this is the link to the AGS gerbil care handbook section on taming gerbils it gives the general approach most ppl will just pick the animal up (with no regard to proper way to pick it up, i.e. by the tip of the tail for tailed squeaks) this does not let the animal get to know who you are and surprises them by suddenly being in mid-air with no warning degus for instance love to be talked to, and you can never pick them up from above or by the tail our spiney mice are more wild animals not meant to be picked up unless they choose to crawl on you, the cannot be picked up by the tail either rats are fine to be picked up by the base of the tail, but we prefer if we have to pick them up (they usually come to us) to harness them with the first two fingers and thumb hamsters (especially campbell's dwarf) are often territorial and most should be removed from their housing by the same object every time like a cup, then handled in a neutral area animals learn cues to coming events very well, i.e. we tap their little butts a few times before we actually pick them up so they know it's coming our hammies know the purple cup, they crawl right in and there is no stress, if they do not choose to be handled they don't go in the cup (we rarely get turned down!) how's that for a quick summary? -- ron & traci things-that-squeak
> From: "C.T" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 10:30:37 +0100 > To: "things-that-squeak" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Re: Gerbils vs. other caged pets > > > (the new family often does not know the proper >> way to approach an unhandled hammie) >> just about any small animal can be wonderful addition to the family >> you gotta match personality/lifestyle with the proper type of squeak >> we have ratties, mice, spiney mice, gerbies, hammies, degus >> each type of squeak requires a slightly different approach and of course >> different care >> feel free to email us on the care of any of these types of squeaks >> and please look for a hobby breeder, pet store animals are often > large-scale >> bred >> -- >> ron & traci >> things-that-squeak >> > > I'd be interested to know what the right approach is to one small animal > that hasn't been handled? I'm a newbie to these type of animals...my pets > tend to be a lot bigger and live outdoor! I am getting two male gerbils > soon, but from a hobby breeder so hopefully they will be tame. I'm still > interested to know though... > > Catherine >
