How to Calm Your Gerbil

Gerbils tend to be active and curious, but they may or may not have friendly attitudes toward people. A gerbil who has not been handled much is liable to be skittish and nervous when you approach him. Calming him -- making him feel more comfortable around you -- is a multi-step process.

  1. Considerations

    • No matter how friendly your gerbil becomes, a human companion is not enough. He needs a friend of the same species. If you are planning to adopt gerbils for the first time, always get a pair of the same gender. If you already have just one, solitary gerbil, consider getting another, but keep them in separate, adjoining cages or in a cage with a divider to begin with. Let them become better acquainted in a neutral area, such as the playpen. The younger the gerbils the faster they̵7;ll bond.

    Settling In

    • Collect some of the gerbils̵7; original bedding when you purchase them and use that, along with fresh bedding of the same sort, in the cage. Include at least one nest box. The familiar scents are calming, and the hiding place makes the animals feel more secure. Also cover the cage or tank with a sheet for the first couple of days to provide extra security. If you have a busy household full of noisy people and pets, pick one of the quietest rooms for the gerbil cage, and don̵7;t allow carnivorous pets, such as cats, dogs and ferrets, access. Even if these animals just want to be friendly, their scent may alarm the new arrivals.

    First Steps

    • After the first couple of days, start offering your gerbils reasonably healthy treats by hand. Particular favorites include sunflower seeds, small cubes of apple or carrot and peanuts. Don̵7;t provide more than two or three treats per day per gerbil; otherwise you̵7;ll end up with fat gerbils who can have a range of health problems. Don̵7;t try to pick them up yet, but, if one lets you, you can stroke him.

    Run Time

    • Find a gerbil-safe space for exercise. Gerbil-safe means no electrical cords, no holes in the wall and no furniture he can hide under or in. The bathroom might be suitable, but ensure no gaps exist around the plumbing fixtures. Otherwise, you can use the tub or a gerbil play pen. Place the cage in the exercise space and open the door. Sit next to the cage and let your gerbils explore you and the space as they like.

    Handling

    • Once your gerbils are completely calm around you, start handling them. Either let them climb onto your arm or pick one up with both hands and let him explore you; return him to the cage or exercise area after a few minutes. Aim to spend at least half an hour interacting with your pets, handling them and letting them explore outside the cage, each day.