How To Pick Up A Gerbil
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| Unlike Other Rodents
You have probably seen people pick up mice in pet shops. They reach into the cage and pick the mouse up by the tail. Too many people believe that this is also the correct way to pick up a gerbil. The truth is, you should *never* pick a gerbil up by the tail. Gerbils have delicate tails that break off when grabbed or pulled. This is a defense mechanism in the wild. If the tail breaks off, it never grows back.
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| Never grab the tail. |
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Correct Handling |
| It is important that you not frighten your gerbils. Remember that their native habitat is the desert, where they have two basic predators: birds and snakes. Avoid any movements that might resemble either predator. Do not swoop down in from above with your hands. This will terrify your gerbils. Also, do not chase your gerbils around the tank, trying to catch them. This will also be horrifying for your pets. |
Do not try to pick up your gerbils until they are hand-tamed. For information about hand taming, see the Gerbil Tip for March 14th, 2003: Hand-Tame Your Gerbil. To pick up your gerbils, use slow movements that would not be perceived as swooping down or chasing. Slowly put your hands inside the tank. With your palms facing upward, scoop your fingers under the gerbil to lift it up. This is easiest when the gerbil is sitting or standing in the corner of the tank. |
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| Another Option |
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| The Magic Cup |
If your gerbil does not want to be lifted by hand and you must take him or her out of the tank, there is a good way to move your pet without terrorizing it. Get an old plastic cup or coffee mug. Place the cup inside the tank. A gerbil's natural curiosity and love of small tunnels will almost always lead it into the cup. Once the gerbil crawls inside, scoop up the cup to lift and transport the gerbil.
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