High Jump Gerbil

[bubbba94]

My gerbils haven't really started to jump yet... D:

[ZenandTao]

@bubbba94 Mine didn't jump for ages, I didn't realise they could until they nearly jumped out of the box I put them in while I was cleaning thier tank! XD" Make sure they have a soft landing once they show signs of wanting to jump about. ;)

[kaleighfoley]

I'm thinking of getting a gerbil. Any thing that I need to know?

[ZenandTao]

@kaleighfoley Gerbils make great pets, you should always get more than one of the same sex as they don't like to be on thier own. Having 2 or 3 isn't any more trouble than having 1 and they will play and groom and sleep together. :) Buy the biggest gerbilarium you can afford and if you can fill it with peat/clean soil and they will love it and create great tunnels. Also means you can clean out less often. ;)

[kaleighfoley]

@ZenandTao Thanks! :)

[Leopardpool07]

So we thought we had mice in our house, but the "mice" have furry tails, so I'm pretty sure it's .... gerbils.. T__T That's sooo weird!

[ZenandTao]

@Leopardpool07 weird, you should try using a humane trap to catch them and find out. X3

[Leopardpool07]

@ZenandTao Omg, do you know any humane traps?? We haven't been using mouse traps cuz I'm an avid animal lover and won't let my mom kill them. 

[ZenandTao]

@Leopardpool07 you can find lots if you type in 'humane mousetrap' on google, or ask at a hardware store. :) You could try using a cardboard box, put some cheese/apple/peanuts in it and put it where you think the gerbils are running about, near a wall. You'll have to wait and watch tho with that kind of trap. Once they go in, scoop up the box. Gerbils love to explore dark boxes so if you know the time they are active you might have some luck with this. Good luck! ;)

[Leopardpool07]

@ZenandTao Thanks so much! lol I didn't even remember I could use Google >.<"

[ElectricBedzZz]

i wish my gerbils could do that too

[hamsterspetztwo]

Oh my goodness! I LOVE the color of your gerbie!!! :)

[TheBastard97]

If gerbils were headcrabs, we'd be screwed x3

[CandyHearts5]

they look like degus.XD

[Linzu99]

very cute gerbils and nice jump :)

[bekajman]

i've got gerbils too, great pets=D

and they jump, most of the time in the evening, when it's getting dark, at 21.00 o'clock...

and they're getting better at it.

First they just jumped on my hand about 12 inches above them.

now they actually jump out of their terrarium.

check my video's for their, you'll like them

[aziL87]

what kind of gerbils do you have, they seem to be so big, mine are just a bit bigger than a hamster?!

[ZenandTao]

@aziL87 As far as I know they are just the regular species of gerbil. They are only a bit bigger than a hamster, maybe they look bigger on camera... or it's cos I have tiny hands or somthing! XD" These days Zen is even bigger, because he's a greedy boy! XD"

[aziL87]

@ZenandTao okidoki, I also got gerbils... But maybe it's the camera that's playing with me like you said. :P

[imrandom914]

gerbils make amazing pets, and they're great for beginners too. the only downside to them is they chew EVERYTHING and they're fast little critters! they haven't bit me yet though!!

[ZenandTao]

@imrandom914 Yup I totally agree, great starter pets! Just try not to surprise them and you won't get bitten. 3 and half years with Tao and Zen and I've only been bitten 4 times, always my own fault. ;)

[BqlNegur]

These cuties jump higher than Michael Jordan!! Don't leave their cage open

[filipdharder]

they are realy big that's of my are 5 centimeters

[8BarBluesBoogie]

Thank you for that info..

[ZenandTao]

You're most welcome. ^^

If you're thinking of getting gerbils for pets then it's great you're getting all the info you need first. ;)

[8BarBluesBoogie]

Do gerbils bite? if so do they draw blood?

[ZenandTao]

Any animal will bite if it's provoked or frightened (or if your hands smell of somthing yummy) and gerbils are no exception. Tao has bitten me twice and drawn blood, but on both occassions I was at fault and realised this. Being bitten is almost always your own fault, your pet is telling you, you did somthing it didn't like. Gerbils are generally very friendly and curious, but you must be patient in taming and handle them often and learn from any nips they give you. ;)

[jgabbs1]

thats a good design idea. i might have to do that if i get gerbils again. i'd probably make a ladder that goes to the top. pretty neat.

[ZenandTao]

Thanks, my boys seem to really love this set up, I figure the bigger it is the more fun they can have. X3

They usually have a balsa wood ladder which you can get in the bird section of the pet store, to connect the tank and cage. I'd just removed it for cleaning and they decided to get up to some hijinks while it was gone. X3

[jgabbs1]

balsa wood? don't they chew that right up?

[ZenandTao]

hehe yup, they chewed up more ladders than I can count but it keeps them busy.

They've had thier current ladder for over a year tho and it's only lost a few rungs, it's the biggest size you can buy, I think they've just got bored chewing ladders tho.

I also use cardboard tubes so they can get up to the top. But you have to use the really tough thick card kind, cos as a previous owner of gerbils I'm sure you know how fast they go through toilet roll tubes. XD"

[kfcrsh]

how do you make them like come to your hand i have to like corner my gerbils to make them come one my hand

[ZenandTao]

If you read the reply to the first comment on this video (above) it give you some hints on how to tame them. I know you want to pick them up and pet them right away but with patience you can get them to come to you, which is better for them and for you. Somthing else I did was when I give them a treat I make a clicking sound with my tongue so that they associate that sound with treats, Now they will come to me whenever I make the sound to see if I have a treat for them. Good luck!

[Depthcharge]

my two gerbils mana and hari are absolutely the same s these two cuties :P

[Capnkeats]

Thats a cool cage setup is it always like that with a wire cage on top and then a ten gallon aquaarium underneath? Do you have to have a lid for the aquarium part?

[ZenandTao]

The most suitable kind of set up for gerbils is to have a cage with a tank underneath cos they like to dig.

You can buy this kind of set up in pet stores but I think those are kind of small. I was lucky to get donated this huge tank then I bought a hamster cage and modified it to fit on top. And yup there is a wire mesh lid that covers the rest of the aquarium, or they'd just jump out! XD"

I usually have peat in the tank because they can make good tunnels in it and it's healthier for them. ;)

[Capnkeats]

cool thanks that is a really nice design and a good idea

[WebkinzDazzle126]

Cute!

[Addicted2Yaoi]

aww i hope my gerbils will jump into my palm like that! ^-^ Did you do anything in particular to get them so used to you?

[ZenandTao]

First I just sat around near the tank till they stopped running away every time I came near.

Then I started putting a treat in my hand and letting them take it, then when they were happy doing that I'd hold the treat and make them step into my hand to get it, it takes a bit of patience but now they'll jump in my hand whenever they need a lift! XD

Good luck I'm sure your gerbils will be climbing all over you in no time! ;)

[Addicted2Yaoi]

lol thanks. Cant wait to get them but I'm still on with buying the stuff for their cage :) what with christmas coming up and no job yet I'm gonna have to wait a while before i can get them :(