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Post by butsam on Feb 25, 2004 18:33:47 GMT -8
My gerbils are starting to get very hyper and comfortable living with me now  I have also noticed, though, that they keep wanting to get out and about and explore more and more. At first they were shy (well, exploring and getting used to their new environment), but now they are used to their environment and me and naturally want to get out and about. Now, I have taken them out of their cage a lot of times. One of them (Finch) really likes the ball also, so I have had him roll around in the ball...the other (Bosco) gets very hyper, but does not like the ball so much. Anyway, I was wondering what other techniques you use? I let them crawl all over my hands, but I am not sure what else I can do to play with these furry friends other than that and the ball...they have so much energy, it is cool! I just want them to be able to use it all more...any ideas? I know cardboard is a hit and do that very often (once per day approximately they have new cardboard to chew). They have a chew log, chew "toys", and a wheel that I could power my whole apartment with they keep it going so much lol There are also quite a few tubes, including a large circular loop and a smaller loop. I don't think it's a matter of not having enough to do in the cage, just that they get to want to explore. How is this best accomplished? Thanks, Sam |
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Post by Ritzie/Admin on Feb 26, 2004 2:11:55 GMT -8
I see that too! When I'm home, they walk back and forth in the front of the window of their tank. They want to get out!
The gerbils that do this are very tame, so I let them almost daily walking freely in my living room. I can pick them up when I want. They even climb via my leg on the couch. And when I want to walk to the kitchen, they follow me, which can be pesky, because I don't want them to leave my living room. So I have to pick them up and place them again in the living room, and than quickly closing the door. ;D
But what you can do? Maybe you can let them walk and climb around on the couch and you when you're laying on it. That is what I most of the times do! And regularly handling them on that couch. The more they're with you and the more you handle them, the more tame they get!
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Post by amy on Feb 28, 2004 8:35:59 GMT -8
I also let my gerbils roam around my livingroom floor i sometimes add their food and toys aswell which also helps too catch them  I alsoo have made a kind of pen on my bedroom floor which they roam around in and play. Amy x x |
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Post by floppy on Apr 12, 2004 11:18:55 GMT -8
Hi,
If you are letting your pets out to play in any room always make sure the room is gerbil proof first. i.e. block off any small holes that may get in, you'd be surprised at the small spaces gerbils can get into! Make sure there are no wires that they could chew on, and make sure there are no sharp objects that they could injure themselves on.
There is a thing called a small pet pen (I think that's what it's called anyway!). I think you can get it on petplanet.com. It's ideal if you can't let your pets run freely around your room. A lot of people also let them run about on their bed, supervised of course.
Floppy
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Post by Ritzie/Admin on Apr 12, 2004 12:59:47 GMT -8
Indeed good advise! Always first make the room "gerbil-proof"! ;D But even than it is not always safe! I have many wooden items in my living room and some have teeth marks now! ;D By the way, Floppy, welcome here! Good to have another gerbil lover here! 32 gerbils that is a lot! |
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Post by j on Apr 12, 2004 19:32:21 GMT -8
darn peter how did you get them that tame? I'm jealous. lol Actually the other day, the first pup to open her eyes would jump up and down near the side of the tank when she wanted to come out. It was sooo cute. Now that the others have opened their eyes, I can't tell them apart and she doesn't seem to do it so much.  |
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Post by Ritzie/Admin on Apr 13, 2004 2:26:34 GMT -8
d**n peter how did you get them that tame? I'm jealous. lol Only my males are that tame (I've sold the females last weekend, will purchase soon new unrelated females). The only one that I have bought is 4,5 years old, so is a long time with me! And the other males I have are all born at my place, so I could handle them right after birth! ;D |
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Post by j on Apr 13, 2004 5:59:55 GMT -8
What did ya do with the pups to get em tame? Just hold them everyday and let them crawl all over you? Cause I've been trying to do that with my pups that are now 21days old. I only have one that jumps up at the sides to come out lol. If I put my hand in, they'll crawl all over me and sit there, then I take them out. Just not sure if it's working yet or if I'm doing it enough.  I don't have any toys in the tank cause I don't want them doing that stupid thing where they run and hide when they hear a noise. The mother is friendly, but does that and I don't want them picking up that habit   |
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Post by Ritzie/Admin on Apr 13, 2004 7:08:28 GMT -8
My females did that too (that hiding), that was because they weren't tame enough yet! The males that are not very tame yet do that too! However they never bite when I handle them.
About the pups: yes I handle them a lot! I try to hold them daily, but that is not always possible. And they crawl indeed on me when I'm laying on the couch before the tv! It can take a while before the gerbils are totally used to you! I can only say be patient! It differs also with each gerbil. With older gerbils it will be more difficult to tame them further!
