The amount of time it takes gerbils to get used to a new environment and owner varies from a few hours to a few days. Your gerbils will “tell” you when they are ready for more interaction. If they hide or run away from you, they aren’t ready to be touched or held.
You don’t have to speak directly to them, but talk or sing out loud (but not loudly) so they become comfortable with your voice.
This is especially important if you have other pets, like dogs and cats. These animals would be predators in the wild. Use a non-perfumed soap so you don’t mask you own scent.
If they will not eat from your hand right away, that’s ok. Put the food on the floor near them and back away. Eventually they will associate your hand with treats. The best treats are things that don’t typically come in gerbil food, like almonds, pecans, or walnuts. Gerbils, like people, are individuals with different levels of social acclimation. Some may come to you quickly, while some are more skittish. Don’t take it personally. Sometimes gerbils will backslide, and you may have to start from an earlier stage to rebuild trust. Don’t get frustrated and try again. Offer a second treat if they are not tempted by one. Put one on the ground and one in your hand to encourage them to go to either one.
It might take a few times before your gerbil is comfortable getting in your hand. Be patient and kind. When they first jump into your palm, raise your arm slowly to your chest so that they don’t feel scared. If they won’t let you touch them, try holding your hand in a fist near them and letting them get used to your smell first. [4] X Research source
Don’t ever let them out of their cage unsupervised. Gerbils are very good at hiding!
It’s best not to let your gerbils out of their cage until you are able to hold them. If they do manage to find a hiding place, it’s best to wait for them to come out on their own rather than forcibly grab them. A great place to let them play is in an empty kiddie pool.
Don’t pull them out of their cage forcibly! Just open the door and sit near it. [8] X Research source Make sure the tub is clean, with no soap or detergent residue. [9] X Research source
Buy a wheel that is solid, not one with spokes or holes in it. Their tails or feet could get caught in any holes and cause injury. Don’t give them scented paper towels or towels with text or writing. Gerbils need to chew, so look for untreated and unpainted wooden toys rather than plastic ones or painted ones. Use empty paper towel or toilet paper rolls to make a fun tunnel for your gerbils to run through. Make a tunnel out of PVC pipe.
Be careful not to use too much force! Gerbils are little and may scare easily until they get used to you.
Put treats in the middle, fold tissues in half, and roll up like a burrito. Tie the end of the tissue pack into a loose knot and put inside a toilet paper tube. Stuff a tissue into each side of the roll, so that the treat is in the middle. Place the roll on a sheet of white paper and roll like a burrito. Twist the ends like a candy wrapper and present to your gerbil.
If your gerbil is really smart, they may just turn around on the ground to get the treat. Try holding it closer to their head next time.
Start with a straight line maze and increase difficulty as your gerbil gets used to it.
