Pumpkin! My daughter loves watching your videos and is going to use them as a guide for taming her new gerbils.

Honestly this is good to know. One of my gerbils was nervous and shy at first and got used to be fast by coming up to me and eating from my hand. My other one aka his non blood brother, was more shy and still is but he's coming out of his shell more. Nice to know about the eye thing I think it's so amazing that they react to the eyes.

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

I'm glad you found the information useful ☺️ every gerbil is different, some are definitely shyer than others, Timon was a shy girl, as is our new girl Luna, they will come around eventually though, we just need to be patient 💚

Pumpkin! :) I'm fostering gerbils and found this really helpful! I love that you explain all the reasoning behind your tips. Thank you!

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

You're welcome ☺️ I'm really glad you found it helpful 🙂

Thanks! I had my fırst gerbils 35 years ago and now have number 22 and 23 - but nevertheless learned something new (about the eye contact). Very interesting :-).

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

You're welcome! I'm glad I could help ☺️

I have had a pair of gerbils for around 2 yrs (truffle and cotten 🐹) but as of recent cotten passed and truffle has been very nervios even with her 40 gal tank and cage topper with plenty of toys so until I can try to adopt a new buddy for her I have been trying to bond with her thanks for the help!

Thank you for uploading ❤

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

You're welcome, thank you for commenting 😊

@felixandralph9290

2 жыл бұрын

@@PetConnectionInternational can I ask , do gerbils get jealous? My adult dad seems to go bash stuff in the tank this week, after I pick the little ones up he refuses to climb on my hand or up my arm unless I do him first holds. I use to hold him every day and stroke him and feed him little treats and then they had 8 babies and I had to stop going in the tank for a week to let them parent in peace but he always been fine me holding them until this past week, he seems abit stressed at me if I don't talk to him and hold him first 🤷‍♀️also the babies are 5 weeks nearly and I have to separate them all soon and I was not sure that I should separate my adult pair because they are really attached to each other but I can't keep up with another 8 and then well we all know how fast it can get out of hand. I just want to make 2 tanks boys and girls but I don't want fights or depressed gerbils. Can I just put all the girls with mum and boys with dad or should I look to maybe nurture my gerbil boy and then do 3 tanks with siblings spit into genders and mum and dad still together?

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

Hey, so sorry I took so long to reply, your comment got lost in the spam folder for some reason 🤷‍♀️ I think gerbils are definitely aware of a sense of fairness, if one of mine gets given a treat, the other will expect one too or they won't be happy. But I don't think that would extend to being "first" but maybe he's just used to getting picked up straight away if that's how you always do it, so now feels a bit out of sorts when the routine changes and he has to wait. I would maybe alternate who you go to first, so dad doesn't feel left out and learns that he'll still get picked up even if he's not first 🙂 If you wanted to keep mum & dad together, you could maybe try to find an exotic vet that will neuter dad so they can stay together without creating 101 babies 😅 For your little ones I'd always recommend splitting them down into pairs (and a trio if there's one left over) as this is the most stable group formation and least likely to fight, the more gerbils you have living together in one enclosure, the more likely they are to fight and declan. Of course it's up to you what you decide to do, but that would be my recommendation 🙂 Good luck with it all! And I hope this was able to help some even if it was a bit delayed 😅 I'll need to be more vigilant in checking my spam folder!

PUMPKIN! love the videos will really try the tips when I get the gerbils!

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

You're welcome, glad they could help ☺️ I'd love to hear how you get on with them! 🙂

Pumpkin!! Tysm😊 Preston and Marty thank you for this😌

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

You're welcome 😊 I'm glad you found the information useful, let me know if there's anything else I can help you with 🙂

@victorc4_1234

2 жыл бұрын

@@PetConnectionInternational question! Preston acts a lot more brave then Marty which leads me to assume that Preston trusts me more but then whenever I’m feeding them Preston likes to bite me, sometimes actually drawing blood but Marty never did that before. And you’re probably thinking that I’m doing something that’s scaring him to entice him to bite me but I really don’t think that I am🥺 I’m just wondering if he just thinks my fingers are food or maybe it’s something else. I just wanna know what to do about his biting problem 😌 thank you

@victorc4_1234

2 жыл бұрын

@@PetConnectionInternational ps. I’m probably gonna have more questions cuz I’m a new gerbil dad so is there somewhere on social media I can contact you so we can communicate better? Thanks again 🥰

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

It sounds like he may just be going for your hand thinking it's food, Timon had a tendency to be a bit nippy at times, either when feeding her or when she was expecting food but got an empty hand instead 🥲 you could try keeping your hand more out of the way if it's a habit he's doing a lot, so hold a piece of food between your finger tips and hand him that rather than place the food on your hand if that makes sense, just to limit his ability to bite. Washing your hands before you try feeding may also help just to make sure there's no food smells on your hands that he can pick up on 🙂 For other places for questions, I've actually got a gerbil care and support forum on my website, all you need to do is create an account to join. Then any questions you have may also help future people that join 🙂 if you don't want to do that you can message my business profile on Facebook instead, you can find the links to both on my about page ☺️

@victorc4_1234

2 жыл бұрын

@@PetConnectionInternational ok I’ll try that and I’ll definitely check out your website! Tysm🥰

My two gerbils are the same color as you and I’ve got them almost a week now and my little nibbles is anxious and this has helped me thank you.

@PetConnectionInternational

8 ай бұрын

You're welcome, I'm glad it could help 🙂

PUMPKIN amazing video thanks so much x

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

You're welcome ☺️ I'm glad you enjoyed the video 🙂

Pumpkin! deffinately gonna try all of these taming methods on my lovely ladygerbil, i want her to live the best life a gerbil can have! ♥

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

That's great! It sounds like you're a wonderful gerbil parent! I'd love to know how you get on, will you let me know? 🥰

good tips, i have been doing things slightly wrong then. Thank you for the insight.

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

You're welcome, I hope they can help ☺️

Pumpkin! Great tips. Thank you so much. Going to share this with my ten year old.

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

No problem, hopefully it can help you both ☺️

Pumpkin thanks for the advice :)

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

No problem, let me know if there's anything else I can help you with ☺️

Pumpkin! I've never thought of the winking so I will definitely take that advice.

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

Good luck with it! My girls and I are always winking back and fore at each other! So much so that I find myself winking randomly at strangers in public 😬😅

@alxzxa

2 жыл бұрын

@@PetConnectionInternational My girls have started to wink back at me! Thank you

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

@@alxzxa yay! That's amazing! I'm so pleased for you ☺️

Pumpkin! I just got 2 new gerbils who are both very young! Their names are Phobos and Demos.(fear and panic) and I want to train them to be comfortable around me and my family. Thank you so much

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

You're welcome, I hope it can help, let me know if there's anything else I can help you with ☺️

Pumpkin! Thanks so much!

