but not tightly.  Then as they get used to you, you can give them more freedom.

Answer 3

just take him/her into a room where she cant escape anywhere. Put her into a bathtub with a drain plug in it. He/She cant climb out cuz she has nothing to grip and just play with him/her and bond.

Thanks soooo much for the answer i almost bought that for him today.

Answer 4

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.

Answer 5

to tame your gerbils put your hand in the tank. dont try to pick them up at first, let them get used to your scent and crawl on you.  when they seem at ease with you being in their tank then i would start picking them up. i have also found that the way to a gerbils heart is through food. they will get so excited when they see a treat in your hand. sunflower seeds are great treats for them. only give them one each per day because they are extremely fattening.  over time your gerbils should become comfortable with you.

Answer 6

handle them a lot and don't loose them down the floorboards, my cousin did lol