'skittish' Gerbils

[suaveharv]

I don't know how else to explain it, other that 'skittish'.

Sandie & Cilla are about five months old. They were pet shop Gerbils but up until a few hours ago, were very tame.
When I first bought them home they were very timid, as you would expect. But over the months I've gained their trust. They run out to greet me when I take the top off the tank, run on my hand and don't mind a little bit of fuss.

But tonight, after I cleaned their tank out, they've been as nervous and as 'skittish' as when I first had them. They are hding in their dens, and when they come out they move all abrupt, like they are scared stiff!

I'm trying to think if I've done something to scare them, and I've done nothing apart from running in the kitchen to answer the phone, (they were in the kitchen, perhaps that scared them?),

Cilla did the back leg thumping thing for about ten minutes after I came in the kitchen. Since then, they've ventured out their den but both have been VERY wary. I offered Cilla a sunny seed but she just sniffed it. Normaly she'd have grabbed it quick!

I'm not too worried, it's not like they are ill. . but I wonder if anyone else here has had a few hours of 'skittish' gerbils. Where a normaly tame gerbil will go nervous and hide away for a while.

Poor things. There's no reason at all to be scared.

[emma28]

I was really interested to read this post, because I have had sort of a similar experience. I recently (last week) bought two male gerbils, about three months old, from a family whose children had tired of them; they seemed friendly and healthy and their first 24 hours in their new enclosure bore this out: they rushed round trying everything and reveling in the new space. However, a day later, once they had built tunnels in the aquarium part of their habitat, they suddenly became wildly skittish, dashing underground in alarm if I entered the room or even made some sudden movement. Like yours, they started refusing sunflower seeds from my hand, though they ate normally otherwise.

What both our accounts seem to have in common is the change in quarters: in yours, a clean out, and in mine, new accommodation. Perhaps this can occasion lack of confidence?

In my own case they went from having a tiny Pets at Home gerbilarium which didn't really allow them to get away from people to having a very ambitious large habitat which tried to replicate their wild environment as much as possible, including deep burrowing tank which takes them well out of human observation. So I may inadvertantly have triggered wild behaviour to match - i.e. regarding me as a threat and bolting for their burrows - which is a bit frustrating: not sure at present how to solve it (all ideas most welcome!).

Returning to your own situation, with other small pets I have found that avoiding a total clean out reduces stress: retain a little used bedding to give continuity of scent, as this seems to calm them - you could try this next time round.

I'd be very interested to hear how it works out for you, and any tips which your own experience might allow you to offer me in my plight!

[PurpleSheep]

I also think it was probably being cleaned out that spooked them, with everything smelling differently and all their stuff having moved. All of our pets (hamsters and gerbils) would get nervous after being cleaned out, but since we started keeping some of their bedding and putting it back in, they have got a lot better.

I always imagine I would be freaked out too if I came home one day and all the furniture has been moved! Your girls should hopefully be back to normal in a few days, once they're used to their new cage layout.

[fluffy501]

Yeah its definitely from cleaning the tank, i noticed they dont like it the first time I refilled mine which is why I don't take it all out now, I just replace part of it with new woodshavings. I know they need to be clean to some extent but I think people should avoid moving their environment around as much as possible because they're so easily upset.

[qtoffer]

When you clean out the cage, save the top 1/4 - 1/3 of the bedding and mix it in with the new bedding. This helps retain some gerbils' scent while removing the most badly soiled and dusty bedding. Completely and thoroughly cleaning out the cage isn't necessary unless there's been an infectious illness and it just

Gerbils are prey animals, so they will react accordingly to sudden movements and loud noises. However, they are very adaptable and will become accustomed to our movements around the house - especially as they mature into adults. My gerbils used to dash for cover and thump whenever we walked by the room. Now they come up and beg for treats when they hear us clunking around the house.

Emma28, your gerbils are still very young and their behavior is normal. They will soon become accustomed to their new home and more willing to venture out of their tunnels. Keep offering them treats while speaking to them, and they will soon come out at the sound of your voice.