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

No problem, let me know if there's anything else I can help you with ☺️

You're wonderful and very helpful. Thank you ma'am.

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you 🙂 I'm glad you found the information useful, let me know if there's anything else I can help you with ☺️

Thank you for this excellent and informative video. I've been trying to hand tame my two boys Sparky and Buddy since I got them in January, and they still act pretty nervous and unenthusiastic about my hands. I already have PUMPKIN seeds for them, so I will try using that to lure them onto my hand.

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

You're welcome, I'm glad you found it useful ☺️ definitely give the pumpkin seeds a go, and it may be worth checking out my newer taming video too as there's a few extra tips in there that may help 🙂

@celieboo

Жыл бұрын

Try mealworms. My girls LOVE them.

@ShadowNinetales

Жыл бұрын

@@celieboo Ah, I have a small bag of mealworms which came free with something on Etsy. Sparky loves them, but Buddy doesn't seem so keen. They're the same way with strawberries, when Sparky is blissfully nibbling one, Buddy has to be given a blueberry instead. It's so cute how they each have their own little preferences.

Pumpkin! I got my gerbils just a few months ago and my gerbil blossom seem to be a bit scared while her sister biscuit is more sociable and sit in my hand more often than blossom but I don’t want blossom to feel left out so I will try these tips, thank you

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

You're welcome, I hope the tips can help ☺️

Pumpkin! I just rescued a little guy, he’s quite young but because he was kept alone he doesn’t like other gerbils so I’m definitely looking for other ways to keep him happy

@PetConnectionInternational

Ай бұрын

Even gerbils that have been alone a while can learn to be friends with another if a careful introduction method is followed, the only safe way to introduce gerbils is following the split tank method, I have a guide going over the process: kzread.info/dash/bejne/a4p5ppKBdJasdNI.htmlsi=HUIkdvhvwnKGvVdj A young gerbil should never be intended to keep solo, it's extremely unfair on them, like a human child being kept in solitary confinement for their whole lives. Gerbils are social animals and need company of their own kind, please look into getting your little one a friend. We can never replace the company of another gerbil, they sleep together, groom each other, communicate in ultrasonic sounds, as humans we can't replace this. A split tank intro should always be tried with young gerbils, worst case scenario if it doesn't work they can have a gerbil neighbour which can help them to feel less alone

@Purplekitty274

Ай бұрын

@@PetConnectionInternational thank you! I’ll look into getting him some company. I was only going to keep him alone because that’s what I was originally advised ❤️

@PetConnectionInternational

Ай бұрын

@@Purplekitty274 that's no problem ☺️ yeah unfortunately many people don't understand how to properly bond gerbils and will advise once they're alone to keep them that way, that's what I was told about my Sandy pants by our pet store, she was only 4 months old when we took her in so no way am I leaving her alone! I didn't tell them that though 😅 didn't want them to deny the adoption and her end up with someone else alone her whole life. Many people just don't understand how they have to be bonded, and they can be a bit finicky sometimes, but it's always worth the effort in my opinion, especially with such little ones! ❤️

@Purplekitty274

Ай бұрын

@@PetConnectionInternationalit’s frustrating that adoption centres can be so wrong with their info. They also offered me a cage that was too small with a bag of commercial feed… the little guy seemed over the moon when I first gave him some veggies and millet. ( In measured quantities obviously )

@PetConnectionInternational

Ай бұрын

@@Purplekitty274 yeah it's a shame, one of the rescues I contacted when I was looking for a new friend for Luna after we lost Pumbaa told me to just leave her alone.. she was 8 months old and very obviously depressed, but they insisted that I just give her time, thankfully another rescue helped me find Misty Moo and they were soulmates ❤️

Thx!

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

No problem! Let me know if there's anything else I can help you with ☺️

Thank you for the helpful info. I have 3 gerbios, two that live as a pair and one that lives alone. We ended up witb three after the original two declanned. I was lucky enough to find a single female at petsmart and i successfully was able to use the split cage method to get the attacjed gerbil and her to bond. The one that lives alone (the attacker) is super skittish. My girls all love mealworms. I swear it is like crack to them. I willnstart trying to hand tame the single gerbil since she needs more companionship from me since she is alone.

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

You're welcome 🙂 Just wondering, have you thought about trying to bond the solo with a new friend? I know they were the aggressor previously, but it could have been just that they didn't get along with that particular gerbil, it could be worth trying to re-bond them and see what happens - some rescues will take a gerbil back after a failed bonding and some even do bondings themselves, it could be worth asking around ☺️

@celieboo

Жыл бұрын

@@PetConnectionInternational I've thought about it, but it seems like this could end u0 being a perpetual cycle of getting new gerbils since the female like to attack each other. In 1.5 years we will have gone from 2 to 4. 😂

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

Well as I said, you could check with some rescues and see if they'd be willing to take the single back if the bonding fails, or if they'd be willing to do the bonding for you - I definitely think it's worth trying to bond her at least once, then if it fails you'll know for sure she's happier alone, and if it's successful she'll have the company she needs ☺️ Or if you happened to come across a neutered male (unlikely I know) that'd be much more likely to succeed as a pairing If you don't want to continue to own gerbils into the future, then it would be worth considering if your remaining solo could go somewhere where she could have some company - I don't mind the continuous cycle myself, I don't plan to stop owning gerbils any time soon 😅

The yellow one in the thumbnail looks exactly like one of mine but their yellow a bit darker

Wow! I will try this at home. I have 2 gerbils and they are married but they’re both scared. Thanks!

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

no problem, I hope it can help ☺️

Your videos are so well made, thank you for this! It would be good to know/see something about what to do when your gerbils are over-confident or "too" comfortable with you! How do you avoid your gerbils from adventuring furthermore in your sleeve? Don't they risk of fall on the ground? How do you make them go back into the cage since you cannot pick them up to put them back in? I struggle with mines because they always want to go out from their tank and it's crazy hard also to put them back once they spent time in their playpen. They just literally "suicide" from my hands and I'm so nervous to let them fall off from a standing height!

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

I would sit down with them if you're nervous, my Pumbaa used to try an suicide from my sleeves, so I started only letting her run around in them when I'm sat down in a chair, so it's not too high of a fall - I do the same with Misty & Luna now, I sit next to the playpen and let them up into my lap if they want 🙂 It can also be useful to teach them to come to you when you call their names so that if they ever do end up on the floor it's pretty easy to get them back (I had this happen with Pumbaa a few times), here's a video I made showing how to teach them to come on command: kzread.infoKWzzCMddNfI?feature=share I hope this can help ☺️

@SpringTeaLatte

Жыл бұрын

@@PetConnectionInternational Yea, they definitely don't come to me if they accidentally manage to slip out, happened couple of times and I sweat all the time 2 shirts to put them back in!!! xD Thanks a lot for the tips, I'll try step by step as in the video! ♥

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

No problem, good luck! 💚

Pumpkin!! I have two gerbils, Moon and Pepper, and they’re so funny and cute! I’ve had them for a couple months now, but after escaping while I was changing their bedding, I think they’re a little traumatized. I’ll keep trying though!

