Hi Trevan, welcome to the list
1. I live in the North so it gets really cold in the winter time (30-40
Fahrenheit). I know that they are desert creatures so how can
i keep them
warm?
If your gerbils are inside, you should be fine with normal human
comfortable temps 65-85 degrees. I don't know what to do if you're
keeping them outside(?)
2. Can gerbils be taught tricks, and do they respond to their names?
If your gerbil does something cute you can extend the behavior. I
taught one gerbil, one trick this way. Cara loves to climb onto my hand
and out of the cage. I've gradually moved my hand an inch, two inches,
ect. off the floor of the cage, so now if I hold it 8-10 inches off the
floor of the cage she will spring onto it and then scramble onto my
shoulder. She also likes to dive down the front of your shirt and just
trust that your shirt will be tucked in. It is something when I have a
petsitter caring for them and she becomes trusting/attached to the new
person after a few days and wants to try out her trick.
You can also train a gerbil to sit on your shoulder while you walk
around the house.
Rats are way easier to train and you can train them things you want them
to do. I had a white rat as part of a psychology course in college, and
it trained quicker than I could with many dogs. You could also train
her(this rat) trick sequences.
and do gerbils respond to their names?
No.
3. What should i buy them to play with?
A half full small sized tissue box is a big hit. So are anything with
thin cardboard. Our new leather couch was a big favorite with Alan last
night (my husband is soooo mad!)
4. I covered the "hamster wheel" with paper. But they still won `t run
in it.
Only two of the seven gerbils I've tried wheels with liked it. And one
seemed to tire of it after a while.
What should i do [im dying to see them run in it] ?
Good luck and have fun with your gerbils.
