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Post by arisingdawn on Mar 13, 2014 13:21:11 GMT -8
How do you guys manage to get your gerbils so tame? Mine will run up to the side of their tank or dash up your arms, but I don't think it's because they are happy to see me- they want to escape!
The first time I let them out for playtime, they were overjoyed... They were pretty mad at me when I put them back in their tank XD After that, it was very easy to get them out and on your hand/shoulder.
It seems like my gerbils don't like ME- just playtime. I've seen gerbils curling up on our face for a nap, or grooming your fingers (which sounds adorable..!)
Have I done something wrong? I just want them to trust me.
I'm hoping to train them in agility. Maybe that will provide some good bonding time :3
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keldamouse
Member
rest in peace my dear lovely Leela youre in our hearts
Posts: 374
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Post by keldamouse on Mar 13, 2014 13:49:45 GMT -8
ohh I am so sorry you feel like they don't trust you. I am sure they love you it just takes time and even then some gerbils are just more standoffish. It's kinda like humans they all have similar characteristics but different personalities. I've had two girls, as different as night and day, one brave but doesn't like to be touched much. The other has warmed up to a bit of touches but it is on her terms. Mostly I have just looked at how they treat each other and try to emulate that. That may sound weird but I was really frustrated with them being untame by my standards in the beginning also. Coming from a petstore they were curious of me but scared.
First thing I did is realize they don't show affection like we do and that they are probably just more curious and wanting to explore than ever cuddle. Some of it is age and their sex. I've heard males that are older are more mellow.
I think that making yourself available and like a toy is one of the first steps. It is awesome that they are willing to run up your arm, they do trust you to do that. That is huge. I suggest sitting in a dry tub with them or in a playpen. make yourself available to crawl on and totally explore. Then if they don't mind being picked up in something let them jump into the box or tube and put them on your shoulder or chest. They will have height and new smells to explore. Mine love to crawl around on my skin under my shirt (I keep it tucked in). If they get scared they will poo or pee on you a bit (this stopped after month 2). When they were at the point they would choose to crawl up me or crawl up me from the back of the couch I would rub my cheek on their backs.
Now my girl runs to me, if she feels like it, when I talk to her and lean back against the couch. She, Leela, will also run to me if she is scared and burrow in my shirt. She simply doesn't like to be held much but will stay still in my light grip if I do a health check on her (nail, teeth, tail and scent gland).
All gerbils are different but my two seem to love a low soft voice and will hear my husband in the next room and look for him. They will respond when he talks to them.
Agility is way fun! It is so stimulating. Find out their fav treats and they enjoy the new experiences.
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Post by rexcalibur on Mar 14, 2014 15:44:58 GMT -8
One of my gerbils seemed tame and loved to climb in my hand and up my arm but now he has changed. He's healthy, but has started to become more cautious and rarely ever goes into my hand willingly anymore. I'm not sure why this is. The other one has never really liked being held and refuses to climb in my hand unless there is food in it.
I should probably spend more time with them. They are instinctively cautious and nervous animals because in the wild they are preyed on by both birds and land animals. It takes a lot of patience sometimes to get them tame and more trusting. I don't think any gerbil really likes being held for long periods of time though. The size difference between a human and a gerbil is probably also very frightening to them.
My gerbils also love being outside their tank. It's the only real stimulation and exercise they get other than chewing, digging, and grooming each other. I had to remove their wheel because one gerbil doesn't have proper momentum and can't stop without being flipped up and I'm just worried he might get injured. Come to think of it, that is probably what caused him to be less trusting and tame, and probably why he doesn't climb in my hand anymore. I really need to give them more time outside the tank though.
I just block off certain parts of my apartment, play XBOX and drink some beer while they run around and explore. They love it.
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Post by arisingdawn on Mar 15, 2014 15:26:51 GMT -8
I hope they will get used to me, I love them so much <3
Right now I have a friend watching them. He had been feeding them everyday and replacing their water. He can't play with them much, though.
I'm so scared that I will come back and find the little babies sick/dead. I've had several nightmares about it... :c
Could Oreo and Zeke go 3 days without food? They don't drink much, so water shouldn't be a problem...
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Post by iamplankton on Mar 16, 2014 0:04:39 GMT -8
I personally wouldn't leave them for 3 days without a source of food coming in, I'd worry that even if I left what seemed enough that it wasn't being replenished. Why do you ask?
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Post by arisingdawn on Mar 16, 2014 7:50:13 GMT -8
I don't think I have a choice, though. I will have to send someone over to feed them, and it won't be easy.
Next time I will just have to bring them on the airplane with me when i'm traveling
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Post by iamplankton on Mar 16, 2014 10:08:25 GMT -8
I don't think I have a choice, though. I will have to send someone over to feed them, and it won't be easy. Next time I will just have to bring them on the airplane with me when i'm traveling Could you not ask the same friend to watch over them? Or maybe a small animal pet-sitter? Most will only charge a couple of pounds or dollars a day? |
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Post by arisingdawn on Mar 16, 2014 11:40:19 GMT -8
Oh! I will certainly look into that. A dollar a day is affordable  I originally planned for my friend to watch over them, but then I learned that her brother would not be careful with them or anything. He has kicked them around a few times, and that's when I decided someone else should watch them. |
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Post by danw19 on Mar 16, 2014 13:52:44 GMT -8
I also had dreams of coming home to then being dead when I first left them under the care of my mum and sister while I went away  Or that there were 100 gerbils in my room and i couldn't find Boris and Basil How do you do agility with them? I saw a video of Binki the agility gerbil and would love to do it with mine but have no idea how I would get them to do it |
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Post by arisingdawn on Mar 17, 2014 6:45:43 GMT -8
I also dreamt that Oreo was really a female, and there were a lot a gerbils when I got home XD
Gerbil agility is basically just gerbils crawling through, climbing up, and jumping through obstacles. I've found some good instructions on how train them online.
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Post by danw19 on Mar 17, 2014 10:31:06 GMT -8
I will look it up but I doubt I would ever get them to stay in one place long enough |
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Post by crittercrazy on Mar 17, 2014 13:20:37 GMT -8
I've thought about trying to teach my gerbils agility. Like you said though, Danw19, I don't think I could ever manage that. Arisingdawn, couldn't you just leave them enough food for four or five days, assuring that they'll be fine for three? I've left my gerbils for a lot longer then three days before. I just give them extra food and water and they've always been fine when I get back. |
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Post by arisingdawn on Mar 17, 2014 15:37:27 GMT -8
I thought the gerbils would over eat, but then I realized that would be better than having two hungry gerbils. But it was too late by then.
I'm going to attempt training my gerbils to "come" and "stay"
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Post by streetwisegerbil on Mar 17, 2014 17:20:36 GMT -8
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Post by arisingdawn on Mar 18, 2014 8:20:22 GMT -8
Today, the person watching my gerbils found Oreo's stomache ripped out. Zeke had blood all over his mouth. I am checking for more details, and I will be flying back ASAP. Could Zeke have rabies? Or was he simply hungry? The people at the pet store told me to feed them a certain amount, and I stuck to that. I can't believe Zeke would do this...  Should I give Zeke a new friend? Or will he suffer the same way? |
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Or that there were 100 gerbils in my room and i couldn't find Boris and Basil 
