questions... 5 points for the best answer? Okay.. so I've had my little guy for... well.. I can't exactly remember... Definitely over a year. Not more than two years I think.
When I got him, he was already old. I felt so bad when I looked at him all sad looking in the corner. At the pet store he was all alone because he was older than all the other ones. And no one wanted him cuz you know how everyone just goes crazy over the babies! hahaha. I don't know how old a gerbil has to be in order to be considered an adult. When the pet store lady took him out of him cage, she picked him up by his tail only after chasing him around and put him in a cardboard box. I took him home.
Since I saw the lady at the pet store pick up my gerbil this way, I always assumed it's the right way. I was mortified, absolutely mortified to discover just recently that this is not the proper way! How does one properly pick up a gerbil?
Because I got my gerbil when he was an adult.. he doesn't really enjoy human contact. He will occassionally let me pet his head for a few seconds then the little ball of energy just runs away. Is it neccessary for gerbils to have human contact like guinea pigs and rabbits? Will putting him in his little play-rolling-ball type thing outside his cage help him become more social?
My mom used to breed gerbils when she was in her 20s, and our family is full of pet-lovers so he's properly cared for. He has about.. hmm.. I want to say a 15 gallon.. possibly even 20 gallon tank to run around in. I got the cage from a woman who had previously had some hamsters. The wheel is attached and hangs from the cover if that makes sense.. so he can go under the wheel as well. He has a small food dish, and a small wooden house about 4in. by 4in. Does he have enough room to run around? I put lots of bedding for him to burrow in, he always throws it to one side of the cage and makes little tunnels. hahaha.
Thank you so much for taking your time to read and answer my question!!!
When I got him, he was already old. I felt so bad when I looked at him all sad looking in the corner. At the pet store he was all alone because he was older than all the other ones. And no one wanted him cuz you know how everyone just goes crazy over the babies! hahaha. I don't know how old a gerbil has to be in order to be considered an adult. When the pet store lady took him out of him cage, she picked him up by his tail only after chasing him around and put him in a cardboard box. I took him home.
Since I saw the lady at the pet store pick up my gerbil this way, I always assumed it's the right way. I was mortified, absolutely mortified to discover just recently that this is not the proper way! How does one properly pick up a gerbil?
Because I got my gerbil when he was an adult.. he doesn't really enjoy human contact. He will occassionally let me pet his head for a few seconds then the little ball of energy just runs away. Is it neccessary for gerbils to have human contact like guinea pigs and rabbits? Will putting him in his little play-rolling-ball type thing outside his cage help him become more social?
My mom used to breed gerbils when she was in her 20s, and our family is full of pet-lovers so he's properly cared for. He has about.. hmm.. I want to say a 15 gallon.. possibly even 20 gallon tank to run around in. I got the cage from a woman who had previously had some hamsters. The wheel is attached and hangs from the cover if that makes sense.. so he can go under the wheel as well. He has a small food dish, and a small wooden house about 4in. by 4in. Does he have enough room to run around? I put lots of bedding for him to burrow in, he always throws it to one side of the cage and makes little tunnels. hahaha.
Thank you so much for taking your time to read and answer my question!!!
..The way i pick Up my hamsters were 1I'll let them know that im there..2 Your sent is different from there's so put your hand in the hay/bedding so the sent can be the same(may work )3 Let the gerbils smell your hand after You rub your hands with the hay/bedding try petting it....if that works "and it doesn't bite you"try picking it up..cup your hand under the belly secure it...If it doesn't work plz keep trying or find other ways btw Wash ur hands be4 u pick it/them up...1 more thing Try carrying some of there food in your hand