Have you ever thought about getting a cute gerbil as a pet? Gerbils are small rodents native to desert areas and are also known as brush-tailed rats because of their brush-like tails. Gerbils have become increasingly popular as pets in recent years because they have many advantages, such as:
Gerbils are intelligent and can learn simple tricks such as slapping food with their paws or pushing a ball toy with their nose.
Gerbils are friendly and can develop trusting and close relationships with humans, get along with other gerbils, and even get along with some other pets such as cats or dogs.
Gerbils are clean and don’t give off unpleasant odors or mess up your home, they will settle for a regular corner in their cage to urinate and defecate, and they will also clean their fur with sand on a regular basis.
Gerbils are fun to watch, they are active mainly at dusk and early morning, which coincides with the time when humans get off work and wake up, so you can play with them and observe their funny behaviors such as digging holes, storing food, or doing some antics.
However, keeping a gerbil is not an easy task, they need your patience, care and responsibility. Gerbils are very sensitive animals, they have high requirements on environment, diet, health and socialization, if you can’t meet their basic needs, they may get sick, injured, or become depressed and lonely. Therefore, if you want to raise gerbils, you must be well-prepared to understand their habits and characteristics and provide them with the most suitable care. In this article, I will share with you some knowledge and tips on how to take care of gerbils, which will hopefully help you build a happy and healthy relationship with your gerbils.
Basic needs of gerbils
Suitable living environment
The living environment of gerbils is one of the most important factors affecting their health and well-being, and it is important that you choose a suitable cage or tank for them that provides enough space and depth for them to dig in, as well as safety and cleanliness. Here are some suggestions for gerbil living environments:
Choose the right cage or tank. Gerbils need a spacious, ventilated, transparent and easy-to-clean container as their home, you can choose a large glass fish tank or a cage with metal or plastic grills, but be careful not to have too many gaps in the grills or the gerbils may escape or get stuck. You can also choose a cage designed specifically for gerbils, they usually have multi-level construction to provide more room for movement and toys, but make sure they are of good quality and safe, avoiding parts that have sharp edges or come off easily.
Provide enough space and depth for digging. Gerbils are animals that love to dig, and they will dig intricate tunnels and nests in the sand, which is good for their physical and mental health, so you need to provide them with enough space and depth for them to dig in, in general, a gerbil container should be at least 60cm in length, 40cm in width, and 30cm in height, and the bottom should be lined with at least 10cm of thick bedding material, so that gerbils can dig freely. If you have two or more gerbils, you will want to increase the size of the container and the thickness of the bedding material accordingly to avoid them competing for space or fighting.
Appropriate bedding materials
Bedding materials are another important part of a gerbil’s living environment, they not only provide the material for the gerbil to dig in, but they also affect the gerbil’s comfort and hygiene, you need to choose an appropriate bedding material for your gerbil, here are some suggestions for gerbil bedding materials:
Avoid wood shavings. Wood shavings are a common bedding material, but they are not suitable for gerbils because they may cause allergies, irritate their respiratory tracts, or cause digestive problems, especially some wood shavings that contain resins, such as pine or cedar, which release toxic substances that can be harmful to gerbil’s health, so you want to avoid using wood shavings as a gerbil’s bedding material.
Unscented paper-based bedding is recommended. Paper-based bedding is a more ideal bedding material, they are usually made of recycled paper or cardboard, sterilized and treated without any scent or chemicals, they are gentle to gerbil’s respiratory tract and skin, and they are very absorbent and insulating to keep gerbils dry and comfortable, you can buy some paper-based bedding specially made for gerbils at pet stores or online. For example, Carefresh, Kaytee, or Oxbow, they come in different colors and shapes, you can choose them according to your preference and gerbil’s personality, but be careful not to use scented paper based bedding as they may stimulate gerbil’s sense of smell or make gerbil mistake them for food, causing unnecessary trouble.
Diet.
