Ask The Gerbils

Hallie and Smurf are happy to answer your questions about taking care of, playing with, taming, or getting to know your gerbils. However, if you have questions about breeding or gerbil babies, you should ask an experienced breeder, not Hallie and Smurf. For breeding questions, please see the American Gerbil Society or a site such as the Gerbil Breeding & Development page.

Friday, December 5, 2008

Hi Herman,

I’m getting a gerbil soon. I want to know how I pick the right gerbil for me. Do I ask if I can hold the gerbils to see which one likes me the most?

Which ways can I pick up my new gerbil?

I also wanted to know if I had to do the split-cage method if I got 2 gerbils at the same time.

From,
Jonah

P.S. I think You guys are really cute!!!





Hi Jonah,

Instead of asking to hold the gerbils, I would ask to put your hand in their tank. See which gerbils are the most curious and interested in your hand. Do any gerbils crawl into your hand when it’s in their tank? Do any try to crawl up your arm? If so, these are friendly gerbils, and they’ll probably win your heart over. :)

You’ll also be able to tell if one of the gerbils in the tank likes to nip your fingers. Try to pick a gerbil who is curious and comes to see or crawl on your hand but who doesn’t nip your fingers.

You should also read How To Select The Right Gerbils in the Gerbil Care Guide. The second half of the article is about how to tell if a gerbil is healthy. Make sure you read that part so you can adopt healthy gerbils. There is also a link at the end of the article to how to tell if a gerbil is a boy or a girl.

You can read How To Pick Up A Gerbil to learn how to safely pick up your gerbils.

You won’t need to use the split-cage method to introduce your gerbils if you get them from the same tank at the same time. As long as your gerbils already know each other and come home with you at the same time, they should get along.

I hope that helps! Good luck!

Your friend,
Herman