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Post by Mochi on May 20, 2021 9:22:18 GMT -8
Hi! I’m a new owner, This is my second post. I decided to word this one better but I couldn’t figure out how to delete my old post. So I have had my gerbils for about 1.5 months. I LOVE THEM SO MUCH! Pet Smart said they got gerbils in when they were 3 months old and they had had these particular gerbils in stock for awhile. I’m guessing my gerbils are 5 or 6 months old now. So they were pretty nice when I first bought them, but it seemed the more I interacted with them the more scared of me they became. I did bath play time with them, stuck my hand in every day. But it seems I must be doing something wrong. I wanted to ask for advice before I really messed up my gerbils. They used to be chill when I came over to their cage, now they run and I keep catching them try to chew the wheel. Please help me before it’s too late! I am really sad that they are scared and don’t trust me. Any advise is really appreciated!!! Thanks! - Mochi
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Post by Mochi on May 21, 2021 7:52:15 GMT -8
Seriously though, ANY advice would be great!! I really want them to have a nice life, and get enough exercise!
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Post by LilyandDaisy on May 21, 2021 8:37:26 GMT -8
Hi, Sorry for the delay in replying. Sometimes posts in the guest section get missed so if you can I would suggest signing up for an account to participate in the forum fully. As for taming, focus on making interaction with you a positive experience for them. Gerbils don't often like to be picked up, even when they're tame. It's probably not much to do with you personally. I find mine are much more willing to interact when I let them stay in control. So this means just putting my hand in the cage and letting them explore, usually incentivising them with a treat. Over time I move the treat further up my hand or even arm so that they have to stand on my hand with all their feet to reach it (they do prefer to keep one or two feet on the ground). The key is to never insist on interaction, but to make it a rewarding experience if they do choose to approach you. Another method which can help is to take them out of the cage to an enclosed space, not too large when they're not tame yet, and sit in there with them, letting them climb all over you if they want to. If they climb on you, you can try to reward them with a treat, though not all gerbils are comfortable eating outside their cage. When you want to move them from the cage to the taming area, have them run into a jar or tube and carry them inside that, and the same when you want to put them away again. Don't chase them round the cage as that will make them more scared. I also suggest having a house or hide from their cage in the taming area, so they have somewhere familiar to retreat to. A lot of people suggest the bath tub for this method, but to be honest, I've found mine have generally been quite stressed there. I think it's a combination of the smooth reflective sides, the harsh bathroom lighting and (in my case) the noise of the extractor fan as I can't turn the light on without the fan, and potentially humidity and funny smells from shampoo residue etc. Instead, I suggest an enclosed playpen such as this, or you could make something similar with some sheets of wood or thick cardboard. If their cage is big enough with lots of enrichment, and lots of deep bedding for burrowing, they can still usually get enough exercise and have a good life even without out of cage playtime though. Don't feel bad about them running away when you approach the cage. Because gerbils are prey animals, their instinct is to hide at the slightest movement or noise, even if they don't know what it is. In the wild, the gerbils that waited to find out what was coming got eaten. They probably don't know that it's you approaching the cage, they just sense something moving. You can help them be less afraid by making interaction with you a positive thing as explained above, not chasing them in the cage etc but ultimately, gerbils will be gerbils Check that the wheel runs smoothly and isn't too small for them. Gerbils are more likely to chew wheels that either don't turn or aren't comfortable to run in. You can tell if the wheel is too small because the gerbils will run diagonally, rather than horizontally and their tails will be held vertically or curved all the way over their back. This photo shows a wheel that's too small (an extreme example). If it's a plastic wheel you may have to replace it with either a wooden one or one made from a more resilient plastic. Niteangel on US Amazon sell some good wheels for gerbils.
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Post by Mochi on May 21, 2021 14:04:09 GMT -8
Thanks for responding!!!! So as for this taming method I have been doing this ( month and a half) but whenever I put my hand in without a treat they smell it and dart away as fast as possible. They don’t like me if I don’t bring them treats. I am also worried about giving too many treats and making them fat. But they occasionally stay a little longer.
So, I have been in the bathtub with them a few times, they like to go on my shoulder and chew my shirt or look at the view outside the tub. They will not let me hold them in the bathtub either though. I have tried to have play time with them in my hallway but that was a little stressful for the both of us. I am curious about free range time though. I have read on these forums about letting their gerbils run around on the bed, couch, or their entire house!!! I would love to be able to sit on the couch with them once they are a bit tamer, but I am a new owner and the pet store (Pet Smart) employee told me about all the diseases you can contract from gerbils. So I would like to get other’s opinions about this matter. But the main problem I have with play time is taking them out. It takes a lot of coaxing to get them in the jar and they HATE IT!!! But I know they should get out. Btw how often should I do play time?
The wheel seems to work fine but they seem to have trouble with it sometimes. It’s the Nitengal Plastic Silent Spinner. It seems to be a little stiff and they have trouble getting it going. Also they have just started going in to their jar and trying to escape from the end of the jar. It’s like corner digging but they go into the jar to do it!!!!