Gerbil diet is another important factor that affects their health and longevity, you want to provide your gerbil with a well-balanced dry food, supplemented with fresh fruits and vegetables, and avoid high-fat foods, here are some suggestions for gerbil diet:
Provide a balanced dry food. Dry food is the main food for gerbils, and they can provide various nutrients that gerbils need, such as proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals. You can buy some dry food made specifically for gerbils at pet stores or online, such as Harrison’s, Supreme, or Versele-Laga, which come in different brands and formulas that you can Depending on your gerbil’s age, weight, and health condition, but be careful not to use dry food that contains too many grains, seeds, or nuts, as they may lead to obesity, diabetes, or other health problems in gerbils. You should also avoid mixed dry food, as gerbils may be picky about their food, and only eat the parts they like, resulting in an imbalance of nutrients, and you should provide about one tablespoon of dry food a day to your gerbil. Provide a tablespoon or so of dry food in a clean food bowl and check and change it regularly to keep it fresh and hygienic.
Supplement with fresh fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are gerbils’ side dishes, they can provide gerbils with needed water, fiber, and antioxidants. You can provide gerbils with some fresh, washed and chopped fruits and vegetables, such as apples, bananas, carrots, broccoli, or celery, and they can increase gerbils’ appetites and diversify gerbils’ diets, but be careful not to provide gerbils with too much of fruits and vegetables, the Because they may cause diarrhea, bloating, or other digestive problems in gerbils, you should offer your gerbil about a teaspoon of fruits and vegetables a day in a clean food bowl that is regularly checked and cleaned to avoid mold and rot.
Avoid high-fat foods. High-fat foods are a no-no for gerbils, and they can lead to obesity, heart disease, or other health problems in gerbils. You’ll want to avoid giving your gerbil any foods that are high in fat, such as cheese, butter, chocolate, or fried foods, and you’ll also want to avoid giving your gerbil any foods with caffeine, alcohol, or artificial additives, such as coffee, tea, alcohol, or candies, which can be harmful to your gerbil’s nervous system and liver, and may lead to poisoning, coma, or death of the gerbil.You should only offer your gerbil foods that are suitable for them.If you are not sure if a certain food is safe for your gerbil, you can search the internet or consult your veterinarian to make sure that your gerbil is eating a healthy diet.
Water Source
A water source is another necessity for gerbils to survive, you’ll want to provide clean drinking water for your gerbils and use water bottles, here are some suggestions for gerbil water sources:
Provide clean drinking water. Gerbils need to drink enough water every day to maintain their water balance, you need to provide clean drinking water for your gerbils, preferably filtered or boiled water to remove impurities and bacteria from the water, you should not provide your gerbils with any water that contains sugar, color, or flavor, such as fruit juices, sodas, or milk, which are harmful to your gerbil’s teeth and digestive system, you should provide a cup of water a day for your gerbils or so of water per day in a clean water bottle that you check and change regularly to keep it fresh and sanitary.
Using water bottles. Water bottles are an ideal tool for providing water to gerbils, they usually consist of a clear plastic bottle and a metal or plastic drinking tube, you can hang the bottle on the gerbil’s cage so that the gerbil can drink at any time, the advantage of water bottles is that they prevent water from being soiled or spilled by gerbils, and they also prevent gerbil’s bedding material from getting wet, you have to choose a suitable water bottle for gerbils, the size, the shape, and the length and diameter of the drinking tube should be appropriate, you also have to pay attention to the quality and safety of water bottle to avoid using cracks, leaks, or easy to fall off, you should check it every day. shape, and the length and diameter of the drinking tube should be appropriate.You should also pay attention to the quality and safety of the water bottle, avoiding water bottles that have cracks, leaks, or fall off easily.You should check the amount of water in the water bottle and the flow of water every day to make sure that the gerbil can drink smoothly.You should also clean the water bottle every week to remove limescale and bacteria.
Medical and Health Needs of Gerbils
The medical and health needs of gerbils are another important factor that affects their well-being and longevity, you’ll want to have regular veterinary checkups for your gerbils, be aware of common health problems and their signs, and take preventative measures, here are some suggestions for gerbil medical and health needs:
Regular Veterinary Checkups. Gerbils need a vet checkup at least once a year to check their physical condition, teeth, ears, eyes, skin, and fur, you’ll want to choose an experienced vet for your gerbil, preferably one who specializes in small rodents, you’ll want to maintain good communication with your vet by telling them your gerbil’s age, sex, breed, diet, activity, and behavior, you’ll also want to ask your vet a few questions about the gerbil care, feeding, and training for more knowledge and tips, you should give your gerbil a rabies vaccination once a year to prevent rabies infections, and you should have your gerbil checked for parasites once a year to prevent ticks, fleas, or worms.
