Gerbil questions!!?

Question

i have 2 questions about my gerbils, please answer as many as you can! and tell me if you've ever had gerbils or have gerbils!
information:
i have 2 male brother gerbils, one is Tater Tot, and the other is Peanut.

1. any time I have a bed in their tank (tissue box, house, etc....) Peanut is almost ALWAYS in there sleeping, except he is the skinnier one, and Tater the bigger one, (not that much bigger, just a little plumper) is out of it chewing away at everything. sometimes i take the house out, so they will both play, but i hate disturbing Peanut. is this a problem, and has anybody else's gerbil ever done this?

2. Tater is more outgoing, and allows me to pick him up, and most anytime I put my hand in the tank he crawls on it, and allows me to lift him out of the tank. Peanut is shy, and I haven't gotten to hold him as much. I know the way to fix this is to spend more time with him, but i can't when hewon't let me hold him!! any better way to deal with this? Any experiences?

Please don't tell me to "flush them down the poop shoot" bcuz you will be reported, and that doesn't answer my questions!!

Answer 1

Each gerbil has a unique personality, even with brothers. It sounds like Tater is just more active and outgoing then Peanut. As long as the boys are getting along, it's not really a problem if Peanut sleeps while Tater chews. Just make sure Peanut is just sleeping, and not using the box to hide from Tater (though I doubt this is the case).

A good way to get shy gerbils to come out of their shell is to play with them in the bathtub. Sit in the (empty!) bathtub, and let both boys loose in the tub with you. Make sure not to move to much (and keep track of where the boys are, so you don't hurt them by accident), and soon they'll be using you as a giant jungle gym!

Answer 2

Do you have tubes? these are very fun for the Gerbils. Mine always ran in them all the time. My gerbils als chewed on everything! so thats nothing new. the thing i am wondering is i have had a gerbil act just like what u were saying peanut does only thing is, she was pregnant. i guess if you for a fact it is a boy then maybe he is playing at night and sleeping in the day. maybe it doesnt like the food or it may be sick. about the shy thing you should just play with him more like you said thats what i did with all mine. get them so toys or equipment to play on. and if you havent i would suggest one of the chew things you can get at like walmart that is nutrients for them if you dont have any.

Answer 3

i had a gerbil and he chewed everything up and i could never pick him up, in two years i went through 7 cages