Author Question: How should one pick up and handle a gerbil? What will be an ideal ... (Read 4 times)

burton19126 · **on:** Jul 21, 2018

How should one pick up and handle a gerbil?

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

What types of food are usually fed to gerbils?

What will be an ideal response?

Question 3

How do hamsters and gerbils differ?

What will be an ideal response?

ryansturges · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 21, 2018

Answer to Question 1

The easiest way to pickup a gerbil is to place your hand over the gerbil's back and encircle his body with your
thumb and forefinger. While holding the gerbil, one should stroke the head and back. The animal should be
calm before any attempt is made to pick it up. One should be careful not to squeeze the animal too tightly,
because it will struggle to escape. Many times, a gerbil will nibble on a handler's finger, not to inflict a bite, but
to let the handler know it has been held long enough and wants down. After a gerbil has become accustomed
to being handled, it will normally climb right into the owner's hand.
A gerbil should never be picked up the tail because the skin can tear and pull loose, exposing the tailbone.
The exposed portion of the tail will normally die and fall off.

Answer to Question 2

The easiest way to feed gerbils is using commercial pellets made especially for small rodents. These will be
complete, balanced rations, with all the required vitamins and minerals added.
If preferred, rations can be prepared by mixing different types of foodstuffs. Common grains used are corn,
oats, wheat, and barley. Mixing these grains can be a good base for a balanced diet. Gerbils will eat only the
heart out of the corn kernel, and just the kernel from oat seeds. Waste can be prevented by feeding breakfast
foods made from corn flakes and rolled oats.
Linseed, millet, canary seed, rapeseed, and hemp seed, found in mixtures for parakeets and other birds,
add variety to the diet.
Green foods such as cabbage, carrots, turnips, and beets also add variety to the diet and are usually rich in
minerals.

Answer to Question 3

There are two main differences between hamsters and gerbils. Gerbils have long tails, and hamsters have very
short tails. Gerbils have large rear feet on which they can easily stand in an upright position.