how my first gerbil died

[sparky]

me and my brother had 'raul' out named after the real madrid player he was happily running around the conservatry. We have'nt had him for long, only for about a month. When it was time to put him back sam, my brother went to put him in the cage, i was at the bottom of the stairs when sam reached the top, he was quite jumpy and wanted to run about for longer.

Then suddenly he jumped out of his hands and fell all the way down the stairs, i was in shock his nerves were moving and he was shaking it was'nt long before he died.

so i've got advice for gerbil owners incase you did'nt already know if your gerbils have been running about and your holding them, just in case hold their tails if they do try to jump.

[doomgerbiluk]

hmmm not such good advice
Now you can hold them by the BASE of the tail next to the body but otherwise restraining a gerbil by it's tail will probably result in a tailless gerbil.
Also gerbils don't particularly like you touching their tails.
My advice hold your gerbil firmly on stairs and in similar circumstances or preferrably put them in a travel pen even for short journeys such as up and down stairs.
I always keep a pen handy for these purposes.

[whitmoregirl]

doomgerbiluk said:

hmmm not such good advice
Now you can hold them by the BASE of the tail next to the body but otherwise restraining a gerbil by it's tail will probably result in a tailless gerbil.
Also gerbils don't particularly like you touching their tails.
My advice hold your gerbil firmly on stairs and in similar circumstances or preferrably put them in a travel pen even for short journeys such as up and down stairs.
I always keep a pen handy for these purposes.

I would reccommend holding the gerbil in cupped hands (like a clam) close to the body, or put the animal inside your jumper or pocket (one of those big ones not the jeans ¬_¬) temporarily

[doomgerbiluk]

That too.
The important thing is your gerbil should be safe AND comfortable. Even base tail holding is really not a good form of restraint.
My daughter often carries hers in pockets, their coconut or a pen.

[sparky]

thanks for your advice people

[caz]

We ALWAYS use a small pet carrier to move our girls around the house - even from room to room as you never know if they'll nip you and you drop them by mistake!

Caroline

[megamimitchi]

If they start running while you hold them put hand in front of hand in front of hand. My sister has mastered this to the point that the gerbils think she's a tredmill! I don't bring the gerbs up and down stairs. They stay down stairs.