gerbils NOT INTERESTED

[lilsmacko]

gerbils are only interesting to watch when you first get them. once they are done exploring and digging in corners they sleep all day long and only come out for sunflower seeds.

once they realize they are ENCLOSED forever. they just sleep all day and have no motivation to play or explore because they are STUCK inside a fish tank. 

the only fun thing about BEING a gerbil is when the owner lets you out and play. 

this is the truth. im owner of many gerbils.

[ninestone]

I'd trade places with my gerbils! I often envy them their comforts, security, lack of responsibilities, and generally easy life!

Our two do sleep a lot especially now that they're older, but they do come out to play and do construction work on their tank for hours at a time. I'm usually not home enough to see them when they're up, but I've been ill the last few days so had plenty of time to notice what they really do during a full day.

[Jazzable]

I disagree. Gerbils aren't intelligent enough to understand the concept of being in captivity. Their instincts are in control and they will always display natural behaviour like burrowing and chewing.

Why are you the owner of many gerbils if you think they are boring and miserable pets?

[pyrotarukia]

My current and past gerbils have never stopped exploring their tanks I find it important to change the layout after every clean and to add extra things for them to play and chew with to keep it interesting but even in between cleanings they are constantly digging around and running up and down the platforms.

I honestly don't see the reasoning as to why you've made this post? It's not answering anyone's question, it doesn't contain any questions, nor anything helpful for other owners or anything positive.. :/

[kim]

I disagree to, Mine are always interesting to watch, and funny always digging and exploring, and my older 2 are over a year old.

[xtra]

I like to think that the gerbils have some idea of what's going on.

My boys to sleep a lot, but they don't just sleep. If they hear me in the room they will come up to check it out, more than likely its just to see if they can get a treat but even if they don't get one they will stick around to see what i'm doing.

They only really get out when its cage cleaning time, but i'm working on letting them out at full time when i get my room in a gerbil friendly state ^^;;;

As for the sleeping i kinda just assumed that was normal in winter ^^;;;

[wolfgirl]

Dusty sleeps a lot, but he is getting old. and he always comes out to sniff my hand whenever i open the lid. Dakota is incredibly active and loves to climb up my arm and sit on my shoulder or head. Midnight is always rearranging the place and enjoys grooming my hands and giving me "manicures" lol. how can you think they are uninteresting?

[lizb]

I'm with everyone else. The purpose of this post confuses me, but anyway, I LOVE to watch my gerbils chew and dig and pop out of their nests. Maybe they aren't being interesting because they sense your attitude toward them. Just a thought.

[gerbillover9612]

Disagree completly.
My 2 boys never fail to amuse me. Just today i gave sooty a peanut and he tried stuffing it in his face but it was huge and he looked so funny trying to waddle away with it in his mouth. I find gerbils so interesting!
As many others have said, what its the purpose of you posting this thread? And if you find them uninteresting and boring then why do you own many gerbils. Also by the looks of it, you've spent time to get the topper and put fin toys etc in there, if you didn't like then that much you would spend as much money and time on them??

[lizb]

@gerbilover9612 Maybe the OP got the topper to try to make them more interesting? That's my best guess...

[gerbillover9612]

Sorry, whats OP? Haha sorry.

[lizb]

Sorry xoxo OP = original poster

[gerbillover9612]

Ahah no worries ah i see. Yeah good point. xx

[crittercrazy]

I guess I shouldn't bother saying that I, along with everyone else, disagree. Gerbils are entertaining and creative critters throughout their entire lives- if you can't see that then perhaps gerbils just aren't the right pet for you.
Perhaps your gerbils are simply active at night- some of mine are this way.
You also seem to think that gerbils have miserable lives since they live in captivity. . . as has been said, I don't think they are like us that they can be unhappy over a lack of freedom. They do enjoy somewhere new to explore, obviously, which is why we let them out of the cage, but I don't think they are unhappy- they're too easy to please for that! Cardboard and wood to chew will do them just fine.
Anyway, try to love your gerbils for what they are!

[qtoffer]

You have a fantastic setup, lilsmacko. Any gerbil would find it interesting and enriching. The only thing I would suggest is more bedding - up to about two inches from the top of the tank, along with some some buried wooden sticks and more cardboard tubes/boxes.

Gerbils do sleep a lot, but that's their nature. They also have several wakeful periods throughout the day AND the night. While YOU'RE sleeping, they're up exploring and rearranging their cage for a few hours.

My gerbils occupy themselves by destroying cardboard tubes and excavating and then refilling large caverns in the bedding. They cram small boxes with bedding, so tightly compacted, that I have use a pencil to get it all out! They gnaw 1 inch thick wooden sticks into smaller pieces and then whittle the ends down into points. They drag these wooden 'spears' all around the tank and topper. They sit in the topper and look out the window or watch me working on the computer. Gerbils are certainly motivated to play and explore and they are definitely plugged in to what's going on outside their cage.
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Arwen (F) and Eowyn (F) 11/12/2011 - 20 gallon with 20 gallon topper
Goldberry (F) 11/12/2011 - 20 gallon with 20 gallon topper