Common Health Problems and Their Signs. Gerbils are very healthy animals, but they can suffer from some common health problems that you should watch for changes in their body and behavior to detect and deal with, here are some common health problems and their signs:
Seizures. Seizures are one of the most common health problems in gerbils, they are caused when the gerbil’s brain is stimulated by abnormal electrical signals that cause the gerbil’s body to twitch, shake, or stiffen involuntarily, Seizures can be caused by heredity, trauma, infections, or poisonings, Signs of a seizure include the gerbil suddenly collapsing to the ground, having its body convulsed, its eyes rolled back in its head, its mouth frothing at the mouth, or it loses consciousness, Seizures Seizures usually last from a few seconds to a few minutes. If a gerbil has a seizure, you should immediately place it in a quiet, dark, and warm place, avoid stimulating it, wait for it to recover, and then take it to a veterinarian as soon as possible. The veterinarian may prescribe anti-seizure medication to control the frequency and severity of the seizures, and you should monitor the duration, intensity, and timing of the seizures in order to report them back to the veterinarian. report it to help the veterinarian diagnose and treat it.
Skin Problems. Skin problems are one of the most common health problems in gerbils, and are caused by external or internal factors that cause the gerbil’s skin to become red, itchy, hairless, or ulcerated.Skin problems can be caused by parasites, allergies, infections, or stress.Signs of a skin problem include the gerbil frequently scratching, biting and chewing on or licking its own skin, skin rashes, scabs, or If a gerbil develops skin problems, you should isolate it immediately and avoid contact with other gerbils to prevent contagion, and then take it to a veterinarian as soon as possible. The veterinarian may perform skin scrapings, blood, or hair tests to determine the cause of the skin problem, and then prescribe antibiotics, antifungal, or antiparasitic medications to treat the skin problem, you will also need to take care to clean and disinfect the gerbil’s living environment to remove factors that may be causing the skin problem, and you will need to provide the gerbil with enough sand baths to keep the gerbil’s skin and fur clean and healthy.
Abnormal Behavior. Abnormal behavior is one of the common health problems in gerbils. It is caused by psychological or physical discomfort in the gerbil that leads to abnormal behavior, such as excessive aggression, fear, or depression. Abnormal behavior can be caused by stress, loneliness, or illness. Signs of abnormal behavior include the gerbil biting frequently, chewing on the cage, or chewing on itself, the gerbil hiding in corners, shivering, or screaming frequently, the gerbil often If a gerbil exhibits abnormal behavior, you need to immediately identify the cause of the abnormal behavior and try to eliminate or reduce it, then take the gerbil to a veterinarian as soon as possible. The veterinarian may perform a physical and psychological examination to determine the root cause of the abnormal behavior, and then prescribe medication to treat the abnormal behavior, such as sedative, antidepressant, or anxiolytic medication. To treat the abnormal behavior, you should also pay attention to improve and optimize the living environment of the gerbils by providing enough space, toys, and sand baths to reduce the stress and boredom of the gerbils, and you should also provide the gerbils with enough socialization and interaction, so that they can build up a friendly and trusting relationship with other gerbils or human beings to reduce the gerbils’ loneliness and fear.
Social and Behavioral Needs of Gerbils
The social and behavioral needs of gerbils are another important factor that affects their happiness and longevity, you need to understand the social nature of gerbils, provide them with activities and entertainment, give them exercise and interaction, here are some suggestions on the social and behavioral needs of gerbils:
Gerbil socialization. Gerbils are very social animals, they love to spend time with other gerbils or humans, you need to provide your gerbils with enough opportunities to socialize, here are some suggestions on gerbil socialization:
Recommended to live in pairs. It is best for gerbils to live in pairs so that they can keep company with each other, take care of each other and play with each other. You can choose two gerbils of the same sex or different sexes, but be careful that if they are of different sexes, you need to neuter them in time to avoid over-breeding of the gerbils, you also need to pay attention to the gerbil’s character and compatibility, and try to choose the ones that have a similar character and get along with each other well, in order to avoid gerbil’s quarrels or fights. You should let the gerbils live together from a young age so that they can build up a close and stable relationship more easily. If you want to introduce a new companion to your gerbils, you have to let them meet each other in a neutral place first and then gradually let them get along with each other in a common living environment, and at the same time pay attention to observing their reactions and behaviors in order to ensure their harmony and safety.
