Gerbils are shy, inquisitive, and affectionate members of the rodent family that live throughout the world.[1] If you take the time to properly tame your gerbils, they may be less likely to be shy or aggressive and instead provide much love and fun to you and your family.
Steps
Preparing to Tame Your Gerbil
- Understand the temperament of gerbils. Before you can tame a gerbil, it’s important to learn about their temperament. While they are loving animals, they can also be shy and aggressive if they are scared. Understanding your gerbil can help you successfully tame it.
- Gerbils are naturally shy but are social, inquisitive, and can bond well with their human family. They don’t like to be left alone or isolated.[2]
- Gerbils are very curious and active. If you have more than one gerbil, they will likely play with each other all day.[3]
- Gerbils are very territorial and you’ll want to be careful introducing a new gerbil to your home or an already existing gerbil community.[4]
- Gerbils rarely bite and only may exhibit this kind of aggression if they are scared.[5]
- Unlike other rodents such as rats, mice, or hamsters, gerbils don’t produce the same bad odors.[6]
- Prepare your gerbil’s home. Purchase a cage that will fit your gerbil or gerbils before you obtain the animals. Having their “home” prepared and inviting will help you tame them more effectively.
- Place their cage in an area of the house with medium traffic so that you don’t startle your gerbil with too much activity. Gerbils are curious and like to watch and be part of the action. They also need to get used to the fact that humans make noise and motion.[7]
- Fill the gerbil cage with bedding such as corn cob or pine or aspen shavings.[8] You can use alfalfa grass as a filler with any of these bedding options.[9]
- Gerbils eat a mix of rodent pellets, seeds, fruits and vegetables, and insects. Keep a variety of food for them in the cage.[10] Make sure you also put a water bottle in the cage so that your gerbil doesn’t get dehydrated.[11] However, gerbils originated as a desert dwelling creature, so don't expect to see your gerbil drinking a lot.
- Purchase accessories for the cage that will allow your gerbils to chew, hide, and indulge their curiosity.[12]
- Gerbils are clean animals and you’ll need to keep your gerbil’s cage clean to keep him happy and healthy.[13]
- Get your gerbils. Buy a pair of young gerbils. If you buy one gerbil it will be more work, in particular since there is less entertainment, so consider getting two. The younger the gerbil is, the more success you are likely to have taming your gerbils.
- Don’t get a gerbil under 5 weeks of age to help ensure that they’ve had enough time with their mother and are healthy.
- Buy your gerbils from a reputable breeder if possible. This can also help ensure that your gerbil is healthy and doesn’t have any deformities from inbreeding.[14]
- Check to make sure your gerbil choices are healthy. The coat should be fully and glossy, the eyes bright and shiny, the nose clean, and the teeth straight.[15] If you notice any problems, ask the breeder or decide on another gerbil that appears healthier.
- Allow the gerbils to settle into your home. Moving a gerbil into a new space from another home is traumatic for the animal. Although your instinct may be to take them out and play, allow them some time to recuperate and settle into their new surroundings. This may help you tame them more effectively as well.[16]
- Your gerbil may need a few hours to a few days in their new home for a few days before you start trying to handle them. Otherwise, they'll be too stressed to tame.
- Make a taming plan. Develop a plan that you can follow consistently since it requires time and patience to tame your gerbil.[17] Making a plan will give you a chance to consider your gerbil’s personality and different factors that may affect the process, such as if your gerbil is older or a baby.
- Keep the training fun for your gerbil and you. Even something as simple as running on your lap can be fun for a gerbil.[18]
- When developing your training plan, make sure to keep your gerbil’s personality in mind. Some gerbil’s will naturally jump onto your arm while others may take time to get used to you.[19]
- Since training is something you need to do regularly and over time, set short- and long-term goals. You can develop your plan by setting daily, weekly, and monthly intentions or goals for your gerbil.
- For example, you could have the goal one week of getting your gerbil to jump into your hands without smelling you first. Make a plan over the course of the week to expose your gerbil to your scent and your personality. Remember to keep the exposure short and consider giving your gerbil a treat to warm him up.[20].
- It’s important that you can commit time over a longer period to taming your gerbil. Gerbil taming doesn’t happen overnight and requires consistency.[21]
Training Your Gerbil
- Start your gerbil taming as soon as possible. From babies to older animals, gerbils respond well to taming with the proper guidance from early on in your relationship. Follow the taming plan you wrote to help you stay on track with the process.