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

Awh bless them, yeah they could be a little shaken up, but with patience and careful training I'm sure you'll be best friends again in no time! 💚

Pumpkin 😊

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

I'm glad you found the information useful, let me know if there's anything else I can help you with ☺️

pumpkin!Pumpkin! tysm!

@PetConnectionInternational

4 ай бұрын

You're welcome, good luck with the taming! ☺️

I have two gerbils, The only reason they wanna be held is to run around my room and bed, So hopefully this helps!

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

Well that's pretty typical gerbil tbh, they generally much prefer using humans as climbing frames than cuddling with us, but with some patient training we can at least get them to tolerate it for a moment! 😂

I have and have had a 20 gallon tank for my gerbils for the past 2 out of 3 years that I have had them, but I want to make a cage similar to the one in this video. Is there a way to do the bin on the bottom and a cage on the top? Or could I just use the bin as their new cage? Also, how do you clean their cage with that much bedding?

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

For the bin cage I have a video showing how I made it: kzread.info/dash/bejne/Y5hrm6uxltqXirQ.html And for cleaning, I do it every 2-3 months and keep around a third of the bedding to put back in - it's cleaned the same as with a smaller enclosure, remove the items, remove the bedding, clean everything, then put it all back ☺️

PUMPKINN

My gerbil gave birth yesterday and I am trying to get as much information as possible

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

Was the dad still in the enclosure when you found the pups?

PUMPKIN

I nearly got rose to eat from my hand but I pulled back cuz I thought it was going to bite me

I'm so doing all of this with Fili, Kili, and Thorin Oakenshield

@PetConnectionInternational

8 ай бұрын

Good luck! ☺️

I usually hand feed. Only gerbil it never worked on is my Pumpkin. He's very territorial. I originally got him to keep Peanut company after his brother passed away, but decided against it because of his very territorial behavior. He does come for pets, though and he let me lift him up a bit on my arm which was a big progress. I don't know how much he was socialized by the people I got him from. He was a few months old when I got him last year. He's slowly warming up to me.

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

You may find the territorial behaviour eases with pairing, people often find their aggressive gerbils can calm down when they have a friend. But it's not necessarily a bad idea to try and train him to be a bit more relaxed first ☺️ I do have a bonding guide on the channel if you decide to have a go at it 🙂

@darjabednarik6534

Жыл бұрын

@@PetConnectionInternational I’m still considering it tbh. He has calmed down a bit compared to a year ago and he stopped biting to get his way. I put their cages near each other for now. I tried putting them close together before to create some sort of a makeshift split cage thing, but Peanut showed no interest in Pumpkin. I have a split already made so I might still give it a go and see if they’ll be friends. Peanut is a little over three years old now and has some dental issues though which also worries me. I also considered a permanent split so they can still keep each other company.

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

@@darjabednarik6534 I think it could be worth giving it a go, disinterest is a pretty good sign, so you could always make a split and use fine mesh like 0.6mm to make sure they can't bite each other, then see how they interact through the bars, that way everyone's safe and you get an idea of whether they have a shot 🙂

We have had our 3 gerbils for about 7 months - Britney, Whitney and Celine. I've always had a bowl of food in their cage at all times which I'm learning shouldn't be done. Is it too late to change the way they are fed? If not, what is the best way to change it?

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

It's never too late! I think a good way to transition them would be to put some loose substrate in their bowl and kind of scatter feed in there, then you could scatter it around their topper or low bedding area before gradually moving it into their main bedding area 😊 I talked about this a little in my recent enclosure review video and I showed a couple of examples if that helps, I think it's the last enclosure 🙂: kzread.info/dash/bejne/m6iopZSwpqyZppc.html

My gerbils seem terrified of me and I never understood why. I never thought about the staring thing, but that might be why. I tend to stare at them when they pop out of their bedding. Mostly because they are so cute and fun to watch. I never really considered that it might be scaring them ☹ Had them 3 months now and not handled them yet as they rarely come out with me around. I'll try some of these things, thanks. The worst is when I have to clean them, as I can't get them to come out willingly. I end up having to dig them out, which they clearly really dislike, but I'm left with no choice.

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

Hopefully the tips will help x As well as those, for getting them out I'd recommend using the same word for a treat they really like (e.g. seed), so this can act as a call for them (you can see this in action in my more recent taming video), then when you do get them out of their burrows you could use a mug or tube to encourage them to climb into as a way to get them out while they're still not 100% comfortable being handled, I still have to do this with Luna and we've had her for 4 months now (although she was in a split for a few weeks, then didn't get much training while I was looking after poorly Pumbaa), but that's what I do with the unsure and new gerbs ☺️

I got 2 girls brown and black black is Luna brown is rose but Luna is shy and nervous but rose is alright but a bit shy it's really helpful 😊

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

Awh, I've got a Luna too at the moment 🥰

Pumpkin I have had my gerbil for 2 maybe 1 and a half years and I always stare him in the eyes and pick from above but now I won't

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

Awh I'm glad the information was able to help you guys 😊 Are you planning to get him a friend too? 🙂

Punkin ❤

PUMPKIN!!!!!!!

hello!! new owner here!! its my first time having a gerbil and im constantly worried im making a mistake i have a cage that the burrowing isnt exactly deep enough (about 3 1/2 inches is about my guess.) but he seems to be pretty happy and he isnt showing signs of stress and he is on his own as well (dont worry im working on getting him a friend) but everyone in my family is thinks it’s unnecessary to get another one even though ive tried educating them. We take him out every day to play in his playpen and again he isnt showing signs of stress he actually is a very curious gerbil. But still im always terrfied im doing something wrong. I just want the best for my little teddy😢

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

Small animals like gerbils are very good at hiding their discomfort, so even if he seems fine with low bedding and no friend, this is something that's really important to gerbils, it's two of their most important needs as a species, so I think it's really important to provide that for them unless absolutely necessary (such as lowering bedding to monitor a health issue) - unfortunately humans aren't an acceptable substitute for same species company either, we're not awake all the time and they wake up lots during the night, we also can't interact with them the same way other gerbils would, so he definitely should get a friend, along with more bedding so that he can be a proper gerbil, and do gerbil things 🙂

@gokath123

2 жыл бұрын

@@PetConnectionInternational thanks for being so kind about it, most people would condemn me or call me an abuser. Like i said im working on getting a friend for him and once i get paid im gonna get about a 20 gallon tank for burrowing and a seprate area for essentials:)

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

@@gokath123 no problem, pet care is a journey after all and we've all got to start somewhere! I'm glad you're looking into improving things, that's all anyone can ask for really 💚

Pumpkin!