One last question, My friend comes over for homework sometimes and she puts her hand in the cage when she comes, like I do. She has also been in the bathtub with them before as well. Is this overwhelming for them to have two different human smells? If so I will put an end to it.
Sorry this is so long!!!! Just want to make sure I’m doing the right thing! Thanks
-Mochi
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Post by Mochi on May 21, 2021 14:04:52 GMT -8
Also I’ll look in to becoming a member!
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Post by PipSqueak on May 21, 2021 18:56:51 GMT -8
One of my gerbils took 6 months to get used to me and even now when I make a sudden movement or loud noise he gets scared. The other one is not like this and has fully trusted me and everyone else since I got him. Some gerbils just are more timid than others. My gerbils dig in the jar too I think it is just something that they do. As for the wheel make sure it isn’t stuck on something or screwed too tight. I have the Niteangel wheel and it works fine.
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Post by Mocchi on May 21, 2021 19:05:01 GMT -8
Hmmm, wow!! 6 moths! *sigh*. I have also noticed some rust around the screw if that is the problem any suggestions on how to fix it? Also about the free range running. And couch time? Is it sanitary?
-Mochi
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Post by LilyandDaisy on May 22, 2021 6:17:32 GMT -8
Try removing the rust with white vinegar or lemon juice. It might be stopping the wheel from running properly. Is it possible to take the wheel apart completely and clean all the parts?
Gerbils don't need free range running or even time in a playpen/bath tub if their enclosure is big enough and enriching. Also if they aren't tame yet, they might be very hard to catch them again afterwards. I find they're more likely to walk into a familiar house from their cage at the end of free ranging, than a jar or tube.
As long as they aren't visibly ill and their skin and fur looks normal, gerbils aren't at all likely to have any diseases you can catch. Obviously take sensible precautions like hand washing between handling them and eating, but you won't catch anything from letting them run on the couch (although be prepared they may jump off!)
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Post by PipSqueak on May 22, 2021 6:52:52 GMT -8
What tank size do you have? Can you post a picture of your setup?
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Post by Mocchi on May 22, 2021 12:59:21 GMT -8
So right now, I am waiting for approval, *sigh*. Not quite sure how long it’s gonna take.... The gerbils are in a 20 gallon 8 inches of bedding and their tissue box hide on one side and their bathroom jar, wheel, and bottle on the other side. They don’t dig very much though.... So they don’t knew bathtub time? I should just tame them by putting my hand in? Sorry, for all the questions first time owning gerbils!! I will try to remove the rust. Also anyone else’s gerbils go under the wheel or in the jar cause it’s nice a cool? It’s pretty humid in my room and their plastic Nitengal wheel is nice and cool. At least I hope they are going under there to stay cool.......
-Mochi
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Post by Mocchi on May 22, 2021 13:02:46 GMT -8
Not sure how enriching it is though... they usually have a tp roll everyday and a paper towel roll every week . What else should I give them, they need more to chew cause they will chew the inside of the Nitengal wheel and I don’t want them to die!!! I feel like such an irresponsible owner.😢
-Mochi
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Post by Mocchi on May 22, 2021 13:05:54 GMT -8
Not sure if they have enough to do... They get a TP roll every other day and a paper towel roll every month. BUT THEY CHEW ON THE INSIDE IF THEIR WHEEL so I’m worried they will ingest something and die. I feel really irresponsible but I thought I knew what i was doing before gerbils. -Mochi
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Post by Mocchi on May 22, 2021 13:06:56 GMT -8
Oooh- sorry looks like a made two posts of the same thing, sorry I thought my first one didn’t go through! Sorry !!
-Mochi
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Thea
Member
Posts: 1,012
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Post by Thea on May 22, 2021 23:10:57 GMT -8
I would tame them by starting to put your hand in every day and letting them explore it, then using treats on your hand. Yes gerbils do try to find things that are plastic/glass/ceramic to keep cool, don't worry! You aren't a bad owner, you're being a good owner by being so concerned. I would say they need a little more to chew, yes, you can give egg boxes and cereal boxes as they have non-toxic ink, and you can give any other plain cardboard you have. I try to make sure my girls have something to chew on (cardboard) all the time, so if they've finished a toilet roll tube i'll give them some egg box or other cardboard. It's not as hard as it sounds though - I gave my girls a cereal box on Thursday and they're still working on it. (by the way, you don't need to put in something as big if you don't have space, just whatever works best )
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Post by PipSqueak on May 23, 2021 12:41:27 GMT -8
If they are chewing on the wheel they might be bored. I have a topper so maybe you should get one. I have the wire covered by a bendable bridge, tile, and the sand bath. In my tank I have a large bendy bridge under up against the glass so I can see them, I also have a coconut hide, toilet rolls, wood slices, and a mason jar. I can send you some links if you would like. Sprays are also very good for foraging and so is a good herb mix. I suggest sprinkling the food instead of using a bowl if you don’t already.
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