- Gerbils of any age respond to taming.[22]
- If your gerbil is older, it’s important to not be discouraged if he takes longer to tame. You can tame him as soon as he joins your family. Just know that it may take a little more time, effort, and patience on your part.[23]
- Remember that gerbils can be intelligent and loyal companions. Proper communication and behaviors with your gerbil will help you to train him at any age.[24]
- Wash your hands before you handle your gerbils. Gerbils are very sensitive to smells and before you handle them, you need to thoroughly wash your hands. This can help calm your gerbil and make him more likely to jump on to your hands to play.[25]
- Don’t use a soap that is too perfumed so that it doesn’t turn off your gerbil.
- Gain your gerbil’s initial trust. Before you can handle your gerbil frequently, gain his trust. This is a simple process that requires you to put your hands in the cage often.
- Put your hands in the cage often to clean it or allow your gerbil to sniff you. He may or may not jump into your hand.[26]
- Make sure your gerbil knows you’re around before you put your hand in the cage so that you don’t startle your animal.[27]
- It may help your gerbil to trust you if you put a few seeds in your hand when you place it in the cage.[28]
- Remember to remain calm as gerbils can smell adrenaline in your sweat.[29]
- Hold your gerbil. Once you’ve gained your gerbil’s trust, you can start to hold him more often. By staying calm and handling your gerbil properly, you can hold him for hours or let him explore you for fun.[30]
- Just as with gaining a gerbil’s trust, it’s important to stay calm and not panic when you hold your animal.[31]
- It’s very important to handle your gerbil properly so that you don’t scare or injure him.[32]
- Scoop up your gerbil with both hands and hold gently and securely. You can put some seeds in your hands to help your gerbil settle down.[33]
- You can pick up your gerbil with one hand as you get more experienced. Never pick up a gerbil by his tail as this can injure him.[34]
- When you pick up your gerbil, it may help to turn away from their tank or cage. This sometimes calms small animals because they don't see the place they want to get back to (to feel safe), so they don't desperately scrabble to get back.
- Be aware that there are some gerbils that don’t like to be held. Try and work with shy gerbils and let them know you’re there to take care of them.[35]
- Socialize your gerbil. One important component of training your gerbil is exposing him to other gerbils and people. This will keep him happy and comfortable in any situation, and less likely to be aggressive. It will also make help tame him.
- Gerbils may act aggressively towards other animals and people and this behavior can be prevented with proper socialization.[36]
- Help your gerbil be comfortable around people by exposing him to positive and calm situations with other individuals.[37] Tell any new people to allow your gerbil to sniff them first so the animal is less likely to feel threatened.[38]
- Socialize your gerbil by taking him out of the cage and letting him explore. It’s also important to invite people to your house so that your gerbil is comfortable having other people visit his home.[39]
- Keep every aspect of socialization calm and positive.[40]
- If you are introducing two new gerbils, place them in a clean space free of scent. This will help them get used to one another and be less likely to exhibit aggressive behaviors.[41]
- Be patient and calm with your gerbil. Patience is the most important and hardest part of taming a gerbil. If you are calm and happy, your gerbil will be calm and happy.[42]
- You will be most successful at taming your gerbil if you are patient with him. If you keep your time together fun for both you and your gerbil, you’re more likely to be patient with him.
- Yelling or physical punishment will only counteract your taming, and also may cause your gerbil to fear you and other people.[43]
- Use positive reinforcement and avoid physical discipline and yelling. Rewarding your gerbil for his positive behaviors is an integral part of the taming process. Understand that your gerbil may make occasional mistakes and that you must avoid physical discipline or yelling at him in these situations.
- React to behaviors promptly. Your gerbil may occasionally nip you or won’t want to be held. It’s important to react to your gerbil’s behaviors promptly. You will reinforce taming by doing this, and also ensure that your gerbil doesn’t fear you or other people because you disciplined him improperly.
- It is counterproductive to verbally or physically punish your gerbil. This will only cause him to be fearful and confused and may even discourage him becoming tame.[46]
- For example, if your gerbil nips you, use a firm “no” to let him know this isn’t an acceptable behavior.[47]
- Never hit, yell at, or blow in a gerbil’s face. Also don’t drench them with water. Not only are these measure counterproductive to taming your gerbil, but can also cause serious health issues such as seizures.[48]
- Enjoy your gerbil! Gerbils are sweet animals that can be a lot of fun. Making sure that you enjoy can help you tame your gerbil.
Tips
- Stroke your gerbil gently and speak to him in a soft voice.
- Never squeeze your gerbil.
- Never lift your gerbil by the tail.
- Hold 2 gerbils at a time when they are in your hand. Gerbils are more comfortable when they are together.
- Give them a treat if they have something good.
Related wikiHows
- How to Care for Gerbils
- How to Shop for Gerbils
- How to Make a Comfortable Home for Your New Gerbil
- How to Care for Chinchillas
Sources and Citations
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