Pumpkin 👍

Hi! Do you have any extra tips active taming wise? Whenever my other hand moves (even if very slowly) to give them a treat, they run away again!

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

I would try using a tiny bit of 100% peanut butter on a spoon and let them eat this out in the open, this should help to reward them for staying out in the open as they are constantly getting tiny bits of reinforcement with every mouthful 🙂 Also make sure you're using the other techniques of handfeeding their daily food allowance (in one hand, don't use both hands), slow-blinking/winking, and talking to them. It may take a little bit of time for them to realise that you're not a threat, but with patience they should come around ☺️

@lucykenyon2487

2 жыл бұрын

@@PetConnectionInternational I tried hand feeding today but now they won’t even stay out of their tunnel for more than 5 seconds! Overnight they seem to have become totally terrified and gone from being okay will sniffing, gently nibbling and sitting on my hand to not even wanting to go near it. They’ll poke their heads out for a couple of second and then dart back in. I tried the slow blinking and winking and they just ran straight off again! Up to now I’ve spent their first stint of being awake reading to them next to the cage (they’re not usually that interested, I can hear them rearranging their bedding so I know they’re awake but I do it since I’ve read they like it) and then when they were next awake I’d put some food or a treat in my palm and put it in their cage and wait for them to walk over to it but they’re suddenly just totally terrified! What should I do when they won’t even come out to see me anymore?

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

Oh no, gerbils can sometimes get in funny moods, it doesn't necessarily mean this is going to be a continuous thing, it could be just that they're feeling a bit skittish today. I would just be patient and spend lots of time around their enclosure talking to them so they can learn your voice which may help them get more comfortable. And if they're really weary of coming out of their tunnels you could try the peanut butter on a teaspoon thing but put it really close to the burrow entrance to start with then in a couple of days time try again but a little bit further away from the entrance if they're comfortable with it. You want to try and get them out as far as they're comfortable but not go so far that they run away again, it can take a bit of practice and time and it may take a few tries of them running away until they learn that they don't need to run, but a tiny smidge of peanut butter may help convince them 🙂

@lucykenyon2487

2 жыл бұрын

@@PetConnectionInternational thank you so much for your replies!! I’ll comment again in a few days or so and let you know how it’s going!!

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

No problem, I'm always here if you need more help ☺️ good luck! I look forward to seeing how you get on 🙂

Pumpkin Hey there! I had rats growing up, they were super fun and curious, we held them constantly with no issues. Got a gerbil for my daughter, the pet store sold us just one that was by himself, and he exhibits a lot of very aggressive biting behavior (not the little investigative nibble thing, a real bite that draws blood!). I'm wondering, is it bc he is alone? Or can I help train him from this behavior with more time hand training? We called the pet store to get a second gerbil when we learned that they're really social and they said not to get another bc they'll fight :(. Anyway, I've been trying your hand taming techniques, he still bites but I wear a glove now :)

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

It may well be because he's alone yes, I hear stories all the time of aggressive gerbils who calm down once they have a friend, I suspect it's because when they're alone they're more anxious from not having social support. If you follow the split tank method you can introduce him to a new gerbil relatively safely, I've got a video guide going over the whole process if it helps: kzread.info/dash/bejne/a4p5ppKBdJasdNI.html ☺️ Pet stores usually don't understand how to bond gerbils and will just plonk them together in a tank, which almost always results in fights between unfamiliar gerbils, but following the split tank method they slowly get used to each others' scents, and start to smell like each other, this is how gerbils identify clan members in the wild, so that's where the basis for the process comes from. It can still fail of course, some gerbils just aren't a good match, but it gives the best chance at success, especially if you're selective about trying to find a good match for them 🙂

Hey i have a question about one of my gerbils, she constantly hides her food so does that have to do with the fact that its winter and then food is harder to find? Or is it something different? 🙂 ( pumpkin )

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

Gerbils are massive hoarders, they have many chambers throughout their burrows, but only one is used for sleep, and the rest are food stores! So storing food is totally normal gerbiling all throughout the year ☺️

@birthevandijk9732

2 жыл бұрын

@@PetConnectionInternational ok thank you! 😁

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

No problem ☺️

PUMPKIN! I love this video! Thank you. Say, that's a nice topper! I want to get one for my cage so they can come up to at my eye level! One thing that worries me is I don't know if my gerbils would make a mess through the bars (throw wet bedding, etc.) or make loud noises by chewing on the bars?

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I'm glad you liked it ☺️ if you want to know how I made my enclosure, I've got a video guide on how I made it on the channel 🙂 I don't usually put any bedding in the topper, just a little in their coconut and sand in their bath, a little bit of this does get knocked out, but it's not a lot with a tall sand bath. It's also a very uncommon behaviour for gerbils to chew on the bars, it can indicate early weaning or a motivation to escape, by giving them more enrichment such as lots of floorspace, bedding depth, and chew toys, should help to reduce it, although if it's a formed habit it may never go away completely, I talked about this a little in my care video too, along with some other suggestions for environmental enrichment 🙂

How are the things in the upper area not all chewed into mulch? Anything and everything I put into my gerbils' enclosure that's not made of metal or stone gets turned into shavings within days. That wheel would not last a month.

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

Haha it depends on the gerbils, Timon & Pumbaa weren't massive chewers, Luna & Misty however, destroy everything in their path 🥲😅

Pumpkin!! :) My gerbils, Gary and Cooper, love to play together. Cooper is the extrovert and will always come out to see me, but loves to nibble my fingers anytime he gets the chance. Is this normal?? When I try to pet him sometimes he will do this. I do offer him sunflower seeds, and he takes those kindly, but anytime my hand is near him, he will come to my hand to start nibbling it. I got them just a week ago, and I know it will take time but I was wondering if I was doing anything wrong and if this is normal gerbil behavior?

@PetConnectionInternational

5 ай бұрын

Congrats on the new gerbs! It could be that cooper is unhappy with you trying to pet him so soon, a week is extremely early, I wouldn't be trying to pet them until at least you've gone through the gentle process of hand taming after a month or so, I suspect the nips are his way of telling you that he doesn't want to be touched or pet right now

I’ve had my gerbil about a year now and he hates being touched/picked up. I try to let him get used to my hand by putting it in his cage but he’s a biter. I was wondering if there’s anyway I could get him to like me or if I should just let him be. Thanks!

