How to tame gerbils

Taming gerbils-  how to tame gerbils


When you get your gerbils,  its going to be necessary to tame them.  If you get them from a reputable breeder, that process should already be underway.  However,  no matter where you get them,  you will still need to tame them yourself as well.
Luckily,  taming is not hard,  and can be condensed into 6 easy steps!

Step 1
Give your gerbils at least a day or two to settle into their new home.

Step 2 
Spend some time just sitting next to their cage reading a book/etc. so that they can get used to your presence.

Step 3 
Put your hand in the cage where the gerbils can climb on it,  sniff it,  and so forth.  Do not move your hand,  just let them explore it.  They may be rather timid at first,  so leave your hand in there long enough for them to get brave enough to come check it out.  Do this a couple of times a day everyday until they are perfectly comfortable with your hand. 
Your gerbils may nibble on your hand at this point.  For more information on that,  click here.            Though not likely,  its possible that they will nip or bite.

Step 4
Now start giving your gerbils treats.  Hold the treat between your pointer finger and thumb to offer it to them.  Do not chase them around the cage trying to give it to them.  If they don't take it,  that's fine,  don't try to force them!
The best treats to use are sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds.  If you take these out of their food mix,  they should learn quickly to take them from you.  This step could take a few days.  Don't move on until they are happy to take treats from you this way.

Step 5 
Now we're going to combine the last two steps.  Put your hand in the cage,  palm up.  With your other hand,  offer them a treat as before,  but hold the treat above your other hand so that they have to crawl onto your hand to get the treat.
This could take a few days or more,  and once again,  don't move on until they're comfortable with it.  By comfortable,  I mean that your gerbils should be willing to take the treat,  then stay on or near your hand to eat it.

Step 6 
For this step,  you will do exactly what you are doing in step 5,  only that now,  when your gerbil gets on your hand,  you will lift your hand a couple of inches off the ground.
This step will probably take the longest,  and is the last.  Be prepared to repeat this for at least a week,  possibly two or three.  As they get comfortable being lifted a couple of inches,  lift them four inches.  When they're comfortable with that,  six,  and so on.  This step is completed when your gerbils are content to be lifted all the way out of the cage,  at which point your gerbils are tame and can be held!