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Post by jocelyn on May 29, 2004 2:46:28 GMT -8
hi, i just got 2 female gerbils like 1 week + ago. one is lilac (or dove, not sure but i assume she's lilac) and the other is black
they're both 2 months old, and i've this problem with their nails and nibbling.
the black gerbil, zerowyne, always nibbles my fingers whenever i wanna arrange their toy house or put food. it doesnt really hurt but it sort of scares me, and i minimize the time my hand is in their cage due to this, coz when i put my hand in they immediately run over to take a sniff and for zerowyne, a nip
lilz, the lilac one, doesn't nibble. but both their nails are quite sharp, and when they try to climb up my hand it also scares me too coz i don't know if they're trying to taste me or its just simply their nails
how do i go about taming them? im a little scared of them, but i want to tame them too.
and they're really easily startled by noises, and freeze sometimes, even when i talk in a soft tone.. are they just not used to it or they're more prone to having fits?
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Post by Kitty on May 29, 2004 14:27:11 GMT -8
 If your Gerbils come right to your hand when you put it in the cage, they're tame! Untamed Gerbils hide when you put a hand in their cage. Don't be afraid of Zerowyne nibbeling your nails! She just likes chewing on your nail, that's all. ;D If you don't want her doing that, however, try handing her a treat or seed to nibble on instead.  They're nails can be a little sharp; but don't be afraid of them! Your Gerbils are simply exploring your hand/arm. When they climb onto your hand, lift them out and let them walk around on the bed or on the floor. They like to know there's a bigger world out there other than their cage. But always keep your eye on them of course! I don't think Gerbils are prone to having fits...hehe...the loud noise probably just startled them. Keep talking to them softly, and they'll learn the noise is just your voice, and they'll be happy to hear they're mommy is near. ;D
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Post by Ritzie/Admin on May 30, 2004 2:47:59 GMT -8
Welcome here you two! ;D
I think Kitty has already told the most things! I agree with her. Mongolian gerbils nibble always on things, including your fingers, to try if it is eatable or tasty! You can blow in their face when doing that, just to say that you don't like it. But I can image that you're a bit scared of that. And about their clawes: they are indeed very sharp! Their scientific names mean something like "Clawed Warrior", and another common English name for them is Clawed Jird! So those sharp and long claws are normal for these gerbils!
Here the information I've placed on my website on taming gerbils:
I assume that you want that your Mongolian gerbils get tame after purchasing them. Tame Mongolian gerbils will like to be held, but you need to remember that Mongolian gerbils aren't real cuddle animals. When you're looking for cuddle animals, you need to buy one in a toy store. Mongolian gerbils won't get as tame as for example tame rats. Mongolian gerbils won't stay sitting on your hand or lap to be cuddled. They are lively for that.
But still it is very handy to tame your gerbils. Tame gerbils can be handled easily, and they will like playing with you. Besides, it is very handy to have tame gerbils when you need to clean their cages, or when they need a medical exam or when they need to have administered medicines.
How can I tame my Mongolian gerbils?
You can use the natural curiosity of Mongolian gerbils to tame them. They usually flee when there happens something unusually, but a brave gerbil will come back to take a look, due to its curiosity. You can them get used to you, by introducing your hand (with or without treats on it) in their cage. The gerbils will come to take a look. Let them sniff, and it is not unusual to get a gentle nip as they explore and examine your hand. They're trying to "taste" you, and find out if your edible. Don't jerk your hand away, move it back slowly. Give them a quick puff of air in the face. Don't catch them immediately or pick them up, because they will be frightened and you will lose their trust.
When they are used to your hand and its smell, the next step is to let them sit and let them eat some treats, such as sunflower seeds, on your hand. When your gerbils are used to sit on your hand, you can slowly raise your hand a few centimetres with the gerbil on it, and then slowly lower it back down again. You can every time you'll do this raise your hand a little bit higher. This way your gerbils will lose their fear for you and other humans. Never chase your gerbils, and never catch them from above, because this is the way their natural predators. Such as birds of prey, will catch them.
NEVER catch a Mongolian gerbil at their tail! When it is necessary ONLY at the base of their tail. Your gerbil can lose its tail when you'll grab their tail and the gerbil want to go away. They can lose their tail very easily. You will have only the tails' skin in your hand and the vertebra of the tail will stay at the gerbil. These vertebras will die off very quickly. Your gerbil won't have a tail anymore and it shall never grow back, but they will survive and it will heal very quickly. The loss of their tail is a defence mechanism for your Mongolian gerbil, so they can escape from a predator when these enemies have caught them at their tail. So you need to scoop them with your hands when you want to hold them. You can also let them climb on your hand or grab their body calmly with your full hand.