Avoid placing unfamiliar gerbils together. Gerbils are very territorial animals, they don’t like to share a living environment with unfamiliar gerbils. If you put two unfamiliar gerbils together, they may fight fiercely, and even cause injury or death of the gerbils, so you have to avoid putting unfamiliar gerbils together unless you have enough time and energy to supervise and mediate their relationship, you also have to provide each gerbil with enough food, water, toys, and sand baths for each gerbil to minimize their competition and conflict, and you will also want to provide each gerbil with a separate nest so that they have a safe and comfortable place to rest to increase their confidence and security.
Activities and entertainment for gerbils. Gerbils are very active animals, they love to explore, play, and dig, you want to provide enough activities and entertainment for your gerbils, here are some suggestions for gerbil activities and entertainment:
Provide toys and tunnels. Toys and tunnels are a favorite of gerbils, and they can provide gerbils with endless fun and excitement. You can provide gerbils with safe, fun, and varied toys and tunnels, such as wooden or plastic rollers, ball, or bell-shaped toys, or paper or plastic tubes, boxes, or jars, which allow gerbils to roll, propel, or hide, and you can also provide gerbils with chewing toys, such as wooden or wicker rods, spherical, or ring-shaped toys, or hay or paper mats, which allow gerbils to grind, exercise, or embed, and you should provide at least two different toys and tunnels for your gerbils each day to be placed in the gerbil’s habitat, and check and replace them regularly to keep them fresh and safe.
Importance of sand baths. Sand baths are a necessity for gerbils, they allow them to clean their skin and fur, remove excess oil and dirt, and also allow them to relax, you need to provide gerbils with sand baths that are suitable for them, here are some suggestions for gerbil sand baths:
Choosing the right sand bath tub and sand. Sandbath and sand are two important components of a sand bath, you need to choose a proper sandbath and sand for your gerbil, the sandbath should be a container with a lid, bottom, and entrance/exit, and be the right size, shape, and color, you can choose a sandbath specially designed for gerbils, or a homemade sandbath, such as a plastic bowl, box, or jar, the sand should be a fine, dry, dust-free, odorless, and colorless sand.You can choose a sand tub made specifically for gerbils, or a homemade sand tub, such as a dried, sifted, and sanitized beach sand, or a dried, sifted, and sanitized cornstarch.You’ll want to avoid any sand that contains moisture, dust, scent, or color, such as wet sand, dirt, or kitty litter, which is harmful to the gerbil’s skin and respiratory tract.You should provide your gerbil with the opportunity to take a sand bath once a day by placing some sand in the sand bath and placing the sand bath in the gerbil’s habitat and allowing the gerbil to move in and out of the sand bath freely.You should also clean the sand bath weekly to remove grease and dust from the sand.You should also change the sand monthly to keep the sand fresh and sanitary.
Chewing items. Chewing items are a necessity for gerbils for teeth grinding, exercise, and amusement, you’ll want to provide your gerbils with safe, fun, and varied chewing items such as wooden or wicker rods, ball, or ring toys, or hay or paper mats that can be chewed, torn, or embedded, and you may also want to provide your gerbils with edible chewing items such as dried fruits, nuts, or biscuits, which can be bitten, chewed, and embedded. nuts, or crackers, they can be enjoyed by the gerbils as a tasty treat as well as a nutritional supplement, you should provide your gerbils with at least one different chew item every day to be placed in the gerbil’s living environment, and checked and replaced regularly to keep it fresh and safe.
