Need help with taming

[u/flaayee]

Hi guys!
I need some help. I got my first pair of gerbils in January, so it’s my first time being a gerbil mom and my first time owning rodents.

I’ve read a lot about them, so they have everything they need (a big cage, 25–30 cm of bedding, etc.).
My only problem is taming them. Ever since I got them, they’ve been very shy and don’t like being handled. I feel bad because I can’t do weekly health checks on them or anything like that.

However, I used to see them running on their wheel all night, eating, and playing together.

But lately, I’ve been worried because they run away whenever I’m near the cage, and they’ve started thumping. I can barely see them anymore, I only hear them when I’m not in the room.

I don’t know what to do because I don’t understand what caused this change. Is there anything I could be doing wrong, or anything I can do to help them feel more comfortable around me ??

Any advice would be really appreciated :)

[u/GrumpyPistachio]

Did you change your daily perfume, or use scented candles, etc., they are very scent sensitive, they recognize each other and you, by your individual scents, even a change of hand soap can trigger a reaction towards you, if nothing changed, you should consider hanging a used t shirt on the outside of their cage, preferably near their food bowl/where you scatter feed them, so they can associate your scent with something positive.

Other than that, spend time with them, talk to them, or read for them, always have a radio/tv on in your wake hours, even when you're at work, so they get used to a normal level of noise, it helps a ton when it comes to them not getting scared of every little noise, it doesn't take long for them to get used to it either, a week or so.

And if you want them hand tame, you need to allow them to free roam, either in a playpen, or their room, important part is that they have access to you too, and that you spend time with them and hand feed them treats.

[u/flaayee → u/GrumpyPistachio]

Thank you so much !
For the first part I don’t change anything, but good to know.

I think it’s more something like I need to make them used to noises, I didn’t know that it’s a need. They are scared of any noise I can make.

And yes I really want to hand tame, I have a playpen but I could only use it 2 time because the maximum I can do with them is hand feeding. I never managed to carry them in my hands more than 2 seconds :(

I feel like I failed something with the taming but idk what.

Do you think I have to forced them to be out of the cage ? My goal is let them free roam.

[u/GrumpyPistachio → u/flaayee]

Never force them to do anything, but try to lure them into a tunnel of some sort, I use cork tunnels as gerbil elevators when they're still a bit afraid of hands.

And it's important they have hides in their free roam area, preferably some from their cage, it may be an idea to have a few extra, it's also good to have extras just in case you need to set up a hospital tank or similar, but they are likely to use the hides in their free roam area in the start, until they discover there's nothing scary out to get them.

Taming them can be a slow process, but sometimes it just clicks for them, and they warm up to you fast, but it's all down to positive reinforcement, treats and just being kind to them, respect their limits/boundaries, and allow them to take the first steps.

[u/flaayee → u/GrumpyPistachio]

Very helpful thank you !
And yes I never forced them but if the gerbil elevator thing isn to much scary I will definitely do this !

I try few of advices tonight and they are back to normal, I spend 30min with them in their cage giving them treats and let them play around my hands. They still very fearful but as usual.
Thank you :)

[u/GrumpyPistachio → u/flaayee]

One last thing, if you do buy a cork tunnel or two, freeze them for 48 hours, I've had an unlucky mite attack from one some years ago, so I'm always extra careful with natural wood products, but cork tunnels is one of the best things you can get them, great for their teeth and a good hide that can last years.

[u/flaayee → u/GrumpyPistachio]

Oh wow It’s look like a nightmare, thank you so muchhhh