Never give up, because it can take a while before your gerbil will be tame. Have patience!
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Post by jocelyn on May 30, 2004 7:15:00 GMT -8
ooh okay..
anyway, i removed sunflower seeds from their diet and tried to give zerowyne one today.. she took it from my palm, but before that she tried to nibble again
after she took the sunflower seed i moved away my hand, and there she was standing , eating the treat.. should i or should i not remove my hand??
btw i fed them plain dog biscuits before (to trim their teeth).. and they ate it.. and i give them whenever they finish one.. is that okay?? coz i've got hamsters too and its okay to feed them that, but im wondering if its okay for gerbils? also dry cat food..
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Post by Kitty on May 30, 2004 16:44:14 GMT -8
Hiya Peter! Ehh.. Joce, I'm not sure, you should ask Peter..  He seems to be the expert. Hehe ;D |
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Post by Ritzie/Admin on May 31, 2004 7:20:49 GMT -8
Dry cat food and dog bicuits! are good for gerbils! They will provide the gerbils some animal protein! Some give this in stead of mealworms, etc. But they can also live without! Just don't give it too much, because that is not healthy and they will get fat! And about the moving of your hand: if she seems OK when you move your hand, than you can move them. She has just to get used to you and your hand. To learn that is not something to be afraid of! Oh, and Kitty, I don't see myself as an expert! ;D But thanx! I can only tell you what I have learned since I have had gerbils and bred with them. But I know people that know much more than me! |
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Post by jocelyn on May 31, 2004 17:43:28 GMT -8
haha thanx u both.. |
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Post by Kitty on May 31, 2004 22:52:56 GMT -8
 Wow. That's Intresting! Cat food and dog buscuits..LOL. And these meal worms...where do you get them? Are they alive when you buy them? Are they specifically for Gerbils? And are they an entire day's meal replacement or simply a large treat? ;D whoa...too many questions. ;D Oh. Well Peter, you just had that professional feeling to your typing. Hehe. Well, ya know alot.
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Post by Kitty on May 31, 2004 22:54:21 GMT -8
And Joyceln, your Icon is Adorable.  |
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Post by Ritzie/Admin on Jun 1, 2004 5:14:48 GMT -8
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Post by jocelyn on Jun 1, 2004 9:55:01 GMT -8
actually im quite terrified of them nibbling my fingers, so i close all gaps between my fingers and palm facing up lower my hand into their tank they sniff and when i got the feeling they wanna nibble i retreat (maybe im a little paranoid) .. their nose is furry and so soft! and i juz tried handfeeding them (coz they kept on digging and their food bowl is empty) and they didnt nibble.. im so happy.. ;D i wan my gerbils to wink too! |
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Post by butsam on Jun 2, 2004 8:38:44 GMT -8
If I could add in something here... Jocelyn, I think the gerbils consider fingernails to be an especially large seed. Even though my gerbils are tame, if they see any fingernails, they will always bite. So the trick is to make sure fingernails are not exposed. Also, try feeding them their food in your palm, and if they will just sit there, do not move away. They live up to the saying, "Don't bite the hand that feeds you"! Also, when they bite you, don't let it go unpunished. How do you punish a gerbil, you might wonder? Blow into their eyes (not too hard), and they will stop what they are doing. Also, tell them sharply, "No!" *before* you blow into their eyes. At first, they do not have any clue what a sharp "No" means, of course. After some time, though, they will become conditioned to associating the "No!" with a blow in the eyes, and you can just tell them, "No!", for times when you can't blow in their eyes. Remember this...I reiterate that even through all of this, they will bit fingernails, because they look like a big seed It will take a long time for them not to bite fingernails. The best solution is to make sure they are out of sight...hold them palm up with the thumb positioned properly so they can't see the fingernail. Sam |
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Post by jocelyn on Jun 2, 2004 18:12:54 GMT -8
my nails are relatively long, but they don't bite them.. they use 2 hands and grab part of my finger to nibble lolz
but now im used to putting the food on my palm first , then when they each take something to eat i pour the rest into their food bowl..
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Post by brittanie on Jun 2, 2004 20:55:23 GMT -8
Oh, and Kitty, I don't see myself as an expert! ;D But thanx! I can only tell you what I have learned since I have had gerbils and bred with them. But I know people that know much more than me! Please Peter!! you know you're the expert here!! |
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Post by Ritzie/Admin on Jun 4, 2004 4:22:25 GMT -8
There are more experts here!
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If your Gerbils come right to your hand when you put it in the cage, they're tame! Untamed Gerbils hide when you put a hand in their cage. 
He seems to be the expert. Hehe ;D
Wow. That's Intresting! Cat food and dog buscuits..LOL. 