Exercise and interaction. Exercise and interaction is a necessity for gerbils, it keeps them physically and mentally healthy, you need to provide enough exercise and interaction for your gerbils, here are some suggestions for gerbil exercise and interaction:
Provide an exercise wheel. Exercise wheels are a gerbil’s favorite, they allow the gerbil to run, exercise, and burn energy, you want to provide the gerbil with a proper exercise wheel that is the right size, shape, and material, you can choose an exercise wheel that is designed specifically for gerbils or a homemade exercise wheel such as a wooden or plastic disc or a metal or plastic mesh wheel, the exercise wheel should be a wheel that has an axle, a bearings, and a fixture for the wheel to rotate smoothly, you should avoid any exercise wheels that are cracked, noisy, or fall off easily, these exercise wheels are harmful to the gerbils’ paws and ears, you should provide the gerbils with an exercise wheel once a day, and place the exercise wheel in the gerbils’ living environment where the gerbils are free to use it, and you should clean the exercise wheel once a week to remove gerbils’ hair and dust, and you should also check the shafts and bearings of the exercise wheel on a monthly basis to ensure that it is smooth and safe.
Regular out-of-cage time. Out of cage time is a necessity for your gerbil, it allows the gerbil to explore, play, and interact with humans, you will want to provide your gerbil with regular out of cage time, here are some suggestions for out of cage time for your gerbil:
Choose a safe, comfortable, and fun place. You’ll want to choose a safe, comfortable, and fun place for your gerbils to hang out outside of their cage. You can choose an enclosed, non-hazardous, and non-disturbing room, or a large, fenced-in, padded cage, or a playground designed specifically for gerbils. You’ll want to make sure that the place doesn’t have anything that could harm your gerbils, such as electrical wires, chemicals, or sharp objects. should also make sure that the place is free of any items that could scare the gerbils, such as noise, light, or other pets, you should also make sure that the place has enough space, toys, and sand baths to allow the gerbils to move around freely, to play, and to clean up after themselves, you should provide the gerbils with at least half an hour of out-of-cage time every day to put the gerbils in the place and let the gerbils explore freely, you should also clean and disinfect this area to keep it sanitary and safe.
Supervise and participate in the gerbils’ out-of-cage activities.
Supervise and participate in out-of-cage activities for gerbils. You should supervise and participate in gerbil’s out-of-cage activities to keep the gerbil safe and happy. You should pay attention to the gerbil’s position, behavior, and reactions to prevent loss, injury, or discomfort. You should play fun and interactive games with the gerbil, such as chase, hide-and-seek, or fetch, to increase the gerbil’s interest and trust. You should give the gerbil rewards and incentives, such as compliments, touch, or snacks to increase the gerbil’s satisfaction and confidence. You should respect the gerbil’s wishes and emotions, and if the gerbil shows signs of reluctance, fear, or tiredness, you should stop the game in time and release the gerbil back to their habitat to rest and recover. You should provide the gerbil with at least half an hour of out-of-cage time every day to keep the gerbil’s physical and mental health.
Daily Care and Maintenance
Daily care and maintenance of gerbils is another important factor that affects their well-being and longevity, you have to provide clean and hygienic living environment for gerbils and pay attention to the environmental setup, here are some suggestions for daily care and maintenance of gerbils:
Cleanliness and Hygiene. Cleanliness and hygiene are the basic requirements for a gerbil’s living environment.You want to provide a clean and hygienic living environment for your gerbil.Here are some suggestions for gerbil cleanliness and hygiene:
Clean and replace food and water daily. Food and water are the lifeblood of gerbils. You need to provide fresh and hygienic food and water for gerbils. You need to clean and replace gerbils’ food and water every day to remove residual, contaminated, or spoiled food and water, and you need to use clean food bowls and water bottles to avoid the breeding of bacteria. You need to keep food bowls and water bottles in a dry, ventilated, and cool place in the gerbil’s living environment to maintain the and water quality and safety.
Clean the cage thoroughly and regularly. The cage is the gerbil’s home, and you will want to provide the gerbil with a clean and comfortable cage. You will want to thoroughly clean the gerbil’s cage on a regular basis to remove gerbil feces, urine, hair, and dust. You will want to use warm water and non-toxic detergents to clean all parts of the cage, such as the bottom of the cage, the grates, the lid, and the fixtures. You will want to use clean cloths or paper towels to dry the various parts of the cage. Wait for the cage to dry completely before putting the gerbil back in the cage, you will want to clean the gerbil’s cage once a week to keep it sanitary and comfortable.