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

For biters I usually recommend using some kind of thick glove like a gardening glove to protect your hands, then offer him some treats from the gloved hand and don't move if he bites so that he learns (a) biting doesn't work and (b) hand brings yummy treats ☺️ Also, I wondered if he's alone? If so, he may benefit from some company, I've heard of lots of instances of bity single gerbs calming down once they get a friend, so that may help too 🙂

@fossgz1190

2 жыл бұрын

@@PetConnectionInternational that's a very smart and useful advice! Thanks a lot. I just bought two a week ago and one of them bites me sometimes

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

No problem, I hope it helps ☺️

Hiya, I have 2 gerbils and one is completely find a bit nervous but will feed out my hand I’ve only ever had a nibble off him. However my other gerbil no matter what I am doing if my hands in the tank trying to feed them or do anything he will run up to me and bite down on my finger ! I don’t know how to stop him because I want to show him I’m not a threat but now I’m just getting scared of him as it hurts. I don’t know what the best way is to stop him from doing it ?

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

I would get some thick leather gloves to protect your hands and then offer him treats, make sure to turn your head away to seem as unthreatening as possible, then if he bites try not to move so that he learns (a) hand brings treats and (b) biting doesn't make hand go away To start with though, you can offer something like a millet spray so that you can offer treats while keeping your hands a safe distance away and it can start to build up his trust, also keep your head turned away while doing this and try not to make eye contact initially to help show him that there's nothing to fear, then when you feel confident that he's relaxing a bit, move up to the gloved hand technique 🙂

@izzypocock345

Жыл бұрын

@@PetConnectionInternational Once I have hand fed him with gloves for a bit, do you reckon if I take them off he will just bite me again as it’s a different texture ? Sorry, I’m just a little bit nervous now as it has drawn blood multiple times and really hurts !

Hi, not long had my gerbils only 3 weeks they seem fairly confident and will take food from the palm of my hand but when I place my hand down they are nibbling the ends of my fingers is this normal? 😅 It's not like agressive biting and they don't draw blood but it can still hurt and sometimes they won't stop until I pull my hand away. Any advice please?? 🙏 Thank you oh and definitely pumpkin!

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

Awh congrats on your new gerbils! Yeah, them having a little nibble does happen sometimes, they're just testing if we're food 😅 they may bite down harder if your hands have any food smell on them, I usually take it as a reminder to wash my hands after a snack 😄

@kerryreeves1993

2 жыл бұрын

I do always make sure to wash hands before because I have seen that. Does it get gradually less the more they get used to you? Have you got any advice on how to discourage them from doing it at all? I've seen all sorts on forums that say to blow in their face, push them back when they are doing it etc but I'm reluctant to do any of those methods as I don't want to seem like a threat or make them aggressive! Should I just move my hand away when they are doing it? I love my new little gerbs and want them to love me too, just not that much they want to eat me! 😂

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

Ah I see, yeah they will sometimes still test you even with clean hands 😅 you're right to be weary of blowing on their face as this is one method used to induce seizures in gerbils for research, so definitely not a good thing to test! I would instead just move your hand away for a few seconds before trying again, you can also gently move them away with your other hand, I sometimes need to do this if I'm in the playpen with them and they try and munch my socks 😅 just a gentle scoot them away, nothing fast or forceful 🙂

@julienracine3827

2 жыл бұрын

I have read that it might be because your hand has touched the food, and therefore smell like food. Try to put the food in the middle of your hand using your other hand.

I’ve only had my 3 gerbils for a little bit of time, they tend to climb on the back of my hand but not on my palm? 1 of them tends to keep his back feet on the cage and won’t fully come how can I overcome this and get them to come onto my palm rather than the back of my hand

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

The way I got through that barrier with Luna was breaking the seeds up into super tiny pieces, then putting these on the back of my hand for her to reach over and get them, eventually she got fed up of stretching for a teeny mouthful and just stood on my hand to eat them ☺️ Here's the process I went through with Luna if it helps: kzread.info/dash/bejne/Ynd4p6Oyndy6l9o.html

ive had my gebril since mid january of this year and since an incident with her eye a few months after getting her, she's been mean and refuses to come near me. I am trying to get her a larger exhibit and I'm going to try out these tips :)

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

Oh poor thing, hopefully she's feeling better now, and good luck with the taming! 🥰 Just a quick question: does she have a friend?

@char_of_the_lotte2056

Жыл бұрын

@@PetConnectionInternational she has a bad eye and it was bad for a month and she wouldn't let me touch her at all when trying to clean it out ;( and thank you so much, Im really trying to show her more love, I set up a playpen for her, I just need to get her to like my hand lol. And unfortunately no, I live with my parents and they are only allowing me to own one :( but Im working on getting her a larger enclosure because she's been showing some signs of stress :( would it be bad to add in another gerbil (when I get the bigger cage) or I there ways to gradually do it?

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

@@char_of_the_lotte2056 you need to carefully introduce them following the "split tank method" there are lots of guides on how to do this online and lots of nuances depending on the gerbils (I've found), but the basics are using a tank with a fine mesh divider (mine was 6mm mesh) and swap the gerbils back and fore every day for at least a week (often more like 2/3 weeks) to get used to each other's scent, then when they start showing postive signs (sleeping in each other's nests, grooming through the bars, sleeping next go each other) have some small meetings on one side of the tank (with thick gloves to protect your hands if you need to separate a fight) and if these go well then remove the divider (watch them for the entire first day), and slowly introduce more bedding, toys and space. I do plan to make a video about how my split went with Luna and Pumbaa, but as Pumbaa passed just over a week ago I need to take a break from making educational videos with her footage for a bit to recover, so my split tank video may be a little while, but hopefully this little bit can help, and if you need any more advice you can find me on all the socials linked in the video description ☺️

@char_of_the_lotte2056

Жыл бұрын

@@PetConnectionInternational okay thank you so much, when I get a larger enclosure ill definitely talk to my parents about a second one. But if I'm unable to, I'll try to just show her extra love as best as I can once she likes me more lol. I'm so sorry for the passing of Pumbaa, take all the time you need :) thank you for responding, I do have a question tho

@char_of_the_lotte2056

Жыл бұрын

when i change my gerbils bedding, I take all of it out (every 2-3ish weeks) and put completely new, is that bad? Should I maybe keep half that has her scent on it?

I am struggling hand taming my gerbils but I'm always nervous they'll escape when I open the door to their cage. Will they jump off my arm? It sure seems like they will, so I don't know how to practice. Any ideas?

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

Gerbils are usually pretty good about not jumping off really high things in my experience, but they may try and launch themselves back to their enclosure if they get spooked! As I mentioned over on Facebook, I'd give a playpen/bathtub a go to practice and build up your confidence with handling ☺️

mate, what bedding is that. also can i use paper bedding? and sawdust or...

