Gerbil thats hard to get out...

[kim]

I have 4 gerbil (2 pairs) the older 2 I don't have much problem getting out, one I can usually just pick up straight away and the other may take a little longer but I can usually persuade him to come out pretty quickly. Of the younger pair one I can also get out quite easily, some times he walks onto my hand, sometimes he lets me pick him up, but most of the time I put a cardboard tube at the door of there topper and he walks straight into it, But the other one (his brother) is more difficult, meaning he doesn't always get his out of tank time with his brother. He doesn't let you pick him up (he sometimes dose when his out of his tank or he will come onto my hand when his out but not when his home) He won't go into the tube like his brother dose (he sticks his head in and thats it) I use to be able to get him to clime into the bowl I use for sand baths but most of the time he doesn't do that now. He is generally a very nervous gerbil and is very courteous about things especially new things, is there any way to help him with this? He also use to be a biter which I'm courteous about when I try to pick him up but he hasn't bitten anyone for a cupel of months or so now.


Does anyone have any suggestions on ways how I can make it easier to get him out for out of tank time? when he is out he seems to have fun its just getting him there in the first place    

[betty]

I started using a sort of giant plastic tub - like a plastic peanut butter jar if you like - but about 6 inches high and sort of squarish; anyway, I put a mealworm (or some other tasty morsel) and lay it flat on the ground still holding onto it with my hand - and that is usually intriguing enough to get even the most stubborn gerbil's interest. Once they are in I lift it straight up at the same angle so they don't get tipped straight on their head and then let them walk out into my hand. No bumping twisting or sudden movements - so they don't mind going in it again.

Well, it works for me for all my gerbils - some take a bit longer to come out but I can wait.

Also, don't take out the easy one first, sometimes if the nosey one goes in the tub and it doesn't move, the scaredy one gets in too - perfect! And then the shy one isn't getting less time out in the run as it only starts when they come out.

Good luck...