Environmental Setup. Environmental setup is another important part of the gerbil’s living environment, it affects the mood and behavior of the gerbil, you want to provide the gerbil with an environmental setup that is suitable for them, here are some suggestions for gerbil environmental setup:
Cage location selection. The location of the cage is an important factor that affects the mood and behavior of the gerbil, you have to choose a suitable cage location for the gerbil, you have to put the cage in a quiet, bright, and warm place to make the gerbil feel safe and comfortable, you have to avoid placing the cage in a noisy, dim, or cold place to prevent the gerbil from feeling fearful and uncomfortable, you have to place the cage in a place that is frequented by people to keep the gerbil feeling concerned and close, you have to avoid placing the cage in a place that is not frequented by people to prevent the gerbil from feeling lonely and neglected, you have to place the cage in a You want to avoid placing the cage in a place that is frequented by people to keep the gerbil from feeling concerned and close, you want to avoid placing the cage in a place that is not frequented by people to keep the gerbil from feeling lonely and neglected, you want to place the cage in a place that has adequate air circulation to keep the gerbil feeling fresh and healthy, and you want to avoid placing the cage in a place that is smoky, dusty, or odoriferous to keep the gerbil from feeling irritated and uncomfortable.
Avoid noise and temperature fluctuations. Noise and temperature fluctuations are another important factor that affects a gerbil’s mood and behavior. You want to provide a living environment that avoids noise and temperature fluctuations, and you want to avoid placing any items that may generate noise in your gerbil’s living environment, such as TVs, stereos, or telephones, which may frighten the gerbil or disrupt its sleep, and you want to avoid placing any items that may generate temperature fluctuations, such as TVs, stereos, or telephones, which may scare the gerbil or disrupt its sleep. You want to avoid putting any items that may create temperature fluctuations, such as heaters, air conditioners, or windows, which may make the gerbils feel too hot, too cold, or uncomfortable, and you want to keep the temperature of the gerbils’ living environment between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius to keep the gerbils comfortable and healthy.
Interaction and training with gerbils
Gerbils are very social animals and they love to interact with humans or other gerbils, which is good for their mental and physical health. Therefore, if you want to get a gerbil, you need to spend some time and effort to build trust, training and socialization with them. This way, you and your gerbils can become good friends and it will also make it easier for them to adapt to new environments and situations.
build trust
Like any new pet, gerbils may be scared, nervous, or upset when they first arrive at your home. It will take some time for them to get used to their new cage, new food, new sounds, and new owner. Therefore, you need to treat your gerbils with patience, gentleness, and respect so that they feel safe, comfortable, and trusted. You can build trust with your gerbil by doing the following:
Bonding through feeding. You can offer your gerbil fresh water and food every day, including gerbil-specific chow, hay, fresh vegetables, fruits, and some healthy snacks like nuts, seeds, or dried fruit. You can pass the food to your gerbil with your finger or a spoon and let them smell it, taste it, or take it away. This way, your gerbil will associate you with the food and will grow accustomed to your smells, sounds, and movements. You can also gently talk to your gerbils, compliment them, or call them by name as you feed them, so they recognize your voice and make an emotional connection with you.
Gradually increase physical contact. As your gerbil begins to have some trust in you, you can try to have some physical contact with them, such as gently stroking their head, back, or tail, or gently scratching their chin, ears, or tummy with your fingers. You want to pay attention to your gerbil’s reactions, and if they show signs of fear, nervousness, or discomfort, such as biting you, running away, or making warning noises, you want to stop the contact and give them some space to calm down. You don’t want to force your gerbil to be in contact with you, respect their wishes and let them decide if they want to be close to you. You also want to avoid reaching out your hand suddenly or from above, this will make your gerbil feel like you are a threat and not a friend. You want to approach your gerbil slowly, from the front or from the side, so they can see your hand and smell you before gently touching them.