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

I'm not 100% sure what bedding I was using then, it looks like it could be hemp. Yes, you can use paper bedding, but I find it all gets rather dusty, more so than other beddings, so I just use it as part of the mix, sawdust is a definite no because of the issues with dust irritating their respiratory systems, if you want to know a bit more about the pros and cons of different beddings and types, I reviewed and ranked 14 different beddings in this video: kzread.info/dash/bejne/p2qtpqVvYZideco.html ☺️

@mr_bean1005

Жыл бұрын

@@PetConnectionInternational Hi! thank you for getting back, so I recently adopted 3 gerbils (male brothers) and they're currently living in a bin cage. With sawdust bedding - which I know I need to get rid of now. But I need to know, is this cage called the Ikea Linmon suitable for gerbils. search it up on KZread and maybe just ping me and say your thoughts. I'm new to gerbils. I was a hamster owner, once again Tysm.

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

The Linmon is a great size! Some owners have complained about their gerbils chewing through wood enclosures though, so I'd keep an eye, but if it's completely smooth inside it'll be extremely difficult for them to get any kind of grip to start chewing, so I'd think it's unlikely, but worth being aware of and monitoring 🙂 I do personally prefer toppers for gerbils too because they're SO destructive, platform legs will get shredded in no time, and they like to find any which way to knock over dividers and bury everything 😂 so I'm wondering if there's any way to add a topper to it? It's not essential, but you may find yourself forever un-burying stuff without one 😅

my gerbil is really shy but my sister's gerbil is not shy at all i hope this video will work since my gerbil defo don't trust me.

@PetConnectionInternational

6 ай бұрын

Good luck! Does your gerbil have a friend to help reassure her?

What's a good treat to use to tame them?

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

I usually use pumpkin seeds broken up into small pieces 🙂 but you can use whatever your gerbils like most

I have a question tomorrow I'm going away for a day so pls reply quick so how long does it take to get them to trust you I've only have them for 2 weeks also is it ok if they stay in a tank together because I saw a video saying to not do that.

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

It can take anywhere from a few days to multiple months to fully earn gerbils' trust, it really depends on the gerbils. And what do you mean by them staying in the tank together? Do you mean the gerbils living together? I'm not sure I understand what you're asking

@youareworthitall

2 жыл бұрын

@@PetConnectionInternational Yes I mean living sorry

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

@@youareworthitall yes gerbils are social animals and do best in pairs. If they're housed alone they can develop depression-like symptoms, but they're also selectively social, so living in larger groups increases the chances of them fighting and falling out, so it's best to keep 2 together 🙂

@youareworthitall

2 жыл бұрын

@@PetConnectionInternational ok thank you

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

No problem ☺️

I just need to talk to someone about this. I already talked to my vet. I came home from work and I couldn’t find one of my gerbils anywhere. She’s the calmer one. So I got scared she escaped. But then I realized the excited one wasn’t on the right side. I switched them last night to bond them. … right? And then I noticed that she was limping. And the panic set in. I put my gloves on and as I went back I noticed the limping one wa staring at the calmer one who was chirping in her hide. She doesn’t seem injured. But the limping one probably got in her face and she got hurt. I’m telling myself it probably just happened and that they haven’t been on the same side unsupervised all day while I was at work. Obviously not going to do bonding now. But now I’m scared they won’t be able to be tamed anymore either. They both tried to nip me when I separated them and Connie doesn’t look too bad but she’s not as active as she used to be and she used to be so so energetic and it’s scaring me

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

I'd give them a few days to recover, the experience has probably shaken them up quite a bit. Have you gotten the injured one seen by a vet?

@GerbilGirl987

Жыл бұрын

@@PetConnectionInternational yes definitely doing that. I was able to today! My vet was closed yesterday so I wasn’t able to then. She said to gently rub her with saline or Vaseline and she’ll heal in no time. They’ve both cleaned themselves up so they look a lot better. And I didn’t handle Connie but from what I could see it looks like she’s already started to heal. The vet said if they’re not feeling better in a few days to go see her again. But things are looking up now.

Pumpkin🎃

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

I'm glad you found the information useful, let me know if there's anything else I can help you with ☺️

I NEED HELP, its been over 3 weeks and my gerbil enclosure needs to be deep cleaned (I have 3 gerbils) and they are not tamed yet and I don't want to "ruin" their home and stress them out when they are inside, but I can't get them to come out what do I do??!!

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

you don't need to clean them too often, in a full size enclosure (100x50x50cm) with deep bedding (25-40cm+) you should only need to clean them out once every 2-3 months, so don't panic too much about it 🙂 in terms of getting them out you could try a tube or box, they're often drawn to climbing in and testing them out, so this can be a good way to transport them if they're not fully tame yet

can u make a video of what to do when u get gerbil babys sold to you (at 4 weeks young btw)

@PetConnectionInternational

6 ай бұрын

I do have a video about new gerbil supplies, a basic gerbil care video and a playlist for new gerbil parents that should help you out 🙂 4 weeks is very young though, I'd be very weary of a breeder separating babies from their parents so early, they may develop stereotypic behaviours in future as a result of being separated so early

are you supposed to put the food in the cage for them to take their own or hand feed them everything?

@PetConnectionInternational

11 ай бұрын

For taming, I hand feed throughout the day when I see them, then whatevers left gets scattered throughout the enclosure at night 🙂 once they're hand tame I just hand feed first thing, then scatter straight after

@roisin1294

11 ай бұрын

@@PetConnectionInternational I'll try this, thank u 💕

@PetConnectionInternational

11 ай бұрын

@@roisin1294 no problem ☺️

Pumpkin

My gerbil Hailey killed her sister Bailey this afternoon. They been fighting off and on but then they cuddle after the fight I don’t get it because it was out of hand so bad that I separated them for awhile but Bailey was so badly injured and was to far gone. I got them from petsmart in May 2023 😔 I don’t know what to do about Hailey and if I should get another gerbil for her as a companion but a boy not another female

@PetConnectionInternational

7 ай бұрын

I wouldn't recommend getting a male as they'll breed constantly and you'll end up overrun with gerbils as well as Hailey getting unwell from constant pup raising. Another girl would be better, just because those two didn't end up getting along, it doesn't mean Hailey wouldn't get along with someone else, it could be just that they weren't a very good match. I've got a video going through the split tank process that should help you out: kzread.info/dash/bejne/a4p5ppKBdJasdNI.htmlsi=L9lMSImnuItWmYgm But for your future gerbils, if you see even small fights, they need to be separated and slowly reintroduced, even putting them in a split tank for a day or two may help, but if the pair continue fighting they'll need to be permanently separated to avoid a similar outcome to what you've experienced this time I'm so sorry this happened to you, I hope you and Hailey are doing okay xx

Thank you for all the useful info! I have 2 male gerbils since November ( they were 8 weeks old when I got them). I still haven't been able to hand-tame them. How many times I should stick my hand in the cage? One of them is super shy. The other one is taking sunflower seeds from my hand but just started biting me. Am I annoying him? I'm sitting next to them a few hours a day and still, they are skittish when they see me. What I'm doing wrong? 😢 please help. Thank you ❤

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

What type of enclosure do you have?