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Post by floppy on Apr 13, 2004 15:18:07 GMT -8
Hi Peter, Yes, 32 gerbils is a lot! I'm unemployed at the moment so I'm at home most days. They certainly are a handful and require lots of attention, which they do somehow manage to get most of the time! I wouldn't swap them for anything. They are costing me a fortune at the moment. I'm thinking of sending some of the lads out to get jobs!! ;D Most of my gerbils are very tame which is great. My first breeding pair, Molly and Floyd would be the tamest I think. When myself or my boyfriend puts our hand in the cage she'll hop on and wait to be lifted out. Then she'll just sit in our hand and wink at us! She's a very sweet gerbil. Floyd is much the same but won't sit in our hand for very long. He's more interested in sitting on our shoulder! It's great because when I let them out to run around they will hop my hand when it's time for them to back in their cage. One thing I like to do, when I let any of my gerbils out in the living room, Myself and/or my boyfriend lie or sit on the floor. Once they've explored a bit they will always come over and climb on us. I find that it helps when taming them. I definitely don't force them onto my hand or force them to climb on me. It would scare them! If you stay still and let them climb on you they feel more comfortable and secure with you and are more likely to want to sit/climb on you. Out of 32 gerbils, 9 of which are pups. I only have one female who's not very tame. She's a bit aggressive and tends to nip. I refuse to give up on her though. I'll sit on the floor when she's out and offer her treats or just put my hand on the floor. She always takes the treats and then scents my hand but she can't resist trying to bite me!! So far she hasn't drawn blood but each time she nips she does it harder so it's probably only a matter of time! I have been badly bitten before and know how painful it can be when they get a good grip on you! Anyway, I've babbled on here for long enough I think!! ;D  Floppy |
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Post by floppy on Apr 13, 2004 17:10:20 GMT -8
I don't have any toys in the tank cause I don't want them doing that stupid thing where they run and hide when they hear a noise. The mother is friendly, but does that and I don't want them picking up that habit Gerbils NEED toys and things to keep them amused in their cages/tanks. You can't leave them out because you think it's stupid when they run and hide That's just what gerbils do! Even the most tame gerbils will do it. It's not just some silly habit that they do to annoy you. As for the 21 day old pups. You need to give them time, they are still babies and their eyes probably not long opened. They need time to adjust to things. They are much smaller than fully grown gerbils and when they see a big hand coming towards them of course they're going to be frightened. It will be made even worse if they have nowhere to hide too. Gerbils naturally like to hide. All my gerbils are tame and they do it but I wouldn't punish them for it by taking their toys away! Floppy |
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Post by queenofthenile on Apr 14, 2004 8:19:30 GMT -8
I agree with Floppy. Those guys need some toys in there . The way I see it, without toys, they are just MORE scared because there is nowhere to hide. I think that would make it harder to tame them. Especially with the pups just opening their eyes, because that is a very frightening time for them. I have half of a coconut shell in the tank that everybody hides under and sleeps under. It is really cute to lift the shell up and see 6 little babies hanging off mom's belly!  |
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Post by Ritzie/Admin on Apr 15, 2004 5:36:24 GMT -8
Yes they need toys! Mongolian gerbils are very active animals that need things to do. Without intems to play with or something like that they get bored and will most likely develop (or do it more) stereotypic behaviour (corner digging etc.). But toys can be toilet-rolls, cardboard boxes, branches, wooden toys, climbing items, etc. A lot of things! About a nestingbox, I give that always, but I know not everyone uses it. When I want to handle the pups I will remove the nesting box so that I can pick them up. After handling they go back in their cage with a nesting box so that they can hide (they are of course prey animals ) So maybe you can give them a hiding place when you are not handling them (so that they can hide when you walk by for instance) and that you remove the hiding place temporarily when you want to pick them up. Personally I believe that they can cope that, and that is how I tame them, and it works very well for me. |
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Post by j on May 2, 2004 3:09:15 GMT -8
Gerbils NEED toys and things to keep them amused in their cages/tanks. It's funny. The same day I posted that message I also posted a pic of the mother and pups chewing a paper towel tube. I only agree that they need to chew and busy ..sometimes ;D I can and have been and it's working great. ;D Eh. I disagree. I don't really follow *gerbil rules* anymore. It's too controversal. I ask for advice on a few things just to hear others opinions and that's about it. When I first got my pair of females ever from a petshop, same litter. I was told by *experts* on boards to give them a ton of bedding and toys and leave them alone for 2 weeks. Don't bother them untill they get used to their new home. Then after 2 weeks do the *hand thing* WORST ADVICE EVER. After 2 months I couldn't stand it anymore. Gerbil's never came out of their hiding places and had this crazy burrow going. They had a burrow to their water and food dish. A burrow/hole under the water bottle so they could just poke their head out and drink, then run back into the burrow. Yes, typical WILD gerbil behavior. But it only started because they were never tame. They were petshop pups. Finally had to clean the cage (was also advised not to do this, might freak them out!) and I didn't put anything in the tank at all but water,food and a thin layer of bedding. I did the hand thing, they started taking seeds from me..and eventually got somewhat tame. So. I'm not giving these guys wooden houses and things because they'll just get like that. 5 weeks old and a couple of them jump at the side to come out. My other first females never did this. Only thing they got excited over was the smell of sunflowers and new chewtoys. Sure, when they get a little older I"ll start giving houses and more cardboard toys and set up their habitrail tubes again. But now..No. |
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Post by Ritzie/Admin on May 2, 2004 7:10:20 GMT -8
It is true that not all gerbil rund and hide when you come near the page! My gerbil come actually toward the window, wehn I'm near. Real tame gerbils won't be scared and will not hide for humans!
I personally give them always toys, like thick branches to climb on, card board boxes, toilet-rolls, hay, stones, wheels, wooden toys! It depends on what cage they are living in. And also hiding/nesting places, like flowerpots, houses, artificial burrow, etc.
I have to say that when I tame my gerbils, I take them out of the cage for handling, so they cannot hide either. However I have to say that the gerbils I have now are born at my place so handled right after birth! Even the gerbils I have that are not born at my place are handled from a very early age. That is because I purchase my gerbils from other breeders.
But Floppy is right about when you frighten a gerbil it can be harder to tame them! Because than they will associate you with danger and unpleasant things! So never chase gerbils for example!
Indeed not an advise I would give! I would say to let them get used to their new environment 1-2 days, not 2 weeks! That is really not necessary in my opinion. The younger they are, the easier it is to tame them. So I would also start handling them almost right after you have purchased them.
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I have also noticed, though, that they keep wanting to get out and about and explore more and more. At first they were shy (well, exploring and getting used to their new environment), but now they are used to their environment and me and naturally want to get out and about.
I alsoo have made a kind of pen on my bedroom floor which they roam around in and play.
