If so how do you go about potty training them?? Also can they be taught tricks? Also if I wanted to get two gerbils, but two different color variations, would it matter if they were not from the same litter even if they were introduced at the same time at a young age? Also do you get different color variations from one litter?
Thanks!!
Happy Holidays! (Merry Christmas for all of us Christians)
2007-11-24 19:31:58 · 10 answers · asked by Kyle S 4 in Pets ➔ Rodents
Potty train a Gerbil? Don't believe I've ever heard of it. No, it would not matter if they were not from the same litter. Tricks? No idea, but I would imagine that would take a lot of patience. I suppose color variations are likely if the Male and female who had the litter were of different color. Hope this helps.
2007-11-24 19:38:07 · answer #1 · answered by poopski 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well, potty training a gerbil can be done, it's just not exactly training. Gerbils like to go in the same area of their habitat. You can put a little litter box there if you wish, but honestly it would be pointless as the best litter boxes for cages are plastic and anything at all made of plastic a gerbil can and will demolish in a day or two.
As for other tricks- check out this site:
http://www.ehow.com/how_2084995_teach-gerbil-tricks.html
If these will be your first gerbils, do not do the classic new gerbil owner thing and buy the cutest, coolest cage out there (usually Critter trail). They have wire and are made of plastic. Young gerbils do fine in there for about two weeks. After that, you will need a new cage as 1) the mess that is kicked outside the wire will drive you mad and 2) the cute little plastic ramps and slides and whatnots will no longer be there as your sweet little gerbils have made quick work of them.
Also, stay away from wire wheels! They can seriously injure themselves.
As for color variations from one litter- absolutely! One litter can have a few color variations. I would not recommend putting pups from two different litters together. This has a lot to do with quarentine time and personality issues. It's easier to get two females together than two males unless they do in fact come from the same litter. No more than two should ever be housed together of either sex.
Hope this helped you and good luck!
=)
2007-11-25 03:07:04 · answer #2 · answered by Yelliez 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would be very surprised if you can potty train them, as they aren't noted for sharp intelligence. Can they be taught tricks? I'm not sure about that either. My sister and brother-in-law have hamsters, which aren't potty trained but do have certain habits that could be considered tricks. One will back up into a hand; when it's tickled, it will squeak and run away then return for more tickling. Some will sit up when a box of treats is shaken.
So, they might be able to learn trick-type behavior. I wouldn't expect a lot out of them, but there's always a possibility of purchasing one or more that are cleverer than average.
You would have to check someplace for the rest of the questions. I've owned hamsters, guinea pigs and a white mouse, so I'm not very knowledgable about gerbils, which certainly are cute little critters.
2007-11-24 19:38:46 · answer #3 · answered by MystMoonstruck 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately... potty training is too complicated a trick for gerbils.. they're brains are too small and simple, they lack an attention span and have a VERY short term memory...
as far as tricks go... they can learn "tricks" that involve following/finding a treat... like, going through a maze, following a treat around (like having it crawl up to your shoulder and back down again).. simple things that are food based... I had one that would stand up on its hind legs while I held a treat over its head. It was quite cute, actually.
If you don't want fighting gerbils, either make sure they're same sexed babies.. or if they're older.. two females.. they're the least likely to fight.
And yes.. they can be different colored within the same litter.
Don't expect too much from the little critters.. they're more fun to just watch anyways..
2007-11-24 19:38:18 · answer #4 · answered by thelizardqueen85 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I don't think so seeing as they are in the rodent family and I don't know that much about gerbils, but I just wanted to give you a star because I haven't heard such a sweet innocent question in quite awhile!(smile)
2007-11-24 19:41:32 · answer #5 · answered by peachiepie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no gerbils can not be potty trained i have had 4 gerbils and they were never potty trained and i did try
2007-11-25 13:42:45 · answer #6 · answered by jumper loves me 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, tou can buy a potty at a petstore such as petsmart or petco. you simply put it were your gerbil goes potty and they will start to get the hang of it soon.
2007-11-25 01:40:16 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Gerbil Toilet
2016-12-18 04:38:48 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you can train them, but it's different than how you would train a dog. You can't give them verbal commands to do things. But, if you give them a small treat each time they go where you want them to, they will become conditioned to go there.
You can't teach them to sit or beg or anything. But you can teach them to go to certain spots and go to the bathroom at certain spots with a treat.
2007-11-24 19:36:25 · answer #9 · answered by Doubledown 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can definitely have different colors in the same littler. I have had two black parents give birth to grey, white, tan, and black babies.
2007-11-24 19:42:29 · answer #10 · answered by jmanj78 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