@kittitoth1966

Жыл бұрын

@@PetConnectionInternational thank you for your reply. I have a Neo Panas XL gerbil cage with a large glass tray for the bottom and a mesh frame for the top. External dimensions: L 71 x D 41 x H 49 cm. Inner dimensions: L 70 x D 40 x H 45 cm. The bedding is about 6-7 inches. I offered him sunflower seed again and he bit my finger again ( not too hard but I got scared and so as he). What do I do wrong?

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

Do you put your hands all the way into the enclosure or just at the door/just inside the topper? Apologies for all the questions, I want to try and get as clear a picture as possible of what's going on so I can better help you figure out what's happening 💚

@kittitoth1966

Жыл бұрын

Please ask away, I really appreciate it that you take the time with this. I only put my hand at the door so my hand is resting on the wooden board. Sometimes they can see my hand cleaning the cage inside and scattering food. I also tried to take off the top so I can put my whole hand/arm in there but they won't come out or they do but run back. I can imagine I look scary to them but I thought this is the better way to make them more comfortable with me.

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

Okay, just one more question, do you wash your hands before interacting with them?

I'm struggling to hand tame my gerbils, and whenever i try to they just squeak; i also know that can be perceived as a sign of discomfort. i'm just questioning whether i should even own them, or give them to another person. when i try to hand tame them they also run away from me, i feel like they don't like me and plus, i feel bad as their pet owner. what should i do? i forgot to mention it's my first time owning gerbils aswell. im probably making so many mistakes.

@PetConnectionInternational

4 күн бұрын

If they are running away from you when you are near them you may need to start with simpler steps, here's a video showing how I tamed my skittish Luna: kzread.info/dash/bejne/Ynd4p6Oyndy6l9o.html

@fun45yyou2

4 күн бұрын

@@PetConnectionInternational thank you so much!

Also, my gerbil will let me pick him up but he wont let me pet him, and hes 2-1/2 years old now. Am i able to change this somehow?

@PetConnectionInternational

11 ай бұрын

How is he when he's eating something? Will he let you pet him then? That's the only time mine have ever tolerated pets 😅

@roisin1294

11 ай бұрын

@@PetConnectionInternational no, not even when he's eating:(

@PetConnectionInternational

11 ай бұрын

Ah, he may just be one of those "look don't touch" gerbils then, you can keep working on handling and taming and trying to pet him when he's eating, but there's no guarantee he'll come round unfortunately, some just really don't like being touched

Pumpkin: wish me luck, I've had my gerbil Hector for over 3 months, I don't force him to do anything and I watch his body language to be sure I'm not scaring him and he still doesn't seem to like me😢

@PetConnectionInternational

6 ай бұрын

It can take time, Luna took many months to fully come around and now she'll say hello to anyone that comes by because she knows it usually means she gets snacks 😆 Lots of rewards for interacting with people and keeping certain favourites (like seeds and worms) for ONLY when they interact with people really helps 🙂 Does Hector have a friend? Social support really helps them be less anxious, Luna came out of her shell much more when she was bonded

pumpkin😂

Pumpkin 🎃

Pumpkin🐀🐀

If you want a simplified summary of the processes I talked about in this video, download the FREE GUIDE here: petconnectioninternational.ck.page/e45774c180 ☺️ For bonus content, check out the blooper reel for this video: 🎬 youtu.be/Pz7Xkv1a

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

@moody mother I'm not an expert on coat colourings, but from what I can see it appears that "argente cream" is the rarest, they're like a very pale ginger colour, that sounds like what you're describing, so I'd say yes in answer to your question 🙂

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

I totally get that, I have health problems myself, and some days just having the gerbils around makes all the difference to my mood, they're nature's antidepressants 😄

Pumkin

Pumpkiiin

@PetConnectionInternational

10 ай бұрын

I'm glad the information can be helpful for you, let me know if there's anything else I can help you with ☺️

Punkin

PUMPIQIN

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

I'm glad you found the information useful, let me know if there's anything else I can help you with ☺️

I put my hand in my cage and they grabbed my hand and won't let go cuz I washed my hands cuz it smelt like food so they tryed to nibble it

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

Always a good idea to wash your hands first if you don't want to be a gerbil snack 😅

@isabellahiland

Жыл бұрын

@@PetConnectionInternational yeah😂

I wish I saw this before I’ve been staring in his eyes for a month 💀

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

Haha that's fine, we live and learn ☺️ plus it's really hard to resist staring at such adorable little creatures! 🥰

I have two gerbils it been months they don't let me pet them

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

I would start at the beginning with the taming tips, and be patient, it can take a lot of time for them to get fully comfortable, and in my experience very few gerbils ever enjoy being pet, most just learn to tolerate it if it gets them food 😅

I want to hold my gerbil but he nips me and it's hard not to react my heart races when he does so it's hard to calm down and try again, I just don't want him to be stressed and see me as a predator :(

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

When is he biting you? When you're picking him up or when he's in the cage?

My gerbils are ok with climbing on my hands when I offer them food but I can’t move to quickly or lift them up at all without them freaking out 😭 they also like nibbling me and I know that it’s not a bad thing bc of how hard they do it but it freaks me out a bit

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

For the nibbling thing I would make sure you always wash your hands thoroughly before interacting with them to make sure there's no food smells on your hands - and I'd be patient with moving your hands, it can take a long time with some gerbils, Luna is still definitely not comfortable with being handled at all, it just takes a bit of time and lots of small baby steps 🙂

"Does gerbils have a concept of height, and will it jump from dangerous heights that could lead to injury?"

@PetConnectionInternational

6 ай бұрын

They do seem to have reasonably good depth perception and have a righting reflex meaning they usually land on their feet, but it's better to be safe than sorry and not hold them too high from the ground 🙂

@user-sk4gl2tk7r

6 ай бұрын

@PetConnectionInternational thank you for answer

@PetConnectionInternational

6 ай бұрын

@@user-sk4gl2tk7r no problem ☺️

pumpkin

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

I'm glad you found the information useful, let me know if there's anything else I can help you with ☺️

pumkin

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

I'm glad you found the information useful, let me know if there's anything else I can help you with ☺️

Lol I tried this and I instantly got bit so bad that my finger is bleeding everywhere. Never again

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

Awh I'm sorry you're having trouble with your gerbil Rose, may I ask for more details of what happened so that I could try and help?