Training and socialization
Once you have established some trust with your gerbil, you can begin to train and socialize your gerbil so that they are easier to pick up, more enjoyable to play with you or other gerbils, and more adaptable to different environments and situations. You can train and socialize your gerbil by using the following methods:
Acclimatize gerbils to being picked up. Gerbils are very sensitive and fragile animals, and they don’t like to be picked up roughly or incorrectly, which can cause them pain, fear, or pressure. Therefore, you need to learn to pick up your gerbil correctly so that they feel comfortable, safe, and relaxed. You can use the following steps to pick up your gerbil:
You want to make sure your hands are clean, warm, and dry, and you want to make sure your gerbil is awake, calm, and willing to be picked up. You don’t want to disturb your gerbil while they are sleeping, eating, or defecating, and you don’t want to forcefully pick them up when they show fear, nervousness, or discomfort.
Then, you want to approach your gerbil slowly, from the front or side, so they can see your hand and smell you before gently touching them. You can gently stroke their head, back, or tail with one hand to get them to relax, and then gently hold their chest and hind legs from underneath with your other hand so that their body and tail are in your hand and not dangling or pinned. You’ll want to pay attention to your gerbil’s reactions and put them down if they show signs of fear, nervousness, or discomfort.
Finally, you’ll want to gently pick your gerbil up with both hands, keeping their body close to your chest so they feel warm, safe, and comfortable. You’ll want to avoid moving your hands quickly or roughly, and you’ll also want to avoid turning your gerbil upside down or putting their head down, which can make them feel unbalanced, panicked, or dizzy. You’ll want to talk gently to your gerbil, compliment them, or give them a snack to keep them happy and build a deeper trust with you. You can pick up your gerbil a few times a day for a few minutes at a time so that they grow accustomed to being picked up, and so that you become more skillful at picking them up yourself.
Supervised Outside Cage Activity. Gerbils are very active, curious animals that love to explore, play, and exercise. Therefore, you’ll want to provide your gerbils with some out-of-cage activity on a daily basis so that they can release their energy and enhance their physical and mental health in a safe, clean, and fun environment. You can supervise your gerbil’s out-of-cage activities in the following ways:
First, you’ll want to have a suitable area for your gerbil to hang out outside of its cage, such as an enclosed room, a large box, or a specialized gerbil exercise ball. You’ll want to make sure that this area is safe, clean, and fun, and free of any items that are dangerous to your gerbil, such as wires, chemicals, sharp objects, or other pets. You’ll also want to make sure that the area has enough space, light, and ventilation so that your gerbil can move, see, and breathe freely. You’ll also want to put some suitable toys for your gerbil in this area, such as wood, cardboard boxes, plastic tubes, or cotton balls for them to chew, dig, hide, or play with.
Then, you’ll want to take your gerbil out of the cage the right way and put it in an area outside the cage where they can move around and explore, play, and exercise on their own. You’ll want to pay attention to your gerbil’s reactions, and if they show signs of fear, nervousness, or discomfort, you’ll want to put them back in their cage and give them some space to calm down. You don’t want to force your gerbil to move around outside of their cage, respect their wishes and let them decide for themselves if they want to move around outside of their cage. You also want to avoid interrupting your gerbil’s out-of-cage activities unless they are in danger, need your help, or want to interact with you.
Lastly, you will want to carry your gerbil back into the cage from the out-of-cage area the right way after their out-of-cage activity is over, give them some water and food to restore their energy, and some snacks as well to reward them for their performance and build a deeper trust with them. You can give your gerbil the opportunity to be out of the cage a few times a day for 15 to 30 minutes at a time to get them used to being out of the cage and for you to become more familiar with your gerbil’s personality, preferences, and behavior.
concluding remarks
Taking care of a gerbil is both a challenging and fun experience, and you can develop a very special, close relationship with your gerbil, as well as learn a lot from them. Gerbils are very intelligent and lovable animals, and they need your love, care, and attention to stay healthy and happy. Therefore, you have to do your part by providing your gerbils with an environment, food, toys, and activities that are suitable for them, and also by building a relationship with them that is based on trust, respect, and friendship. You also need to continually learn and adapt to your gerbil’s needs, preferences, and habits, as well as make your gerbil aware of your expectations, rules, and commands. In this way, you and your gerbil can understand, support, and appreciate each other as best friends.
