Wanted: 2 Gerbils

[rraymann]

WANTED: 2 GERBIL PUPS either two males, or two females. Our family would like to buy or adopt 6 to 8 week old pups to keep as pets. We have done our homework on how to care for them and are ready to give them a great home. If you are a breeder, or know of one in Kansas City, KS/MO or surrounding area please e-mail to wraymann@kc.rr.com THanks!

[callimico]

This link has 3 breeders listed for Kansas, http://www.agsgerbils.org/Kansas.html
If you wanted you could also post on the ags classifields for wanted, a lot of unlisted breeders check their.
http://www.agsgerbils.org/classifieds/

[rraymann]

Thank you for your help. We'll try both of those.

[abcgerbils]

The NGS site also has "adverts" including people in the US selling gerbils. Even if you have to take a drive, I'd strongly suggest getting tame and friendly gerbils that are jumping right into your hand from the start.

[callimico]

Glad to help :) hope you find a nice pair of gerbils :D

[rraymann]

We found two brothers that are 7wks old. We are having fun getting to know them. One in particular is already very friendly and will walk right into my hand. The other little guy is friendly, but a little shy. Thanks for everyone's help!

[callimico]

That's great rraymann :D Congrats on your new boys, they sound terriffic. What've you decided to call them?

[rraymann]

The brave one is named Jet. He is all black with a thin white stripe from his chin to his chest and a tiny bit of white on each front paw. Our reserved one is Chip. He looks like a dutch bunny. He is black with white across his shoulders, a white "chip" on his head with a thin white line running down his neck to his shoulders. The rest of his face is black, but his nose is white. He also has white socks on his paws and the end of his tail is white. My kids are thrilled with them. I have to admit I'm enjoying them just as much. They have more personality than expected. Any tried and true secrets for winning over the shy one? We're taking it slow, but wondered if there was a fav. treat or something that would do the trick (sunflower seeds don't impress him).

[abcgerbils]

1) Pick the sunflower seeds out of the mix and hand feed him. If he doesn't take them from you, just drop them in front of him at first.

2) Rest your hand and arm in the tank in the evening when they are most active and let him explore you without moving your hand or taking him out.

3) Ignore him and let him see you playing with the other one, let the other one crawl onto your hand and up your arm, then put him back and let him do it again and again. Soon he won't be able to resist following.

4) Have only one adult work with him at first -- Tell the kids that until he is tame, not to pick him up or hold him.

[rraymann]

Sounds like a good plan. We'll try that and see how it goes. Thanks for your help!

[callimico]

Sounds like you have a tuxedo black gerbil (Jet) and a pied black gerbil (Chip). If the sunflowers aren't a fav, try giving him saaflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, peanuts, gerbils love all of those. Fresh fruits and veggies are also a big hit (no citris though- green veggies are best, and only a small bit 2-3x a week max). They can't have anything salted or w/sugar other then that their's a lot they can eat. Some gerbils love cheerios, of cornflakes adn will do anything for them. Sound like your taking the right steps to get him used to you, good luck :D

[rraymann]

Hi Callimico! I didn't know there were names for their colors. We checked out every book we could find at our small public library and do know the basics of care, but that's about it. We will try the other seeds, peanuts and fresh veggies and see if that works with Chip. He will take food out of our hand if he's really hungry, but he just doesn't want to be picked up yet. I think more patience will pay off. I'll keep you posted. Thanks!