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Post by naeviah on Nov 17, 2015 19:03:50 GMT -8
I've had my gerbils for just over 6 weeks now, and they still won't let me hold them. They're still very skiddish. They'll let me give them a sunflower seed (as long as I'm VERY slow and quiet while opening the lid), and one of them will let me pet him for a second or two. Is there any way to get them to trust me so I can hold them? I shy'd away from hamsters because they can be very nippy, and I was told gerbils don't do that. When I put food in the palm of my hand and lay it in their cage they bite my fingers rather than take the food. Thoughts?
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Post by ninestone on Nov 18, 2015 7:36:40 GMT -8
First, always wash your hands before putting in their cage. Otherwise all the smells on your hands including foods you've touched in the last few hours make them curious to try to taste them, so they nip your hand trying to get a taste. Early on soon after we got them, one of ours suddenly started nipping hard on my son's hand. We realized he'd just been eating cheese slices!. It can also help, after washing, to rub your hand in the tank bedding to get their clan smell on it. It will take time to tame them, but keep putting your hand flat in the cage with a sunflower seed on it and they'll eventually learn to trust you. Having said that, be aware that gerbils are NOT cuddly. They are very curious and active creatures, and when out of their tank are most interested in exploring around, not sitting quietly. The best way to enjoy them, especially early on while trying to tame them, is to sit in an enclosed space with them to let them run around and on you. For example, sit in a bathtub with a towel placed on the bottom with them. WARNING: Gerbils enjoy chewing, and part of the way they explore the world is to try chewing on things! So use an old towel and wear old clothes that are OK to have little holes chewed in them!  |
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Post by blanknote on Nov 23, 2015 3:14:47 GMT -8
Ninestone gave some great tips! Definitely would recommend trying the bath tub method if you can. I have found it a great way to practise the gerbils getting used to your hands and you moving them.
When I first got my gerbils, most of the time one of them always nibbled my fingers when I was giving treats/food, but overtime he stopped doing it. He sometimes still does it, but not as often.
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