@rowanx1355

Жыл бұрын

@@PetConnectionInternational I slowly put my hand into the cage with a treat on my hand and looked away instead of starting at her and instead of nibbling like she usually does she bit and hung on 😩

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

Okay, it sounds like you may have a bit of a biter on your hands then, they need a slightly different approach. Most of it is the same, the main difference is using a bite proof glove to protect your hands, then you hand feed as normal from the gloved hand while looking away and staying still, and if she bites just hold steady and try not to pull away so that she learns (a) biting doesn't make hand go away and (b) hand brings yummy treats, you can also try including extra yummy treats like seeds and worms too for extra positive reinforcement for now to really convince her your hand is a good thing And keep up that training until you're confident she's gotten past her biting phase, don't get rid of the glove too early, it's really important that you feel confident and safe, if you get nervous and scared of being bitten it can play into her anxiety/agitation and make things worse, so take it really slow and make sure you feel 100% safe every step of the way When you do eventually feel ready to try without gloves, make sure to thoroughly wash your hands before interacting with her as any even slight residue of food or salt from your sweat could confuse her into thinking your hand is a snack, although a compliment from humans, not so great when gerbils want to try and eat your fingers And if you ever feel like you're struggling and need more help, please don't hesitate to get back in touch and I'll do my best to help 💚

@rowanx1355

Жыл бұрын

@@PetConnectionInternational wow thank you so much for this! I will give it a go. It’s always hard to be confident and calm when the anticipation of a bite that might happen always makes me nervous

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

No problem, hopefully it can help convince her to be nice! And I totally get what you mean, it's really hard to be calm when your fingers are on the line! Some really thick sturdy gloves should help protect your digits, I use fully leather gloves rather than just the fingertips being leather, so my entire hand is protected ☺️

Take a hamster. Add a longer tail. Make it look 25% more like a kangaroo. Make it 30% more hyper. You have gerbil!

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

haha very true 🤣

@bl8388

Жыл бұрын

@@PetConnectionInternational I love rodents. They're similar but different enough to be interesting.

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

@@bl8388 I agree ☺️

A very useful and interesting video, however I would like to clarify something a common misconception. Degloving of the tail only occurs if you hold the tail too far from the base of the tail (probably at over an inch), if it's held at the base of the tail it won't cause any harm, as long as they're not held for long there (as they might struggle after a while and maybe strain their back). All that said I only ever pick up a gerbil at the base of the tail for urgent or emergency situations (e.g if a gerbil has jumped on the floor for a bid to escape!), also it is not a friendly and trusting way to pick up gerbils, 3rd issue is if the gerbil moves at the wrong moment you could grab further away from the base than you intended, possibly leading to degloving. So I extremely rarely pick them up that way, but you shouldn't say never really, I do understand though that it should be mostly discouraged.

@PetConnectionInternational

11 ай бұрын

I would still say never, for the reasons you said, it's far too easy to grab them at the wrong place and cause a degloving incident, and even if you pick them up at the right place, it's likely to be very painful and stressful being held by just one limb, same as if you were holding them by just one leg. In an emergency if you do need to pick them up quickly, you can grab them from above, which I have had to do multiple times in the past, scooping is preferable, but sometimes they do need to be grabbed quickly, and realistically it's easier to grab their body quickly than to try and grab a tiny, very specific section of a small tail, far far too easy for that to go wrong

@Assimilator1

11 ай бұрын

@@PetConnectionInternational Scooping is preferable, but they can run off your hands. Picking them up by the base of the tail is not painful to them for a short time, they just hang there and don't move (again, only talking a short time, i.e seconds). And I've only used it in some urgent situations, my previous Gerbils lived to about 2 3/4, I only had to do it 3-4 times in there life.

@PetConnectionInternational

11 ай бұрын

@@Assimilator1 how do you know it isn't painful? If you look at me in my videos would you say I'm in pain? Most of the time I look perfectly fine, but I am in pain 100% of the time, just because an animal doesn't show obvious signs of pain, it doesn't mean there isn't any. And unfortunately the staying still reaction you're noticing is a fear reaction, they freeze still because they're scared, and by staying still the hope is the predator will let them go. They should never be picked up by their tail, if we need to, we can grab them by their body in an emergency. If we were to accidentally grab their tail when going for their body, that's a different situation, accidents happen, but no one should ever be deliberately trying to grab them by their tails

@Assimilator1

11 ай бұрын

@@PetConnectionInternational Firstly, sorry to hear you're in pain all the time 🙁, I hope your situation can be improved, or is improving... True that I don't know if they are in mild pain, (obviously they'd react if it was very painful!), so in reflection I will try to never have to pick them up by the tail, but if it means not doing so will mean they come to harm, I will still do so in that scenario. Now, I need to watch more of your videos on handling/taming them 🙂

@PetConnectionInternational

11 ай бұрын

@@Assimilator1 ah no problem, yeah it's mostly mild pain now (hence why it's not noticeable), I'm learning to manage things better as time goes on 🙂 that sounds good, as I said if you were trying to grab them by the body in an emergency and happened to catch their tails instead for a few seconds, that's not such a big deal as it's an accident and that can happen especially if they're squirmy, but as a general rule I just don't think any of us should be deliberately trying to grab their tails. I do have a couple more handling videos planned that go over things like pick up training which does definitely make it easier to nab them if you have to, now that my girls are more used to being picked up generally, it's much easier to just yoink them up if I need to, although they will still sit there half-stunned for a moment before going back to their usual wriggly selves! I had an incident the other day where the girls were starting to fight, so I had to quickly grab Moo to stop it, and once I got her she was just in my hand, legs sprawled with a bit of corn hanging out of her mouth, wee thief that she is 😂

Ok so my gerbil winks at me but I wink at him after, does he like me or he will just like me if I wink at him first? ❤

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

Winking is generally a sign of contentment and happiness, my Luna always winks at me when I give her a treat for example, like a "thanks mum", I always wink back to mirror them which helps to build a bond, it shows them we understand ☺️ It definitely sounds like your little one is quite happy and feels very safe around you 💚

pumpkin1

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

I'm glad you found the information useful, let me know if there's anything else I can help you with ☺️

Pumpkin 😊

PUMPKIN

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

I'm glad you found the information helpful 😊 let me know if there's anything else I can help you with 🙂

Pumpkin!

Pumpkin

@PetConnectionInternational

2 жыл бұрын

I'm glad you found the information useful 🙂 let me know if there's anything else I can help you with ☺️

pumpkin

@PetConnectionInternational

Жыл бұрын

I'm glad you found the information useful, let me know if there's anything else I can help with ☺️

Pumpkin!

@PetConnectionInternational

5 ай бұрын

I'm glad you found the information useful, let me know if there's anything else I can help you with ☺️