Gerbils are often viewed as the easiest to handle among the different pocket pets. These little fur balls are naturally tame and you can hold your gerbil within a day or two after you bring him home.

Gerbils are quite inquisitive and when you open your hand, you will find your pet hopping onto your palm to investigate it. This is the recommended way to hold a gerbil, rather than grabbing or grasping it. You will find your pet eagerly hopping into your hand each time you let it out of its cage, especially if you have some sunflower seeds on your palm.

When you attempt to grab a gerbil from above, it may try to run away and hide because in the wild, gerbils are favorite preys of birds. This explains why they’re wary of a hand coming down on them, like birds of prey.

A gerbil’s tail is very fragile so you should avoid grabbing or holding your pet by its tail, for it can easily come off and will never grow again.

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