Why don't my gerbils get it?

[SuperGirlH]

I have 2 excersise balls, one is regular sized, and one is a mini one. For some reason my gerbils don't understand the concept of how to move the ball. They just sit in it and don't understand that it moves. I've put them in it about 3 times, for about a half an hour, and they have yet to understand what to do. I even tried slowly rolling them in it so maybe they would get the idea, but nope, they just sit there confused looking. What should I do? I feel bad just making them sit there for hours, but I don't know how else to get them to understand what they are supposed to do. Any suggestions? Has anyone else had this problem?

P.S. .... Ignore the Poll question, I figured it out... silly me!

[taivas]

Hi
Well... Suggestion?
Let it be! If the gerbils don´t want to use such a thing you shouldn´t force them to use it. If you think the gerbils should be able to run, try a big hamster weel.... but my gerbils never liked that, too. Well and if a gerbil doesn´t want to use somethng like that you can´t do anthing to "convince" them.

I think you´re talking about those plastic things you can put an animal in so that it will roll on the floor with it?!
All I´ve ever heared about those things is that you shouldn´t use them at all anyway.

Greatings,
Sabine

[RyanF]

I agree. Don't force them to use it. Only about 50% of gerbils like running in wheels, ball, etc.

[GerbilGal]

Agree. My 2 out of my 4 girls love the ball.

[doomgerbiluk]

I have to agree here
there are two issues
first, gerbils do now see in certain colours. This means if you get the wrong colour ball (and sorry I forget which colour) they can't see though it!! To the gerbil its been placed in a small dark place that wobbles!!!
Secondly gerbils that love balls quickly get very fast and active in them , those that hate them should not be forced. Every gerbil is different. In fact not all hamsters liek them either!!!!

[lizzy]

I don't see the point of them. I've never used them for gerbils.

I let mine out for exercise and they run around my room and I always manage to catch them.

[Manix]

3 out of my 4 gerb.s know how to use the play ball, only 2 out of those 3 actually enjoy the ball. The third one will walk around a bit, but isn't impressed (ha can't get into trouble while in the ball). Sadly, my poor little girl (gerbil 4) is clueless. She must be the "blonde" of the gerbil world.

Some gerb.s get it, some don't, and some, like gerbil 3 thinks they're stupid. My advise; store the play ball for some future gerb who may enjoy it.

[SuperGirlH]

thanks for the advice. I just used to have hamsters and I've never met a hamster that didn't like them, so I guess I assumed gerbils would too. They are purple colored, so maybe that has something to do with it. They do try to move it, they will walk around, but it's almost like they just aren't pushing up high enough to make it move I guess. It seems like they want to walk around, but feel like they can't or something. I let them out to run around on the couch anyway ,and they never try to jump off, so that's good enough, I just would like them to be able to run around without me having to watch them constantly. but if they don't enjoy it, then I guess I can't make them.

[gerbil]

do your gerbs know how to roll anything? If you're really trying to get them to learn, how abuot trying a wheeel first. THose are alike except the ball is more free. Out of experience, my gerbs like the wheel better.

[gerbilsrgreat]

I would think wheels are better than balls, because if your gerbil gets tired of the wheel, he can just hop off. If he gets tired of the ball, he can't escape but is just stuck there.

-Jeremiah

[SuperGirlH]

One of my gerbils does enjoy running on the wheel sometimes. The other one doesn't seem interested in it. I just figured it would be more fun for them to be outside of the cage running around, even though they werent really "outside"... They LOVE running around outside of the ball, they think it is the best thing ever. They scurry around checking out every little thing, standing up on their back feet. its so cute.

[RitzieAnn]

I have 10, and they'd all have a heart attack if they didn't have wheels! Keebler and his son Sparyk jump and grab the screen lid and hang on to it if I take away their wheel!

I have a mini ball that I let my pups roll around in, and they all roll in it. The older ones won't roll around in my mimi one, but I have one of those race cars.... and they run in that. Keebler LOVES it! He hauls butt in it! I think part of why he likes that and not the ball is because the car is more like a wheel, and not a ball, so he can only go forewards or backwards. Also, it's bigger, and the mini ball sways his back.

By boyfriend got a rat-sized ball for his rat, and the rat hates it, though he has plenty of room in it. But his brother can put his 3 young gerbils (from me) in there, and the 3 of them roll it around downstairs! It's funny, because the ball is huge!

I'd say try a race car, if they don't like it, then take it back. The neat thing about it is that it has 3 different settings. The 1st setting is so it's stationary, the 2nd is so they can roll it on the floor, and the 3rd is so it'll fit on a track that you can buy, but it also works well on that setting to have it roll on the floor as well.

[gerbil]

how is it now??? did you take some of our suggestions?

[SuperGirlH]

No luck in getting them to understand the ball. I guess they either can't see through it, or don't understand that it moves. or perhaps they just don't like it. They still have their wheel though, and I love taking them out and letting them run around on the couch, so they're getting enough excercise. As long as they're happy, whatever. thanks to everyone who offered their advice! I'm glad to know my gerbil isn't the only ball hater, lol.

[gerbil]

Hehe! I'm glad to hear that!